Battery System - 12 Volts DC

Why are there so many batteries and what do they all do?

If you look under the hood, you will notice that there are a total of 5 batteries, which seems like a lot.

There are two large six volt batteries on the left side.  They are wired in series to provide 12 volts. These run some of the kitchen lights and fans.

Next to the two six volt batteries, mounted a little lower on the left side, is a smaller 12 V battery that is used for the generator.

On the right hand side, you will see two twelve volt batteries.  These are used to start the truck diesel motor.

Even if the kitchen batteries run down, you can still start the truck or the generator, as they have their own batteries.
 

How are the batteries charged?

When the vehicle is plugged into AC power, the kitchen batteries are charging.

When the generator is running, the kitchen batteries are charging, but the generator batteries are not charging.  This means that you need to run the truck engine for 15 minutes every few hours to keep the generator battery charged.  If you do not run the truck engine occasionally, the generator will eventually stop, and you will not be able to restart the generator until the truck motor has been on for a few minutes.

When the truck motor is running, the truck batteries and the generator battery are charging.

 
 

Fuse locations

There is a fuse panel under the hood, on the left hand side of the truck.  These are 30 amp glass AGC type fuses for the kitchen 12 volt appliances.
Batteries and fuse
There is a fuse panel in the right rear outside compartment of the unit, next to the transfer switch.  These fuses are associated with the grille exhaust fans. 12 Volt Fuses in rear compartment
There is a fuse panel under the dashboard of the truck, on the left hand side, for the vehicle functions.  These use automotive type flat fuses. Fuse box under dash
The 110/220 Volt AC circuit breakers are in the left rear outside compartment, next to the transfer switch.

 

Master Switches on Dash


The far lower left side of the truck dashboard has several silver toggle switches that control the 12V lighting inside the unit.  If these master switches are off, then the lights will not come on, even if the other switches are on.  This makes it easy to turn off all the lights when shutting down the truck.

Left side of dashboard

 

What runs on the kitchen 12 Volt system?

There are 4 lights on the ceiling of the kitchen that run on 12 volts.

There are 2 lights on the right hand side of the kitchen, under the storage cabinets, that run on 12 volts.  The switch for these lights is on the light itself.  There are also similar lights on the inside (underside) of the large doors on the right of the vehicle.

The water pump runs on 12 volts, with the switch above the grille, below the fan switches.

The exhaust fans above the grille run on 12 volts.
 

What runs on the truck 12 volt system?


The truck 12 volt system starts the truck and runs the headlights, horns, radio/CD, and other truck accessories.
 

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RAF 11/1/05