On the left side of my instrument panel, the series of rocker switches includes a red one (rest are green as shown) with a battery symbol on it. What is this switch for? Also, maybe because of a short (?), it will not stay depressed if pushed. Would appreciate any info on this.


Thanks again.

Vince, that switch will parallel the house batteries to the chassis batteries to start the engine in case the engine batteries are run down. It is a spring loaded off switch and must be depressed and Held to connect all the batteries.

Nick

By the way the light switch just to the left of the Battery switch should also be spring loaded "Off". Depressing it flashes the marker lights. Truckers use it to acknowledge (thank) a vehicle they just passed.

Nick

Nick,
Ahhh...that solves that mystery! Thanks so much. I've got all new batteries, so haven't gotten to the point where I've needed to parellel them, but it's good to know.
And thanks for pointing out the marker flasher switch. Hadn't used nor figured that one out yet either! Much appreciated.

Thought I would add my 2 cents worth. In my Regency the parallel operation would not work. Despite having four good 12 volt house batteries it would not have enough umph to start the Cummins. I did some trouble shooting and found out that the paralleling relay was bad. I could read 1.2 Kohms between the chassis battery contact and the coil ground side with all conductors removed. I purchased a new 500 amp replacement and took the old one apart. The contacts were so black and burned that they didn't even resemble being made of metal. Also you could see the carbon deposition which gave me the high resistence path.

As a side note. On our last trip to Texas I had to get up at night and start the generator since the low voltage alarm had gone off. Since the generator uses the house batteries it would not start. I then used the paralleling switch to the opposite of what it was originally intended for. I used the chassis batteries to start the generator. Go figure.....

I seemed to have run in to a similar problem over the memorial weekend when we took the Barth out for the first time sense we have owned her. When the house batteries run down I can't start the generator. The start solenoid either won't actuate at all or cycles back and forth and sounds like a loud cycling noise at the generator. So I have to start the main engine and let the batteries get charged so that I can start the generator. Some times I have to rev the main engine to get the generator started. So does this mean my batteries are in parrallel all the time or what. I have a switch on the barth just as you walk up the steps that allows some of the equipement to work but I'm not completely sure how things are wired up. If you could enlighten me it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Rodney

If you could start the main engine, the paralleling switch is OK, otherwise he engine batteries would also have been drained.

There are three (among others) likely culprits:

1. Cruddy connections, especially house battery and genset grounds.

2. Weak batteries.

3. Bad converter.

quote:

Originally posted by Lance Walton:
I did some trouble shooting and found out that the paralleling relay was bad. I could read 1.2 Kohms between the chassis battery contact and the coil ground side with all conductors removed. I purchased a new 500 amp replacement and took the old one apart. The contacts were so black and burned that they didn't even resemble being made of metal. Also you could see the carbon deposition which gave me the high resistence path.
.

Okay where is this relay located?? I don't believe mine is working.

I would find it hard to believe that no one has an area for me to look for the jumping relay run by the crossover switch listed in this thread? Just a good idea where to look without following the wire jungle.

Well, you've got the only Aristocrat! My battery box is passenger side behind the rear wheels. The paralleling relay is in an enclosure in the rear of that compartment.

One exceptionally valuable tool for these coaches is a signal tracer - about $80 online.

Thanks Rusty! What's in a name? I think it's cool to be one of very few. But from everything I've seen there is not a whole lot different from the Breakaway. I just hate wasting time when someone can put me in the right general area. I have never used a signal tracer. Being old school I'm a tracer. I will research a tracer. It might be a wise investment. Rusty from everything I've seen you are a wealth of knowledge thanks for the direction.

I got a Fluke signal tracer from Amazon...from where I also got Gatorback fan belts not available locally, as well as a spare idler arm and pulley.

The charm of a signal tracer is that you can attach it to one wire and the receiver will let you know when you've found the other end.

Dana, it looks like we have the same paint scheme on our Barths. Your's is the first twin I've seen.

I also would like to know where the relay is because mine doesn't work either. My electical panel is outside under the driver's seat. Does it have a special label??

Thanks for any help.

The chances are the relay is located near the batteries. It is normally placed to allow the shortest cable runs.