I can't find my battery charger(s)

[Trinity]

Hello everyone, I am the new owner of a 1989 FC35, I am trying to find out what kind of battery charger I have, but first I need to locate it. The closest thing I found is a large white box under the sofa behind the drivers seat, but apparently it is a filter? A filter for what? It has a red, black, and white wire coming out the side. I thought I have looked in every nook and cranny, but must have missed it, but I don't know how big it is. I thought it would be about the same or 1/2 the size of the PACS inverter which is in the left side basement behind the steer tire.

[Ed Wimberley]

John
Yes it is a filter it's in the 12vdc circuit it filters out that awful humming/buzzing noise in the radio and assists other sensitive electronics operate correctly.

[Bill Pape]

Driver side small bay near dump valve.
Is this the Silver Gray Bird, at one time owned by David Thompson ??

[Frank W.]

Hello and welcome!

1: yep, the thing under the couch is a 12volt electronic noise filter.
2: as far a your battery charger...all I can offer is that on our coach the OEM set up was two chargers in the bay just forward of the rear tire drivers side. These old "battery boilers" were replaced shortly after I bought the coach with a modern multi-stage charger. My inverter is located in the front pass. side bay.

Is your existing PACS a combination unit that inverts and also charges your batts, or are there signs that perhaps another component has been removed from the bay?

One of the frustrating aspects of buying one of these old classics is figuring out how it was made at the BB factory, and then figuring out what previous owners have done. As you move along with this and other systems...consider labeling things and adding modification notes/sheets to the owners manual files.

[Trinity]

Originally Posted by Trinity

Hello everyone, I am the new owner of a 1989 FC35, I am trying to find out what kind of battery charger I have, but first I need to locate it. The closest thing I found is a large white box under the sofa behind the drivers seat, but apparently it is a filter? A filter for what? It has a red, black, and white wire coming out the side. I thought I have looked in every nook and cranny, but must have missed it, but I don't know how big it is. I thought it would be about the same or 1/2 the size of the PACS inverter which is in the left side basement behind the steer tire.

Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner, well actually 2 winners. Frank and Bill got it right, I will attempt to show everyone else the view I had upon opening the compartment door. But before that, I looked in the dump valve access door and noticed a screened opening into the next compartment in question and knew we were onto something. After removing the 2 access panels, WOW!!! what a astronomically huge waste of space. Ok, question, are all the original chargers considered "battery boilers" or just everybody else's but mine?

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Trinity

Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner, well actually 2 winners. Frank and Bill got it right, I will attempt to show everyone else the view I had upon opening the compartment door. But before that, I looked in the dump valve access door and noticed a screened opening into the next compartment in question and knew we were onto something. After removing the 2 access panels, WOW!!! what a astronomically huge waste of space. Ok, question, are all the original chargers considered "battery boilers" or just everybody else's but mine?

We need to see the chargers or at least tell us the brand and what they look like. If they are original to you 89, they will be the "boilers".

[Trinity]

Originally Posted by Trinity

Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner, well actually 2 winners. Frank and Bill got it right, I will attempt to show everyone else the view I had upon opening the compartment door. But before that, I looked in the dump valve access door and noticed a screened opening into the next compartment in question and knew we were onto something. After removing the 2 access panels, WOW!!! what a astronomically huge waste of space. Ok, question, are all the original chargers considered "battery boilers" or just everybody else's but mine?

Well, here is the drivers side bay in front of the drive axle with the access panels removed. I could not figure out how to post more than 1 picture, fill me in on how to do that, if its even possible. I know that I have read other threads that have more than 1 picture. I am using a iPad, many things can be done with a PC that can't be done with a IOS device.

[Trinity]

Originally Posted by Rick

We need to see the chargers or at least tell us the brand and what they look like. If they are original to you 89, they will be the "boilers".

This isn't looking good is it? Hey, it does say electronically controlled. Much better than the other magical, telepathic, or environmentally controlled units. Right? lol

[Rick]

Looks like original equipment. Your in the market for a new charger.

[Frank W.]

Referring to post 7 & 8 photos...I'd say "thats the charger!" on the right, and on the left appears to be a blower motor and 120vt. cord for it.

What I think:

Blower: I'd bet that the blower has a thermostat controlling operation...ie: when you're charging your batteries from shore once a certain temp is reached in the compartment and the blower starts/runs to ventilate the compartment. I'd clean it, lube it and test it. I'd make a guess that to have a blower that big for that compartment...that OEM charger over on the right puts out some serious heat & is heat sensitive.

Charger: Your best long term plan is likely to plan to replace that dinosaur with a modern charger. Doing this removes all doubts about reliability, safety, and gives you fully automatic charging and in many models a readout that tells you battery state & charge.

In the interim...I'd clean it well inside and out and check all connections. Compressed air and some electrical contact spray cleaner would work fine. Then I'd test the output voltage to ensure at minimum that you have charging output voltage and that the output is within specifications (if you can find them) or around 14-14.5 volts.

Using that old charger...one suggestion. Not knowing if it is at all automatic (and if this function even works)...for storage: plug the charger directly into a heavy duty timer. You can program the charger to run say 4 hours out of 24. This will keep your batts up...but not overcharged.

Think of your 12 volt gear "as a system"...any weak link in the system is a potential problem/PIA and so ensure all components are good...connections, cables, charger, & batteries...then live with it. After this, you can make plans to upgrade/add batts/add solar depending on your specific needs.

Have fun..."the season" is fast approaching! Check for a rally or owners get together in your region...a few hours chewing the fat with some owners and many of your questions and mysteries will be solved.