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soledoctor
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2005
Posts: 56
Location: Wakefield, RI
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 Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 2:31 pm Post subject: Camping in VA with some electrical issues |
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Started out from RI with all systems functioning. Pre cooled fridge on 110 and started off down the road on 12v power. About 15 min into drive came to a stop and idle was hung up at around 2k. Blipped throttle resulting in engine dying. No restart. Pushed to side of road. Had spark, air, fuel. No start. Towed home.
Turned off fridge as that was the only change to previously running van.
Let sit to clear now flooded motor and started up and ran around the block a few times. Family meeting says go for it and drove 450 miles with fridge off and made it to chincoteague.
Connected to 110 for 2 days and all good till today. Fridge light on but no cold. Subsequently aux battery shows red on led and 11.6 on hand voltmeter, not using aux battery, plugged into 110 outlet. Main battery 12.4 and 13.6 when charging (yellow led when running)
Switched fridge to propane and seems to be cooling but I dont recall hearing fan at all....
Fuses good. Have gw aux battery kit for past 3 years. First year of these issues.
Any thoughts for campsite checks/repairs??? Could running issue be an energy draw issue? Cranked fine and all lights worked when died.
Thanks in advance.
Eric.
If taking live better...
401 five two seven nine four six four
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87 westy (2.4)
1964 /2 conversion (in progress)
73 R75/5
15 RC390 race prep
Blundstone 500 |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 3:09 pm Post subject: Re: Camping in VA with some electrical issues |
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you may likely have a failed Aux battery or the associated Aux battery wiring that's drawing too heavy a load from the alternator/main battery.
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| Abscate wrote: |
| These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32584
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9798
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 3:41 pm Post subject: Re: Camping in VA with some electrical issues |
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I always drive with the fridge running on propane - never a problem in my experience.
My fridge fan stopped working years ago - can't tell the difference as the fridge still chills just fine.
I agree your aux battery is suspect and should be disconnected (removing the cable on the ground post is probably the safest way) for the trip home.
YMMV, use only as directed, professional driver on closed course, ask your doctor, etc. |
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soledoctor
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2005
Posts: 56
Location: Wakefield, RI
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 4:48 pm Post subject: Re: Camping in VA with some electrical issues |
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Thanks all. That's what I'm hoping with the aux.
Will disconnect aux presently.
Is there a quick procedure /connection to get back to oem set up?
_________________
87 westy (2.4)
1964 /2 conversion (in progress)
73 R75/5
15 RC390 race prep
Blundstone 500 |
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6829
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 6:58 am Post subject: Re: Camping in VA with some electrical issues |
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If you have time why not get your Aux battery load tested to know if it is good at a service station and if not good just replace it?
How long would this take compared to redoing your setup? |
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soledoctor
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2005
Posts: 56
Location: Wakefield, RI
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 2:21 pm Post subject: Re: Camping in VA with some electrical issues |
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Thanks all, quick info appreciated!
Aux batt depleting with minimal use. Main batt remains fully charged
Will disconnect aux for trip home and sort out there. Suspect dying aux as it is 4 years old and was dead after a winter of very limited van use.
May be opportunity for replacement of gw relay kit and addition of onboard charger based on findings.
_________________
87 westy (2.4)
1964 /2 conversion (in progress)
73 R75/5
15 RC390 race prep
Blundstone 500 |
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the joker
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2006
Posts: 1287
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| Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2016 7:32 am Post subject: Re: Camping in VA with some electrical issues |
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say hi to the pony's for us
get some crabs at a road shack
go to Wallops space center
climb the light house
no worries it's only an aux issue not a main tow you home issue
I pulled my fridge years ago the beer stays colder in a cooler anyway
I'm in RI |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22640
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2016 9:08 am Post subject: Re: Camping in VA with some electrical issues |
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| soledoctor wrote: |
Thanks all, quick info appreciated!
Aux batt depleting with minimal use. Main batt remains fully charged
Will disconnect aux for trip home and sort out there. Suspect dying aux as it is 4 years old and was dead after a winter of very limited van use.
May be opportunity for replacement of gw relay kit and addition of onboard charger based on findings. |
If you left it sit dead over winter it's dead now. You can't just charge it back up, they don't like to sit.
For under one week camping trips, get rid of the expense/weight/complexity and go the ice route. We do four one week trips per summer offshore with zero aux power this way. Entropy is your friend here, she always works.
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9798
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2016 9:36 am Post subject: Re: Camping in VA with some electrical issues |
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| soledoctor wrote: |
| ... Suspect dying aux as it is 4 years old and was dead after a winter of very limited van use... |
Yeah, what he said - winter killed it. Some times you can bring them back after a fashion from a really low state but they are not really the same after their near-death experience. |
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wcdennis
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2004
Posts: 955
Location: Winston-Salem NC
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| Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2016 10:18 am Post subject: Re: Camping in VA with some electrical issues |
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The Dometic fridge draws huge amps on 12v. Even a fresh battery can't run it for long. The Westy design had a relay that cut-out the 12v when the motor was not running.
The fan is on a thermostat and only comes on when things get hot back there. |
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soledoctor
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2005
Posts: 56
Location: Wakefield, RI
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 5:02 am Post subject: Re: Camping in VA with some electrical issues |
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Home without issues.
Plan is to replace battery, install charger and upgrade isolator.
We always have a cooler with us on long trips , fridge is nice to have for short cooler less days
Happy summer all.
_________________
87 westy (2.4)
1964 /2 conversion (in progress)
73 R75/5
15 RC390 race prep
Blundstone 500 |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22640
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 5:30 am Post subject: Re: Camping in VA with some electrical issues |
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Well done.
Just a caveat in case you are thinking of a 'simple' solar charging system
Check the 'Bus Fires' thread first.
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soledoctor
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2005
Posts: 56
Location: Wakefield, RI
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 8:15 am Post subject: Re: Camping in VA with some electrical issues |
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Was thinking a small dashboard solar panel to maintain when not plugged in.
Concerns/recommendations?
_________________
87 westy (2.4)
1964 /2 conversion (in progress)
73 R75/5
15 RC390 race prep
Blundstone 500 |
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6829
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 8:51 am Post subject: Re: Camping in VA with some electrical issues |
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| soledoctor wrote: |
Was thinking a small dashboard solar panel to maintain when not plugged in.
Concerns/recommendations? |
The least bit of shade on the panel will reduce it's output considerably.
Like the shadow of a wiper arm if you lay it on the dash board.
If you have a lot of sunny days and clear skies/window then it might be worth it. |
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