Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 03-14-2016, 03:38 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 15
Electrical Issues Help Please!

We have had our Sportsmobile for a year, lots of fun! However, the previous owner had removed the thermostat from the inside electrical heater under the seat, and it runs continuously unless I unhook my accessory battery. This seemed to be fine until both my batteries drained on a trip. We ended up camping in the parking lot of an auto parts store. They tested my alternator while it was in the van and it failed. I removed the alternator and took it to be tested alone, and it passed. I replaced the connector to the alternator as it looked to be frayed. Just put the alternator back in and she fired right up, but am afraid to drive any distance as she left me stranded previously. Could that fan be draining my system? If so, is there an easy way to disable it? Any ideas? Should I put another thermostat in? Where to connect it? Thanks!

Stranded in Washington State
Bassfarm

bassfarm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2016, 03:46 PM   #2
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
What kind of heater is it...propane?

When you say both batteries, I assume you mean the house and starting batteries, correct?

Maybe the original owner cut in a switch somewhere to disable the heater fan for when not needed?
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2016, 04:17 PM   #3
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 15
Thanks for the reply! Yes, both the house and starting batteries were drained (brand new batteries). The heater is under the bench seat, I assume it is electrical, for when I unhook the accessory battery, it turns off. Would having the secondary battery unhooked cause the starting battery to drain?
Bassfarm
bassfarm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2016, 04:32 PM   #4
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Depends. Is your van equipped with a battery isolator or separator of some type? I'm still trying to figure out what heater you have. Is it a Suburban propane heater?

No, having the house disconnected shouldn't cause a no engine start situation provided the battery isolator or separator is working correctly but you really need to check for one. W/O some sort of automatic separator working correctly between the batteries, yes even a small load could take both down in a matter of days and a heavy load in less time than that.
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2016, 04:34 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
larrie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Oregon Ciry Oregon
Posts: 2,843
You probably have a propane heater with and electric fan. The thermostat is just like the one in your house. Two skinny really skinny wires connect the thermostat to the heater.

One option is to find your fuse box and pull the one of the heater. That way you will not drain your house battery while you figure out where the thermostat wires are and what the PO did.

What year is your van?
__________________
Larrie
Read detailed trip reports, see photos and videos on my travel blog, luinil.com.
Current van: 2002 Ford E350 extended body camper with Colorado Camper Van pop top and Agile Offroad 4WD conversion.
larrie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2016, 04:48 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Scalf77's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 2,490
Where in Washington State are you stranded?

greg
__________________
-greg
__________________________________________________ ______________
"Goldilocks" 2020 Ford Transit High Roof Extended 3.5 EcoBoost AWD Homebuilt
Scalf77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2016, 04:51 PM   #7
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 15
It is a 1989 Econoline. It has a multi battery isolator.
bassfarm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2016, 04:53 PM   #8
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scalf77 View Post
Where in Washington State are you stranded?

greg
It's in my driveway now --- got home safely! Just trying to troubleshoot before our next camping trip. If it's possible I'd love to utilize that heater and figure out how to make it blow hot air instead of the cool that it is. Seattle here.
bassfarm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2016, 10:08 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Bbasso's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 1,258
Do you need to put propane somewhere in the van in order to have heat? If so you have a propane heater...
Dig around for the model number of your heater and we should be able to give you better more informed responses.
__________________
Rob.
Current:
2001 E350 PSD w/ a bunch of stuff.
And had three other E350s...
Bbasso is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2016, 10:29 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
arctictraveller's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,234
PM sent.......
__________________
Arctic Traveller
KC6TNI
2001 GTRV
Advanced 4wd
Agile Ride improvement package
arctictraveller is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:04 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.