Bypass BIRD

[Bobgaudette]

My bird is not charging the house battery’s off the engine. I have ordered a new bird but will be going on a trip tomorrow. Until I get the new bird, other than the risk of draining ALL the batteries, would it be a problem to jumper the battery to the power of the isolator relay to keep the battery’s connected so the house will charge off the alternator?

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by Bobgaudette

My bird is not charging the house battery’s off the engine. I have ordered a new bird but will be going on a trip tomorrow. Until I get the new bird, other than the risk of draining ALL the batteries, would it be a problem to jumper the battery to the power of the isolator relay to keep the battery’s connected so the house will charge off the alternator?

In my opinion, it would be better to run the generator than bypass the BIRD.

[Bobgaudette]

Can you elaborate as to why? Running generator is costly and added wear and tear on it. I was thinking of making the jumper switchable and only on when driving.

[lwmcguire]

Originally Posted by Bobgaudette

Can you elaborate as to why? Running generator is costly and added wear and tear on it. I was thinking of making the jumper switchable and only on when driving.

Beau is right, you can do it short term but long term you put a lot of wear on your alternator, possibly over heating it

Also you will have higher voltage if you alternator has the capacity on the house batteries than you should have long term

Run the generator

[ducksface]

What added wear?
They'll charge, fill, then stop.
Unless he's running roof ac through an inverter, I don't think the added drag of the almost nothing running in the coach part on 12v is a thing.
But
Generators use half a gallon of fuel an hour
And
What will you be running the generator for that affects the bird?
Bird is an alternate charging system.

I'm not really understanding what the whole thing is other than not wanting to replace a faulted bird.

I'd jump it for now if $1.15ph for generator gas on occasion is a problem during this short trip.

Punchline:

Run the generator.

[Bob Denman]

Well...
For very short term use: I'd use the jumpers.
But for anything longer than the trip to where you're going: it's time to fire up the genny!

[DavidEM]

If we are talking about the Precision Circuits' device, unless the OP has the lithium version, a jumper is the same as a closed pair of solenoid contacts. The basic PC's BIRD does not limit current or charging time from the alternator.

David

[lwmcguire]

I have seen a few install jumpers over the years and some get by and others have a really nice H2S smell from the hot batteries

For myself I have used and abused a few alternators and always paid the price in belts and alternators

It really does come down to either run the generator and charge the batteries as needed, you don't have to run it continuously unless they are shot anyway

And it does make a difference how much load we are talking about so back to the generator, light load, charge the batteries and they should be good for several hours if not all day

There really is a reason the banks aren't connected but in an emergency, sure connect them otherwise fix the issue

You guys that have been around awhile and read many threads and forums hear about all the issues the second and third owners find, many quite entertaining but very costly

[Oneilkeys]

The other issue is the BIRD separates the two battery banks so if you draw down the house batteries, you do not also draw down the starting battery.