generator battery won't charge

chicken_h2o · #1 02-13-2008

My generator is a '85 Perkins Kohler that works perfectly, but the battery won't charge on its own. After a couple hours of running the generator, the battery is in the red. This unit has no alternator, so what charges the battery? Thanks!

Randy Dupree · #2 02-13-2008

i always thought the gennie battery was charged by the battery chargers.
i didnt think the gennie had a charging circut built in.
But,someone on this site posted that they do indeed have a charging circut.
maybe some did and some didnt?
heres what i would do,i would check to see if the battery isolator was working.
if the battery charger does charge the gennie battery it shoul be routed through the isolator.
Randy

sfedeli · #3 02-14-2008

The '85 birds charge the genset battery via the on-board battery chargers. Unfortunately, there is a diode that normally fails and breaks the charging circuit. You can overcome this by jumping the diode so that it always passes current to the genset battery, but you will also drain the battery when you're boondocking. The solution that I used was to install a Newmar Battery Integrator http://www.boatelectric.com/newbbi100.htm It is the new version of what Bluebird was attempting to do with the diode. The biggest advantage is the reduced voltage drop across the integrator as opposed to the diode, which loses 1.5 volts and prevents the genset battery from ever getting a good bulk charge.

chicken_h2o · #4 02-16-2008

Thanks for the replies. What we did was installed an alternator. We had to do some fabricating to make it work, but it seems to be working fine. As soon as the temperature gauge, we ordered, comes from Bluebird, we will be able to let the generator run for a while to make sure everything is going to work properly. Thanks again.
Jeff and Sandra
Batesburg, SC

iamflagman · #5 02-18-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicken_h2o

Thanks for the replies. What we did was installed an alternator. We had to do some fabricating to make it work, but it seems to be working fine. As soon as the temperature gauge, we ordered, comes from Bluebird, we will be able to let the generator run for a while to make sure everything is going to work properly. Thanks again.
Jeff and Sandra
Batesburg, SC

I talked to Jeff this morning as he passed by my place in his "Pete Big Truck" and he will get us some photos of the alternator add on. Sandra did all of the parts chasing to get the tractor alternator from NAPA, so she will provide us with all of the numbers.

Randy Dupree · #6 02-18-2008

i toyed with the idea of puttingan alternator on the gennie in my 84 coach,just never did it.
some of the later coachs came with one,my 93 does not have one.
randy

chicken_h2o · #7 02-21-2008

Here are some photos of the alternator on the Perkins. It is keeping my battery charged fine. I removed my air filter housing and bracket. I made a few homemade brackets, one 10 gauge wire to my gen. battery, and one butt connector on my positive cable, reinstalled air filter and I was back in business. One wire, one alternator. This I understand.
Parts:
65amp alternator 13-4011sw
10ft. 10 gauge wire
1 butt connector

Jeff Clary

iamflagman · #8 02-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicken_h2o

Here are some photos of the alternator on the Perkins. It is keeping my battery charged fine. I removed my air filter housing and bracket. I made a few homemade brackets, one 10 gauge wire to my gen. battery, and one butt connector on my positive cable, reinstalled air filter and I was back in business. One wire, one alternator. This I understand.
Parts:
65amp alternator 13-4011sw
10ft. 10 gauge wire
1 butt connector

Jeff Clary

Very nice job, it looks like it came with the generator from the factory.

Randy Dupree · #9 02-21-2008

very nice.
how did you get that perkins so clean?
how come johns gennie is not that clean?
Randy

iamflagman · #10 02-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy Dupree

very nice.
how did you get that perkins so clean?
how come johns gennie is not that clean?
Randy

John gennie is not that clean, because John doesn't have a 16 year old son named Matt around to do it....like somebody that I know, or is that Sandra doing the cleaning Jeff?

I've seen who washes the Peterbuilt