Maiden voyage of rebuilt SMB near catastrophe--need advice

[leoberk]

I'll post a full list of problems when I return, but for now I'm hoping I can get your advice on battery charging issue. Coach batteries are not charging from alternator. I put my meter on and got 5 volts from what I think is to line to alt. It reads zero when van is not running so I think I have right one. Is there a auto reset breaker not working? coincidentally, I'm 75 miles from fresno, can I bug smb for parts/help if I bought used?

Thanks,

Leo

[AndrewST]

It's an SMB, they will help out, I am sure.
Go for it

[jage]

Are the starter batteries charging from the alternator? If you have an isolator (~pre 2003? I can never remember) looks like a brick under the hood it should be putting out 12v when the alternator is.

If you have a separator (post 2003ish, and found in the cabin somewhere) it may not be closing. Regardless the line you found to the battery should have 12v unless the batteries are dead. If the line has 5v, the batteries have no more than that... and voltage that low can keep your separator from closing (joining drops the whole system voltage, the separator opens, etc)

With the alternator off the voltage on what you think is the line should match the house voltage, eg. 5.25 both places or whatever. You can check the house voltage in the power outlets in the walls.

Without more info it's hard to guess what is wrong.

[leoberk]

Thanks for the replies. SMB West squeezed me into their schedule as I was driving past the factory. The auto-reset breaker had gone bad and they simply bypassed it since they don't install them anymore. Working great now. Almost got all the kinks out for what seems to be smooth sailing.