Eagles International Forum

Last saturday I received a call from a mechanic in El Paso TX, I requested him to check the transmission shifts (just the stick because maybe needs a little adjustment) and he told me that the batteries are totally discharged.

What I need to do to install a solar panel to maintain the batteries charged? I really don't know how the electric system of the bus is configured and I'm thinking that I need first to go to El Paso and check the all the wires and the equipment in order to draw a diagram.

Any comments or suggestions are very appreciatted.

Hi Julio,

You should have a battery cut off switch located in the battery compartment. This would be for the engine starter batteries. I shut my off every time I park overnight and for long extended periods. If the switch is off then you have some ghost drain. Do you have a manual yet? What size are the batteries? They may be old and gone and have to be replaced. Call me when you get there if you need any help.

I just installed one small solar panel today to charge our one 12v house battery and it's really the way to go. I will get more as the house battery bank grows.

Keep us informed on your progress,

~Paul~

Paul,

BJ never said anything about and also I don't remember anything about a switch when we was waiting for the mechanic near Kerville.

There are two big 12V batteries (don't know anymore), one for the bus and one for the house, about the bus battery I remember that BJ said that he purchased recently the bus battery and looks like a new one, let me check the receipts he gave me. I really don't know more, I have the bus manuals but I didn't check anything, they are just stored in the bus in ELP.

I'm remembering, when we arrive to pickup the bus it was connected with a long cable to the BJ house.

The mechanic at ELP said me that he will first try to recharge the batteries to check if they work again but I want to install something to maintain it charged with the sun, now is starting the most sunny days at El Paso and/or Chihuahua and from here to mid october the sun burns the skin hardly.

Thanks

Julio, That long cord was probably your 120 volt power cord, you need to find out if you have a 30 or 50 amp system.

Normally there are two batteries for the starter, sounds like the previous owner used one of them for the house batteries. If it were me I would use two to start the bus and get another one for the house battery and a solar panel to charge it.

If the batteries are fairly new hopefully the charging will bring them back to life.

Need to know the size of the battery, 8D or Group 31 or whatever size you have.

~Paul~

Paul, the system is 50 amp and remember something like a circuit breaker and one or two "humming" boxes under the couch (inverters?).

I also remember that BJ said something about two buttons on the left side in the drivers area to use the two batteries at the same time but I don't know how it works or what for is, he never used that.

All the house system is 110V and only some lights and two radios are 12V, I will need to go to El Paso to draw a diagram and check all the connections, equipment and batteries.

What are the diferences with the two types of bateries you mention?

Julio, The main difference is size, the 8 D is a much larger battery, maybe twice the size of a normal one and very heavy. It's been a long time since I've seen one.

It's good you have 50 amp, and it does sound like you have inverters.

You will have fun as you get to know your Eagle!

Any suggestions if I should buy new batteries, what's the best option?

Have someone check the condition of them with a load on it. Take it to any reputable truck shop, they should know how. That way you will know if you have a dead cells or not, and if they need to be replaced or just charged.

Good Luck My Friend,

~Paul~