-
Hi Lo light and BAL light illuminated on the dash
My start batteries went dead while plugged into shore power as my battery charger breaker kicked off. After starting and running for several hours my Hi Lo and BAL lights are on the dashboard. Any ideas on how to reset these? Everything seems to working fine. I have shut everything off twice at the main breakers and the lights are still on. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Scott
-
14 Replies
-
Scott,
First an observation. You do not need to keep a battery charger working on chassis batteries unless you have something wrong drawing current or you have batteries that are end of life.
But to answer your questions the lights you mention will reset as soon as the chassis voltages are OK. Any time they light your first reaction is to determine if you are having a problem. Measure the voltages, usually at the posts on the equalizer just because that is usually the most convenient spot.
The blue balance light is an indication the relationship between the 24 volt side and 12 volt side of the chassis electrical system is not within an acceptable range. The 12 volt value should be exactly 1/2 of the 24 volt value within 1/2 volt. In other words if you read 12.8 volts at the 12 volt post, the 24 volt post should read 25.6 volts.
The hi/lo red light is an indication the voltage is outside an acceptable range. It should be more than 24, but less than 30.
If your coach is equipped with a Vanner electrical system monitor, and your voltage checks show chassis electrical system voltages are within the ranges I specified above the Vanner monitor has failed and needs to be replaced. If the voltages are outside of the ranges specified you have a problem with the charging system or the batteries themselves.
-
Scott,
I would have the Vanner and voltage regulator checked ASAP.
I had a HI-LO light several years ago on my XL (14 years to be exact). Called my mechanic and he said it will go off. After a 30 mile drive I had toasted my house batteries. I was having the bus stripped to be painted. When I went to pick up the bus to bring it to the paint shop my mechanic went with me. After about 5 miles of driving we caught on fire (the Vanner equalizer and the chassis batteries were in flames). Fortunately we got the fire out before any damage to the coach other than the equalizer and batteries. The mechanic sprung for a tow, new house and chassis batteries and Vanner. I got to pay for the voltage regulator. I haven’t had a HI-LO light since then, but I still get a sinking feeling in my stomach just thinking about it.
I don’t mean to scare anyone, just relaying my experience.
-
Same light came on in my Marathon. I put in a new controller and it didn’t help. Turns out there are 2 fuses leading into the module and both were blown. New fuses solved the problem.
Ron
-
The former Royale employee that now has Royale Phoenix said that I have a 3 to 5 amp load on the chassis batteries even with the 12/24 master shut off. After 5 weeks of sitting with full hook ups, I checked the chassis batteries to find them all at 23.8 volts (11.9 individually). I installed them new in 11/18. Charged them back up to 26 volts and will manually monitor them till I get home. At which time I will meter the draw and get a strategy to deal with it. Didn’t mean to let this happen. 11.5 years with the Liberty made me remis on this.
Other than the control modules for the Detroit and Allison (DDEC4 and ATEC), any ideas generically what might be the loads? None of the wires connected directly to the batteries look consumer installed.
-
As Dan said you should monitor your batteries when parked. I installed an on board 24v smart charger, Does your coach not have a 24v charger? What coach do you have? My 97 Royale came with a 24v charger that was old and old school, sitting for a while working on it the battery’s would get low enough not to start coach, so I removed the old bread box charger and installed a new 24v smart charger, now about every month or two I switch on charger and it’s will read 15 amps for a short time then after a while it drops down towards 0 and it’s at full charge. The old charger would only charge at 24v even when it was new, newer smart 24v chargers will charge up around 28v for a while then drop down, just like your inverter does.
Jeff and Lindsay
91 Marathon XL -
Dash Battery balance light on dash…bus WITH multi plex operating system,
How do you tell ? Under drivers bay door has ECM’s lined up, relay’s gone.
On Multi-Plex system dash balance light goes on and off, flickers while parked.
First, check your Vanner for correct operation, 12 and 24 volt operating range.
After having this problem Prevost tells me many of the first generation buses with multi plex operating systems had perimeters set too tight. This caused dash light to flicker after sitting a long length of time. Prevost can reset so light does not monitor so tight.
Another point was starting battery life…recommended replacement every 3 years.
AL
-
Yes Art, I have the 24 volt charger installed by the converter that boils the batteries.
I went from Liberty number 276 to Royale number 376.
After much research, I’m going with the Samlex SEC 2425UL smart charger. Here’s why:
1) It is made in Taiwan instead of China
2) Input can be 230VAC
3) Used by our military
4) Using dip switches, can be configured as a three or two stage charger. Explaining: When the batteries being charged also have a load, the load can prevent the charger from ever getting to float mode causing the charger to stay in absorption which would eventually over heat them. By using the two stage configuration, the charger goes from bulk to float to prevent this.
5) All protections – short, reverse, overtemp
6) Thermostatic controlled fan.
7) Switchable to 50% of capacity in case you want a slower (less heat) charge.
-
Some after thoughts to share – the 2425 is 24 volts 25 amps. Samlex also offers a 2415 and 2440. The 40 would be correct spec for our 210 amp bank if charging from complete discharge. Hopefully not.
The max operating temp spec is 104F. Since it’s in bed with Detroit, best not to have it on until Detroit cools down.
-
Dan,
Good post. It sounds like you have not installed it yet. Please give an update of your thoughts about it when you do. I installed a Marinco last year. I wish i had known about the Samlex.
-
Thanks Jeff, we’re still sitting in Naples now, due home about 3/11 ( too early). Figure late March when I can update. Google Samlexamerica – fun reading.
-
Sounds good Dan. Thanks!
-
Got the Samlex 2425 installed above the chassis batteries. An easy procedure. Since Royale put a 15 amp 230 volt circuit/outlet in the bay behind right tag (to power an outdoor Gageneau), I used that to power the Samlex. This unit is probably overkill for the application, but it had the features I wanted: 115 or 230 VAC input and 3 or 2 stage charging.
Tradewinds Coach
Kyle Bennett (Service)
Brian Miller (Sales) -
I did some reading about the Samlex products. Definitely looks like high quality stuff. I like that you can use if for a DC power source and the terminal connections.
-
Scott,
Did you resolve your issue?
Log in to reply.