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Old 04-14-2010, 08:44 PM   #1
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Van wouldn't start from house battery (via isolator) today.

I've run my engine battery down to nothing (lights/gauges won't come on) several times before (usually because I left the radio on), and I've always been able to start the van using the house battery via the isolator. Today this didn't work. I don't know what ran down the battery this time, but the van had been sitting for 5 months (yeah, shame on me!). I turned the key, and nothing. Had to jump start it.

After jump starting it, the van was fine. After running for a while, I could easily restart it.

The house battery wasn't run down -- it was still somewhere in the "green" zone.

Any idea what was up? Does there need to be some kind of trace residual charge on the engine battery for the isolator to work?

-- Geoff

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Old 04-14-2010, 09:28 PM   #2
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Re: Van wouldn't start from house battery (via isolator) today.

MODEL 1315-200
This unit will activate only
when either the Main or
Auxiliary Battery System
exceeds 13.2 volts*.

Maybe your house system was a bit low Geoff???
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Old 04-14-2010, 09:42 PM   #3
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Re: Van wouldn't start from house battery (via isolator) today.

Thanks -- that sounds likely. I could have been lower than that but still in the "green" zone.
-- Geoff
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Old 04-14-2010, 09:44 PM   #4
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Re: Van wouldn't start from house battery (via isolator) today.

I now have a garage tall enough for the van (just barely) so it doesn't get topped off by solar anymore.
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Old 04-14-2010, 09:56 PM   #5
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Re: Van wouldn't start from house battery (via isolator) today.

That, and the numeric readout on the house battery display doesn't work anymore so I didn't know the voltage.

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Old 04-14-2010, 10:16 PM   #6
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Re: Van wouldn't start from house battery (via isolator) today.

Quote:
Originally Posted by daveb
MODEL 1315-200
This unit will activate only
when either the Main or
Auxiliary Battery System
exceeds 13.2 volts*.

Maybe your house system was a bit low Geoff???
I think that's only for the automatic connection, and in itself would never jump start the van.

The 1315 has an override that you apply 12v to to force the separator closed- SMB had mine wired to the "start" position on the key, so on every start the house was jumping the starter, one, both, either or neither being dead.

So to jump from the house batteries you could either apply juice to this switch or literally jump the terminals (or the batteries)... in any case the voltage of either set shouldn't matter.

That said, all that is for a separator (1315-200 or BlueSea 400a) which is different from an Isolator, which I'm not sure how to jumpstart with... geoffff.. which do you have and how do you "start the van using the house battery via the isolator"?
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Old 04-14-2010, 10:20 PM   #7
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Re: Van wouldn't start from house battery (via isolator) today.

Quote:
Originally Posted by jage
geoffff.. which do you have and how do you "start the van using the house battery via the isolator"?
Hmmm, OK, I'm just guessing on the terminology -- and on what I think happens based only on observed behavior. Let me take a look and get back to you on what I actually have. I should find out where that thing actually is.

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Old 04-14-2010, 10:30 PM   #8
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Re: Van wouldn't start from house battery (via isolator) today.

This is the 1315 you can see the tabs on the right most side and their function is diagrammed on the front.

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1023&hilit=separator

HTH
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Old 04-15-2010, 09:06 AM   #9
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Re: Van wouldn't start from house battery (via isolator) today.

I seem to remember the Jump start mode from the ignition had to have .7 volts[EDIT 3v] or more to close the separator. Could be wrong but if not provided the starting batteries are dead it would never jump to start. Right now my separator won't even work by hitting the manual jump switch and after driving for an hour or so it will start to work....it's junk. My new Blue Sea is finally in and will be installed W/I a couple of weeks.

[EDIT .7 ???? ]
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Old 04-16-2010, 10:50 AM   #10
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Re: Van wouldn't start from house battery (via isolator) today.

Quote:
Originally Posted by daveb
the Jump start mode from the ignition had to have .7 volts or more to close the separator.
That's a good point since the juice comes from the starter side. You sure that's not 7 volts? .7 is like a dead AAA battery.
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