Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2023 09:57:11 -0400
Reply-To: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Electrical is not my strength
In-Reply-To: <BL0PR05MB4916779D2E14A640821F5F40A016A@BL0PR05MB4916.namprd05.prod.outlook.com>
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I sure wish I had the skills to follow this!
But, my skills might be limited to finding the blown fuse and replacing it.
I did that and things seem to be working again.
I’m always wondering when a fuse blows what cause the problem.
Yet, several times now I’ve replaced a fuse and then all was good for many years.
I had my rear heater fan blow in 2013 and I replaced the fuse and all has been good.
I did the same with several fuses in my 84 for things like signal and horn and all seems fine now.
This fuse is more concerning as it relates to new work done.
Mostly this work was taking out lots of wires that were unfused and replacing with better quality wire and connectors and adding fuses.
I’ll give it a little time and a work out to see how things are. And if needed bring it back for adjustment. This email from Dennis will be saved so I have a starting point.
But, fingers crossed this is added to my list of fuses that once replaced led to good working systems.
Eric Caron
84 currently with charging house batteries again.
> On Aug 13, 2023, at 11:13 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> That blown fuse is a sure sign something is wrong, most likely the circuit design. As a charge line the circuit needs to be designed to carry the battery charging current and also the load of anything connected to it while charging. As the alternator is a fixed voltage a good rule to follow is to design for 1/3 to 1/2 of the connected battery A/H capacity plus again whatever will be connected while charging. Also, since this is relay controlled the relay needs to be controlled by the "X" circuit so that it is also disabled during cranking, not the ignition circuit. The factory set up for the refrigerator and dual battery set ups used the alternator warning light and starter coil to operate the relay. Alternator had to be charging and using the coil as ground disabled it while cranking. With the relay close during cranking effectively the 2 battery banks will both try to operate the starter and with a fused circuit the fuse blow.
>
> On your 85 that cross connection is a main reason #6 wire was used and there is no fusing on the charge lines as they can become part of the starting circuit.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of Eric Caron
> Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2023 7:05 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Electrical is not my strength
>
> Hi folks,
>
> During a recent campout with my 84 my electric cooler started giving me a code.
> I realized with the help of a friend that the cooler was not working and that the house battery was at 11.4. Strange as we had just driven a hour.
> We checked and no voltage change when van running.
>
> Something was wrong. No house battery charge but the start battery was charging showing 13.4 when van running.
> This list has taught me that there is nothing to lose by looking yourself, even if you really don’t have much idea what to do.
> So, I looked at the relay in the front of the bus that combines the batteries. It looked in great shape with wires clean and solid and ground looked clean. I checked the fuses at the house batteries and they were all good.
>
> I opened the start battery compartment and found a 40 amp fuse that was blown.
>
> I went to the local auto parts stores but they were not open. One that is always open until 8:00 pm closed the door as we walked up at 4:55 with a sign. Staffing shortage.
> I usually have only about a 40 percent chance of getting what I need from the local part store anyway.
>
> I ordered the fuses on line and will be able to report back next week.
>
> The fuses are spade style but much larger than the ones I’ve seen in the past.
>
> Now to see if changing it is the solution or it blows again.
>
> Thanks to the list for teaching me to try.
>
> A tip of the hat to Scot who always said. Lubricate everything, and look yourself when something isn’t working.
>
> Eric Caron
