Battery isolator not switching

Submitted: Saturday, Oct 04, 2008 at 21:53

ThreadID: 62285 Views:3820 Replies:3 FollowUps:5

This Thread has been Archived

Battery Power

In this article we explain why you might need an additional power source independent of the starting battery installed into your vehicle and we look in detail at types of batteries,

BoldJack ( Penrith NSW)

I have a Piranha DBE 150S that's not charging my AGM auxiliary.
Is there anything that could cause this ,that is easy to check and fix?
Alternator is charging main battery fine.
BoldJack

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Saturday, Oct 04, 2008 at 22:40

Saturday, Oct 04, 2008 at 22:40

Get yourself a multi meter. Set it to the 20 V range. Start the motor and set it running at a fast idle. Measure the voltage across the starting battery. Measure the voltage across the auxiliary battery. If the two batteries are the same the auxiliary battery is buggered. If the two voltages differ then you have a wiring problem or your Piranha is buggered. To check the Piranah, locate the two large terminals on it and measure the voltage between them. If you can measure anything then the Piranah is buggered.

PeterD

PeterD
Retired radio and electronics technician

Lifetime Member
My Profile Send Message

AnswerID: 328464

Follow Up By: BoldJack ( Penrith NSW) - Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 09:54

Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 09:54

I've done all that except for the bit about voltage across the two large terminals.
So far it still looks like the isolator itself . I don't have multi meter with me at home so cant check now.
Thanks Bert

FollowupID: 595726

Reply By: Maîneÿ (wa) - Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 00:44

Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 00:44

If your voltage reading is not 'similar' on both batteries then you have a problem.

As you say "main battery is fine" then battery isolator is FAULTY.

Mainey . . .

AnswerID: 328472

Reply By: Member - Bucky (VIC) - Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 07:15

Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 07:15

Jack

Have you tried looking at the earth lead from your isolator, to the guard. I had a similar problem a few years back, and thought I had killed the "borrowed Engle" ,,, ..Big $$$$$ for me I thought, and that was day 1 of our Simpson Desert trip.

Thanks to Roachie & Pud, they were on to it. They took off the earth wire, off the inner guard, from the unit itself, scratched the crap out of everything around the bolt hole and put it back on..

Like a magic wand, it was fixed .

Try that one.

Now you realise that there will be a delay of a couple of minutes till the isolator switches to the axillary battery.

Cheers Mate
Bucky

AnswerID: 328481

Follow Up By: BoldJack ( Penrith NSW) - Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 10:05

Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 10:05

First thing I did was clean all the connections on both batteries, however I never checked all the earth connections to the body including the one for the isolator. (doh)
Hope your on to something, will check later. Thanks
Cheers Bert

FollowupID: 595727

Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 16:33

Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 16:33

Bert,

Further to Bucky's advice, are you sure that power is getting to the isolator when you switch the ignition on?

Just need a test light, or that multi meter you haven't got @ home,

Hooroo,
Bob.

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 595782

Follow Up By: BoldJack ( Penrith NSW) - Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 19:50

Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 19:50

G'day Bob,
Yep got good supply from back of wiper motor plug, thanks just the same.
I have also checked the the body earth's in the system ,
re other posts
Cheers Bert

FollowupID: 595818

Follow Up By: BoldJack ( Penrith NSW) - Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 20:03

Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 20:03

Hi all,
I should say I did a search early on before posted this thread, and I must say I was very impressed with some of the remarks about Piranha and their service.
Looks like I might have to contact them and see what they say.
Cheers Bert

FollowupID: 595820