Do i have 2 battery isolators ?

[Lespoils]

Hello, i'm new to this forum and new to RVing.



I bought a Winnebago Warrior 94 22RB, and i am still figuring out how things work.


So i learned a bit about battery isolator, i understand they prevent the chassis battery from beeing drained while still allowing both chassis and house batteries to be charged when motor is running.


But when i went and looked at my RV, i saw 2 battery isolator. Is one used for the battery boost while the other for charging ?



I would like for someone to help me figure out this part of my system.



I added pictures with comments to try and be clear.


Thanks for the help !

[BobC]

You are correct, although I think the term isolator doesn't fully describe them. They're both solenoids, one of which is automatic and will automatically kick in to charge your house battery while your engine is running. The second, is manually actuated via a switch on the dashboard in order to use your house batteries to supply additional power (boost) to your chassis battery.

This write-up, although not Winnebago-specific, might help:

https://winnebagoind.com/resources/s...Management.pdf

In my case, in addition to the above, I also installed an Amp-L-Start, which is the big brother of the Trik-L-Start mentioned in the article. This allows my house battery charge system (both solar and converter/charger) to keep my chassis battery charged. It isn't a solenoid but uses electronic circuitry to manage the current flow to the chassis battery. It's a fairly straight-forward installation and is a good mod to consider.

[Lespoils]

Thank you !

[CharlesMoore]

I think this is a great addition to coaches that need them. The price is so inexpensive that price is no object if your "start batteries" have gone dead from sitting for 3 months.


So, the practical reality is that attaching this right at the battery level, while intriguing, may not be the best avenue. On my coach, over the years, many people and technicians added "stuff" directly to the battery. If this is not you then leave this conversation now.


So you are here: What do you do? I had the same problem on my sailboat. I bought a buss expander and used it to tie my grounds and positives to the main batteries. I used the expensive
Blue Sea Systems Common BusBars (100A-250A)

So like it or not it is a way to organize the buss bars of your system. Thanks.

[BobC]

I have an Amp-L-Start and just checked my batteries after about two months in the storage yard. The original seventeen year old small solar panel is maintaining both my two house golf cart batteries and the starting battery at 13v.

I guess it's the "Little Panel that Could".

Prior to the Amp-L-Start, it would only have been maintaining the house batteries.

[CharlesMoore]

These are great devices, **-L-Start, for the price. With all systems on class A's after 2000, I am surprised that it is not included in those systems by the OEMs.



My Winnebago Journey 2002 panel show the solar charger red light so I guess it is charging but who knows since we are in an enclosed building in the off season. It would be cool to have a device that would monitor battery ( chassis & house ), hook up to the building wifi and transmit the status to my phone. It probably exists but I have not heard of it.

[Rossi6998]

Agreed... Love my AMP-L Start!