Battery's Disconnected on Passenger Side

[FirstMateKate]

Hello everyone and let me start by saying thanks for this group and all of your knowledge.

So we are faced with a slight problem.
Our bird is an 85 FC 35' and we are having issues getting it started. The two batteries on the Passenger side are 6v and were disconnected without the proper person helping to see what went where. Then taken in to be tested, one turned out to have polarity reversed (? from the guy at O'riely's) and would not take a charge. I think this was the source of the starting issue. Well When the batteries were reconnected. I think the + line from the bus (short cable #1)was connected to the - on the first batter and thus SPARKS flew and cuss words followed.

Now we have possibly fried both of these batteries as we assume we reconnected incorrectly

There are two cables, one shorter than the other that connect the batteries. I think the short cable #1 is my hot + (positive) and should go to the + (positive) on the first rear battery. The - on battery #1 will connect to the + on the front battery #2 and the other cable (long cable from bus)will connect to the front - (negative)

I am going to get these batteries looked at in the morning, had to leave the bus parked 100 miles away so we could get home for work tomorrow.

I have the wiring schemes from my blue box, but this seems to be unhelpful to the captain.

Can anyone advise as to when this gets hooked back up we are doing it correct?

[gcyeaw]

I assume there are batteries on the drivers side? If yes, then use a volt meter to determine which of the wires on the passenger side is positive, and which is ground. It would be best to trace the wires to find out where they are actually connected. You never know for sure what a Previous Owner may have done.

[warbucks13477]

kate this is how the batteries should look under the drivers side compartment. If there are batteries on the passenger side they are extra and you can leave them disconnected for now.
http://tinyurl.com/44474gk

[Frank W.]

Hello...

In my FC the pass. side battery tray holds two 6vt. batteries also.

First...over the years various owners may have made changes to how anything on your bus (or mine) has been wired...with that in mind I would make no assumptions...but, on our coach those two batts are wired together (+ to -) as a pair giving you effectivly one big 12 vt. battery. A short bridge wire of about 1' joins the two batts. Then you would have two longer battery cables leading to/from the tray compartment. If you look under the battery box you can see that one will go to a ground connection on frame (this is the -). The other "should" go to the main starter terminal (this is the +). Look first, confirm and hook up.

Suggestion: get RED colored electrical tape and "code" all your battery cables with a "stripe wrap" at the terminal ends.

In the main battery tray you have 4 6vt. batts...each PAIR is hooked up as above...then the two pairs are tied to terminal posts for - and +....and there you go.

Hope this answers your question

[FirstMateKate]

Thanks everyone for the quick feedback.

To confirm I never did mess with any of the 4 - 6v batteries under the drivers compartment, this is on the passenger side

The hot is easy to figure out cause it will spark if you touch it to anything metal.

I have the short jump cable to go from + to -, getting the batteries tested now and will try and hook it back up tonight. From what I can tell none of the wiring has been modified on this side from the original specs as I know the original owner (THANK GOODNESS).

Learning is fun and if I have more problems I will be in touch.

Thanks alot
Captain Bullfrog - Jeremiah (via FirstMateKate)

[jerpicard]

Thanks for all your help

Got the issue resolved and Maybelline is home ready for the next adventure

[Ernest Ekberg]

tell us your fix

[jerpicard]

Well there were two problems

One of the 6V in the series was most likely dead before problem #2, causing the bus to not start

Problem #2 was hooking up the series of 2 6V on the Passenger Side incorrectly. I had one battery flipped, touched the *** to the Neg and the battery was toasted.

Replaced both batteries in the series
Hooked them up correctly and she cranked right up

Lesson learned, now to get the WVO oil into the tank for the long journey to AR, for $Free.99

[Rick]

What are you doing in Arkansas and where in NW Ark will you be?

[jerpicard]

Okay guys It looks like I may need a bit more help to diagnose this problem

When I hooked up a *** power to a negative terminal, the shock was quite powerful and melted the battery terminals

My problem is what else did this accidental connection fry?

Am I needing to trace out my inverter, capacitors, etc?

I am not for sure exactly what I have gotten myself into but long story short is I have now purchased all 6 new batteries and will be getting the remaining 4 on monday.
The reason for all new is after installing the 2 new, everything was dead again in just a couple of days. Something drained the batteries and I am going to assume that its an inverter or I hope I am using the right term. A square metal box the guys at the local shop said to look for, use my test light to see if power is coming through, then I will know.

I have all my books and am starting the reading, but any advice is appreciated.

Thanks everyone.

BTW: i am going to the Ozark Mountains to a bluegrass music festival at Mulberry Mountain. Hope to do some crystal mining too if Maybeline gets up and running soon.