Thank you SO MUCH for taking time to explain these things in detail! Your "quick explanations" that morph into entire system blueprints/explanations are my favorite. I also am a person that NEEDS to know how every system works, as that gives me insight into possible failure points. You just saved me a ton of time figuring out how my Phaeton works, thank you sir.
Its good to watch a master at work. I am a aircraft mechanic from Canada and love watching your vlogs. Its interesting to see most RVs are just plywood boxes.
Keep up the great work. Besides repairing the project, you do an excellent job of explaining the details which makes your channel that popular. When you explain your ideas why, that's what us laymen want to here. Thumbs Up.......
You are interesting to watch and learn from, always. You will get many many more subscribers. You talk the correct amount to explain things, you are logical, hard working, good natured, a good Dad and most of all knowledgeable from a to z. Which i must admit, i rolled my eyes at your handle before i saw my first video of yours. Haha. Keep working and making videos. You deserve AZ Expert title.
Thank you for the string of great compliments. I understand the channel name can seem boastful. I was a play on my company name RV Experts and the US State I live in. I am not an expert on everything from A to Z by any means, but it sounds better than AZ I Think I Can. I really appreciate the encouragement.
At my warching of this, you are close to 8500 subscribers. Well-deserved James, but with the kind of info and answers I learn from your channel, I am kind of surprised its not closer to 85,000. Thanks for doing this!
Wow, thanks! Without Andrew I think I'd still be quite a bit lower, but I do hope to get the channel on continued growth and really cannot express my appreciation for the viewers I have enough. Thanks!
Great explanations of how it all works. One thing i learned is those threaded terminals are for LOW DRAW applications as they are FUSED to the MAIN TERMINAL POST. So attaching a invertor or other large draw appliances will actually burn the fuse. The large posts are the only ones that should be used to seires or parallel the battery's together, and all large draw items attached there also as in inverter and AC loads even power from the altenator and charger. CHEERS Steve h.
I must say I find your videos helpful,informative and entertaining..but I have to call you out on your assessment of a quality lead/acid like the Trojan T105 or the Crown CR series..they can last well over 10 years as long as you don't do anything dumb..I will agree about cheap batteries..however as a lead golf course mechanic on a PGA golf course the bean counters subjected us to many other batteries like Interstate and Exide..they were a maintenance nightmare..around 5 or so per pallet were unserviceable and short lived and on several occasions sluffed off excessive lead and shorted and burned the cart to the ground..but I'm sure you are talking from your experience where battery maintenance isn't a high priority..keep up the good work !
yes better batteries last longer for sure. I can't say I've ever seen 10 years but usually no one really takes care of these batteries and they are left fully discharged for weeks multiple times. Thanks
@@AZExpert Exactly..I was on year 6 of my CR235's when a 100ft cottonwood fell on my 99 Chieftain 35c..like the 1997 American Carriage bus conversion you liked so much..EVERYTHING worked and the coach looked like it was just purchased (we were 2nd owners)..except the Aux coach heater blower motor..RIP Big Chief 😢
Best battery install video I’ve seen in a long time. That’s a real world situation, normally everything is clean and neat and brand new. What is your opinion on coating the lugs and terminals with dielectric grease? You’ve obviously done enough installs to make a good observation of whether or not the grease helps longevity, and I’d like to know your opinion. Thanks!
WOW! Thank you very much. The grease is very sticky and most battery compartments are not sealed, so the grease will attract dirt and makes changing batteries a messier job. Although is obviously reduces corrosion, it can also hide problems and makes monthly inspections difficult. I don't use it. Thanks!
Thank You for all The Priceless Inform,ation. However I must Point Out . Johnson and Johnson Makes Batteries For Many Outlets; For the Price I have Found They are a Very good Dependable Battery..
Really, only three years of useful life for a battery - that's depressing, I just got mine last summer and it is already a third of the way through. Is that true for AGMs also? And, you would be proud of me, setting up my battery system, I crimped my big ring terminals without a crimper! (vise and ball bearing trick)
Sadly that is true on most flooded batteries. AGMs can be a little trickier depending on make. Lithiums are becoming a more viable option at this point...but they do not do cold weather very well still which is a drawback for RVs.
next month will be 5 years on my Trojan T105, been hooked up all the time, boondock 5-6 months in winter for last 5 years in AZ desert, only thing that charges my batteries is the solar charger, most important thing for batteries to last is make sure they are getting charged at the right voltage, during the different stages of charging, per battery temperature, and keep your batteries serviced, always keep the water above lead plates
I have a 2012 Holiday Rambler will the charge system be very similar to this video. I mean the alternator should charge both coach and chassis and the Generator should also charge both? How about on Shore power ?
I have a 1999 American coach Fleetwood Heritage with a power gear power system and when I turn off the house power switch the solenoid starts clicking ? Not plugged in or generator running, Power gear no longer makes this system what are my replacement options ?
The bad solenoid did lead to the problem, but this unit is generally kept plugged in when used so the house batteries were being charged by the inverter. It's just the life of a RV battery unfortunately. Thanks
Perhaps you can give me some advice. I bought a 2000 newmar mountain air. Ever since I've had it. I keep tripping circuit breakers on the inverter when I run two or more ac components. Such as microwave, coffee pot, or electric grill. This all happens when I am hooked up to shore power. I can't figure out why I keep tripping circuit breakers on the inverter when I'm plugged in to shore power. To me, I should be tripping circuit breakers on the ac power supply if I'm over loading.
Sounds like you're overloading the inverter output circuit breaker, most inverters have a 30 amp input circuit with branch circuits of 20 or 15 amp out, wether you're inverting or plugged in or running the generator. The smaller breaker should trip first
So if upgrading that same system to lithium house batteries and including a dc to dc charger for the alternator you would only need to remove the BIRD system to isolate the house batteries, correct? Thanks in advance!
greetings, one question my 4 6 volt batteries are bad and it only has the large battery now my engine does not start, only the generator must be put in the 4 small batteries to be able to start my engine yes or no
I would love to see those batteries changed to four entry level 12v LFP batteries and what mods need to be done on a typical diesel pusher. I think the charge controller needs to be edited, and I have heard onr needs to limit the amount of discharge rate. But if the alternator is not putting out 14v not sure you can charge while going down the road. I have a rig I want to upgrade to 12V LFP, are you ready to tackle such a job?
Yes you are correct. However, they are not bulletproof and running them completely dead will damage them the same. Most RVers are not fulltiming so the RV tends to be stored and batteries are the first casualty. As they are priced about 3 times a standard battery and a standard battery should have a 2-3 year life the payback is not assured. However, a full time RVer should look into them or better yet LiFePo batteries. Thanks!
If you were parked for a long time, could you just jump that charge solenoid so that your chassis batteries get charged when your on shore power? Not that I would do that, just trying to understand how it really is working.
I have thought about it, but I am more concerned about losing footage and editing problems. Viewers would probably get whiplash from my constant thrashing about too.
Thank you I have a 94 holiday rambler navigator that I have to replace all the batteries house and Cassie you showed me things I didn’t know and bring up points of interest like no one keeps a schematic of the coach someone buys out the company lose all the old schematics and start a new but if you have a old coach youare SOL holiday rambler was bought out by Harley Davidson in about 86 Harley Davis sold it to Monaco in about 96 Then Monaco got bought out buy some other company may have been country coach I believe Navistar is the current owner all of that is to say help!!! Another question is what’s with all the keys I see them hanging up on that coat when I purchase mine they were a bunch of keys around haven’t figured out where they go to mistakinglyI gave some back to the previous owner oops
Question, on my class C when I flip the battery disconnect switch ,what your calling the charge solenoid, the one your replacing , clicks and when I push the button on the dash to use the house battery to start the engine what your calling the battery disconnect clicks. It’s completely opposite of what you have here. Can you help me understand what’s up.
My house batteries are 7 years old I watch them like a hawk, I think I'm going replace them are Trojan's worth the extra money or do I just get deep cycle batteries at Costco? Thanks! ....just watched the whole thing I guess you answered my question:)
Trojans are good batteries. I'm not sure your price difference but never underestimate the utility of a Costco battery warranty. Trojan dealers may make warranty replacement difficult without documentation and testing as they are usually independent shops. Thanks
As an owner of a 2003 Dutch Star, I really appreciate this video
Being a new RV owner... This was very informative in so many ways.
Thank you
Thank you SO MUCH for taking time to explain these things in detail! Your "quick explanations" that morph into entire system blueprints/explanations are my favorite. I also am a person that NEEDS to know how every system works, as that gives me insight into possible failure points. You just saved me a ton of time figuring out how my Phaeton works, thank you sir.
Thanks for watching! :) Glad to help
You are the motorhome guru of all time man. If it weren't for you my motorhome would have went to the scrap yard!!
Hey that's awesome to hear
Its good to watch a master at work. I am a aircraft mechanic from Canada and love watching your vlogs. Its interesting to see most RVs are just plywood boxes.
99% of techs would just install the batteries and leave it at that.... WELL DONE! Learn a lot with each video. Keep em coming!
Thanks! 👍
Your vids are awesome! Learned tons from them . Please don’t stop.
Wow James, I always learn so much from your videos! Your information is extremely thorough! Awesome job!
I appreciate that!
Keep up the great work. Besides repairing the project, you do an excellent job of explaining the details which makes your channel that popular. When you explain your ideas why, that's what us laymen want to here. Thumbs Up.......
Thank you. Most of the time I don't really know what to say, so I'm glad something useful is making its way out of me!
You are interesting to watch and learn from, always. You will get many many more subscribers. You talk the correct amount to explain things, you are logical, hard working, good natured, a good Dad and most of all knowledgeable from a to z. Which i must admit, i rolled my eyes at your handle before i saw my first video of yours. Haha. Keep working and making videos. You deserve AZ Expert title.
Thank you for the string of great compliments. I understand the channel name can seem boastful. I was a play on my company name RV Experts and the US State I live in. I am not an expert on everything from A to Z by any means, but it sounds better than AZ I Think I Can. I really appreciate the encouragement.
@@AZExpert Hello Mr Arizona! Your videos never disappoint, so thank you so much!
At my warching of this, you are close to 8500 subscribers. Well-deserved James, but with the kind of info and answers I learn from your channel, I am kind of surprised its not closer to 85,000. Thanks for doing this!
Wow, thanks! Without Andrew I think I'd still be quite a bit lower, but I do hope to get the channel on continued growth and really cannot express my appreciation for the viewers I have enough. Thanks!
Great explanations of how it all works. One thing i learned is those threaded terminals are for LOW DRAW applications as they are FUSED to the MAIN TERMINAL POST. So attaching a invertor or other large draw appliances will actually burn the fuse. The large posts are the only ones that should be used to seires or parallel the battery's together, and all large draw items attached there also as in inverter and AC loads even power from the altenator and charger. CHEERS Steve h.
Great tip!
Great video. Thank you James. Happy trails!
Thanks Phil!
Brother you just give it away. Thanks man....was wondering why my boost wasn't boosting!
Love this content. Thanks James!
Thank you!!
Awesome work & troubleshooting !!! 👍👍🇨🇦✌️🇨🇦✌️👍
awesome. that solenoid was the problem!! pull into camp and have low batteries after driving all day. thx udaman!
Glad to help
i’m a retired auto mechanic i would love to follow you around for a couple weeks.. lol.. good as usual
I'm sure I'd learn much more from you
Smiling!
Good video sir. I am a sucker for a how to video, keeps your brain young. Smile!
Great video!
Thank you!
I love your videos! Thank you Thank you.
Another great & informative video James 👍⚾️
Good stuff as always!
thank you!
Haven’t seen you for a while. Always a treat.
I know....I'm trying to get some more videos put together. Thanks!
Hay James nice job keep doing the Videos Thanks.
Nice explanation. You are over 5K subscribers now. Thanks
Thank you very much, I am equally amazed by the subscriber count!
9.24 k now
Your content is really awesome, that's why your subscriber count is over 5,000 now!
Thank you so much!
I love your videos. You are an inspiration.
Thank you!
EXtremely helpful !
Glad it helped!
Great information. Very informative. 👍🏼
Thank you!
I tell you this is a great informational video on the bird system!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
It’s never simple is it? That’s RV repair. Great information on the battery isolator by the way!
Never with RVs it seems. Thanks
I must say I find your videos helpful,informative and entertaining..but I have to call you out on your assessment of a quality lead/acid like the Trojan T105 or the Crown CR series..they can last well over 10 years as long as you don't do anything dumb..I will agree about cheap batteries..however as a lead golf course mechanic on a PGA golf course the bean counters subjected us to many other batteries like Interstate and Exide..they were a maintenance nightmare..around 5 or so per pallet were unserviceable and short lived and on several occasions sluffed off excessive lead and shorted and burned the cart to the ground..but I'm sure you are talking from your experience where battery maintenance isn't a high priority..keep up the good work !
yes better batteries last longer for sure. I can't say I've ever seen 10 years but usually no one really takes care of these batteries and they are left fully discharged for weeks multiple times. Thanks
@@AZExpert Exactly..I was on year 6 of my CR235's when a 100ft cottonwood fell on my 99 Chieftain 35c..like the 1997 American Carriage bus conversion you liked so much..EVERYTHING worked and the coach looked like it was just purchased (we were 2nd owners)..except the Aux coach heater blower motor..RIP Big Chief 😢
Great video keep these comming, YOU ARE A MASTER TECHNICIAN 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
Thanks, will do!
Best battery install video I’ve seen in a long time. That’s a real world situation, normally everything is clean and neat and brand new.
What is your opinion on coating the lugs and terminals with dielectric grease? You’ve obviously done enough installs to make a good observation of whether or not the grease helps longevity, and I’d like to know your opinion. Thanks!
WOW! Thank you very much. The grease is very sticky and most battery compartments are not sealed, so the grease will attract dirt and makes changing batteries a messier job. Although is obviously reduces corrosion, it can also hide problems and makes monthly inspections difficult. I don't use it. Thanks!
Thank You for all The Priceless Inform,ation. However I must Point Out . Johnson and Johnson Makes Batteries For Many Outlets; For the Price I have Found They are a Very good Dependable Battery..
Really, only three years of useful life for a battery - that's depressing, I just got mine last summer and it is already a third of the way through. Is that true for AGMs also?
And, you would be proud of me, setting up my battery system, I crimped my big ring terminals without a crimper! (vise and ball bearing trick)
Sadly that is true on most flooded batteries. AGMs can be a little trickier depending on make. Lithiums are becoming a more viable option at this point...but they do not do cold weather very well still which is a drawback for RVs.
next month will be 5 years on my Trojan T105, been hooked up all the time, boondock 5-6 months in winter for last 5 years in AZ desert, only thing that charges my batteries is the solar charger, most important thing for batteries to last is make sure they are getting charged at the right voltage, during the different stages of charging, per battery temperature, and keep your batteries serviced, always keep the water above lead plates
I have a 2012 Holiday Rambler will the charge system be very similar to this video. I mean the alternator should charge both coach and chassis and the Generator should also charge both? How about on Shore power ?
Good information thanks!
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
Excellent video!
Thank you very much!
So when plugged into shore power, the chassis (start batt. ) should be charging via the inverter?
you are the boss ! Thankyou !
Thank you!
excellent informative video, would love to have you to work on my MH nice to see competence, (I am engineering)
Thank you!!
Question, if the house battery charge is low, will that affect the chassis batteries from starting the engine ?
I have a 1999 American coach Fleetwood Heritage with a power gear power system and when I turn off the house power switch the solenoid starts clicking ? Not plugged in or generator running, Power gear no longer makes this system what are my replacement options ?
Is it possible that the bad solenoid is why the batteries died? Because they would not have been being charged when driving?
The bad solenoid did lead to the problem, but this unit is generally kept plugged in when used so the house batteries were being charged by the inverter. It's just the life of a RV battery unfortunately. Thanks
Perhaps you can give me some advice.
I bought a 2000 newmar mountain air. Ever since I've had it. I keep tripping circuit breakers on the inverter when I run two or more ac components. Such as microwave, coffee pot, or electric grill. This all happens when I am hooked up to shore power.
I can't figure out why I keep tripping circuit breakers on the inverter when I'm plugged in to shore power. To me, I should be tripping circuit breakers on the ac power supply if I'm over loading.
Sounds like you're overloading the inverter output circuit breaker, most inverters have a 30 amp input circuit with branch circuits of 20 or 15 amp out, wether you're inverting or plugged in or running the generator. The smaller breaker should trip first
So if upgrading that same system to lithium house batteries and including a dc to dc charger for the alternator you would only need to remove the BIRD system to isolate the house batteries, correct? Thanks in advance!
greetings, one question my 4 6 volt batteries are bad and it only has the large battery now my engine does not start, only the generator must be put in the 4 small batteries to be able to start my engine yes or no
I would love to see those batteries changed to four entry level 12v LFP batteries and what mods need to be done on a typical diesel pusher. I think the charge controller needs to be edited, and I have heard onr needs to limit the amount of discharge rate. But if the alternator is not putting out 14v not sure you can charge while going down the road. I have a rig I want to upgrade to 12V LFP, are you ready to tackle such a job?
A well of information
It was an accidental well...but I tend to enjoy videos where you never know where the repair is going to lead. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for replying cold and dark in the uk nice seeing sunlight
Great channel!
Glad you enjoy it!
Deka battery factory is in Reding Pennsylvania for you information
excellent !
Many thanks!
I think you just answered why my battery’s won’t start my engine with my boost switch. BIRD switch not working: now to find it in 2005 Monaco.
There is a very good chance I will be putting another video together on a Monaco/Holiday Rambler shortly. Thanks for watching!
Lifeline 6 volt gel batteries are expected to last 8 years. They're the same batteries the military uses, also class A coaches use them.
Yes you are correct. However, they are not bulletproof and running them completely dead will damage them the same. Most RVers are not fulltiming so the RV tends to be stored and batteries are the first casualty. As they are priced about 3 times a standard battery and a standard battery should have a 2-3 year life the payback is not assured. However, a full time RVer should look into them or better yet LiFePo batteries. Thanks!
Why are arms trickier? Thinking of going that way because they are sealed? Are the charging voltage needs that much different than Lead acid?
No, AGM are generally higher quality lead acid with fiberglass mats.
If you were parked for a long time, could you just jump that charge solenoid so that your chassis batteries get charged when your on shore power? Not that I would do that, just trying to understand how it really is working.
Yes, but you should fuse it with a 5amp fuse
i got a Monaco Dynasty 1998 charging both house banks from alternator but not from generator.
I'm sorry to hear that
Do you think that charge solenoid is responsible for damaging the battery's?
not likely, either the load or the charger would be
@@AZExpert ok, thanks.
Great video you need to get a head cam so you can have both your hands free
I have thought about it, but I am more concerned about losing footage and editing problems. Viewers would probably get whiplash from my constant thrashing about too.
How do I know if a battery isolator is bad? i have one of those older fin things on my dodge diesel scotty.
check voltage in from alt and out to chassis and house battery
@@AZExpert I CHECKED IT. IT LOOKS LIKE MY CONVERTER CHARGER IS BAD. THE ISOLATOR HAS VOLTS PASSING THROUGH IT. THANKS.
Can you accurately check voltage with the charger hooked up ???
yes
Thank you I have a 94 holiday rambler navigator that I have to replace all the batteries house and Cassie you showed me things I didn’t know and bring up points of interest like no one keeps a schematic of the coach someone buys out the company lose all the old schematics and start a new but if you have a old coach youare SOL holiday rambler was bought out by Harley Davidson in about 86 Harley Davis sold it to Monaco in about 96 Then Monaco got bought out buy some other company may have been country coach I believe Navistar is the current owner all of that is to say help!!! Another question is what’s with all the keys I see them hanging up on that coat when I purchase mine they were a bunch of keys around haven’t figured out where they go to mistakinglyI gave some back to the previous owner oops
Question, on my class C when I flip the battery disconnect switch ,what your calling the charge solenoid, the one your replacing , clicks and when I push the button on the dash to use the house battery to start the engine what your calling the battery disconnect clicks. It’s completely opposite of what you have here. Can you help me understand what’s up.
It would be very difficult without photos.
Then let’s try this. Can a charge solenoid be used as a battery disconnect?
@@RussellBond13 it is uncommon but yes
Thanks for your help. Enjoying your videos
Why do the house batteries always use the 6 volt instead of 12v parallel? why not just 4 12volts?
4each 6vdc batteries have more capacity than 4 12vdc batteries and are easier to service.
Do you have a diagrame of engine start batteries for 2005 travel supreme motorhome
Google is your friend
My house batteries are 7 years old I watch them like a hawk, I think I'm going replace them are Trojan's worth the extra money or do I just get deep cycle batteries at Costco? Thanks! ....just watched the whole thing I guess you answered my question:)
Trojans are good batteries. I'm not sure your price difference but never underestimate the utility of a Costco battery warranty. Trojan dealers may make warranty replacement difficult without documentation and testing as they are usually independent shops. Thanks
@@AZExpert Just found a place in Mesa Trojans T-105 120.00 probably go with that thanks!
@@rjahn3000 I have T-105 for 5 years, still going strong, Crown batteries are one of best batteries to buy
Theres no replacement for you...keep it up!!!
Thank you!!
Can you diagnose a problem on the phone?
I'm not very good at that truthfully.
Believe it or not, Wal Mart batteries or made by Johnson controls.
4,000 Watt solar panels and inverter for motorhome
Thanks for watching
So those house batteries may have been okay, they just weren't being charged.
No they were bad for sure, it's just standard practice to verify charge and draw when replacing batteries. Thanks!
Can be
Experience
Sorry AGMs
Good knowing
Thanks for watching! :)
I have older rv only have 2 12v how many 6v batteries to replace or is possible?