[Tim]

I do not have a hardwired display any more, everything is through an iPad or iPhone. So, while the iPad is connected to the Crestron via wifi, for some reason the programmer has the video signal go out via cellular, back in via cellular, and THEN to the iPad via wifi. Is that clear?

And yes, it is all part of the upgrades we had done last year.

[Tim]

Terminology:

VLA: Vented Lead-Acid, also known as Flooded Lead-Acid. Water is added to these batteries.

VRLA: Valve Regulated Lead-Acid. These are the “sealed” batteries. Actually, they have a pressure relief valve to regulate internal pressure. These are Lead-Acid batteries. AGM and Gel-Cells are VRLA batteries.

AGM: Absorbed Glass Mat, also known as Starved Electrolyte and mistakenly called Dry Cells. This is most prevelent and popular VRLA battery.

Gel-Cell: A battery with gelled electrolyte. This is a VRLA battery. These are identical in appearance to AGM batteries.

AGM vs. Gel: Theoretically, Gel is better suited to RV use. However, Gel-Cells are more difficult to produce reliably; therefore, the theoretical advantages are not often realized. AGM batteries can be mass produced with reliable results and thus are more prevalent.

[Tim]

Classic Al!

My wife doesn’t read this forum either, but she would actually agree with you on how I can really tick her off on occasion … and me sitting there, not really knowing I did anything wrong!

[Tim]

Good comment Geo. My post was also referring to lead acid batteries which probably 90 % of us use for starting.

AL

[Tim]

Tim,

On my Marathon, I hear a lot of stuff coming from the back closet. Anytime I hit something on the creston I can hear and see lights do stuff on the various tech link modules back there. I can’t say I have heard things from the front Dash area but there is a massive amount of stuff up there..

Bill

[Tim]

Al,

I think that’s the reason we’re suggesting he change his settings, 21v for autostart is 100% discharged.

[Tim]

Relax, you’ll be fine. Your coach has

double pane windows, and two forms of heat. Arrive with full water tank, and only use garden hose to refill, then put it away. . If you’re equipped with Marathons Canadian heat package you’ll be more than fine. Just don’t shoot your sewer hose out.. If you have to dump, run as much hot water thru it to give it thawed flexibility while retracting. Or wait until you get to Denver and dump at Dakota Ridge RV Park just off I-70

[Tim]

The Webasto is running fine after I turn it on. The radiator behind the squirrel cages heat up, the hoses going to the engine get hot (shutoff valves are open), but no fan action. I’m thinking there must be a relay somewhere that doesn’t signal the fans to come on. OTR heat and AC is working fine from what I can tell so far. Will service the engine and tranny tomorrow.

[Tim]

You and Truk are only a year apart, if he can’t call Leon.

Later

bv

[Tim]

Tom, I read a Donnie Myers post some months back about changing the #2 inverter settings so both went in float mode at the same time and have been pondering making that change on mine. You are suggesting the same general idea which makes sense. I will likely “up” the generator start voltage at the same time. I may email you to discuss both procedures if you do not mind.

Relative to Tim’s post, Marathon also told me to set both inverters to “auto” mode where logic tells me only to set #1 to auto which is what I have been doing for years.

[Tim]

During my walk-thru, the tech who had worked at Marathon told me to keep both Trace inverters on “Auto.” So from Tom’s & Bernie’s post, it seems like Inverter one should be “auto” and the second Invertor should be “Off.” Is this correct? Both are on “auto” in this pic.

[Tim]

Wow!!!! That event looks awesome. I wish I would of known sooner, we were in Sarasota for Christmas. There is nothing better than vintage steel and some awesome Bluegrass music especially Whiskey before Breakfast!!

Loved the video and the pics!

Cheers

[Tim]

All of the comments above may not necessarily apply to all coaches. Almost all of us have inverters, but that does not mean our coaches have the inverters set up or installed the same way.

And because your particular conversion is set up in one manner, another coach by the same converter may be set up differently because inverters have evolved and the way they have been installed in coaches has changed with them.

[Tim]

Good points from Jon and Bernie, I leave my auto-start off and my number 1 inverter controls the auto-start and charge functions, my 2nd inverter is more for just information (meters.) I also turn off the bulk charge function on the number 2 inverter so it only floats.

[Tim]

Tim,

If an inverter has shore or generator power available to it, the inverter is functioning as a battery charger. The inverter does that automatically unless that function has been turned off or disabled. So as long as your coach has that power available you don’t have to worry about your batteries being maintained.

Automatic generator start when house battery voltages are low is a separate function and one that needs to be understood. The first and most importan understanding is knowing when that feature is active, or how to activate it. You do not want it “on” all the time without being aware it is on. There are times when it can be dangerous or it can create issues. You do not want it on if you will be working on or changine house batteries. You do not want it on if the bus is going to be in an enclosed area such as a garage.

You do want it on if you are dry camping and want to maintain the battery charge. You do want it on if you are in an RV park and a power outage can create issues for pets left unattended.

Bottom line is to understand how and when it works.

If it is programmable (not all auto-start systems are) do as Tom suggests. A low starting voltage is going to prematurely kill your batteries.