1996 Roadtrek Popular electrical problem

[Xplore]

Hi everyone! I am Elliott, a new owner for a for a 1996 Chevy Roadtrek 210 popular (short intro) Fist of all I would like to say thank you for the forum I've learned a lot by checking it out.
I just bought a 1996 Chevy Roadtrek 210 Popular with 92k mileage the problem I am having is that the battery drain overnight do to parasite currents. I am measuring .54 milliamps I remove all the fuses but not luck finding the problem.

-I found that the Isolator was bad and I by pass it,
- eliminate the alarm system, the radio, and I discounted the cable going from the Isolator to the house battery
- the people I bought it from told me that the alternator and the battery are new
- in idle stage the battery read 14.5 Volts
- with the battery disconnected reads 12.39 Volts if I connected back up again the system start dropping slowly


Any ideas??

[booster]

When you say "bypassed" the isolator does that mean jumper around it?


Where are you measuring the parasitic current, coach battery or starting battery?

[Xplore]

I mean I am not using the isolator for the moment I splice the alternator and battery cable together because the isolator is shorted out. I am measuring at the the engine battery... I hope that answer your question.

[booster]

Originally Posted by Xplore

I mean I am not using the isolator for the moment I splice the alternator and battery cable together because the isolator is shorted out. I am measuring at the the engine battery... I hope that answer your question.

You are dealing with just the van OEM electronics unless it has been altered by someone. I assume you mean 54 milliamps not .54. That is .054 amps so in 24 hours would only be a bit over 1 amp hour of battery use, which should not kill any starting battery.


I guess the question is, what problem are you trying to fix?

[Nic7320]

I think the OP meant 0.54 Amps.

It's interesting the previous owner replaced the alternator, so this might have been going on a while, OR they put in a bad alternator.

I saw a place where they rebuild these, and it's amazing they can do anything right. (an auction at a bankrupt company with an hiding place for undocumented workers)

Disconnect the alternator output and if that doesn't drop the current, look at the voltage regulator.

[Xplore]

Mic7320 I will disconnect the alternator today and let you know how it goes.
thanks

[Xplore]

I disconnected the cable that goes from the alternator to the battery (the one use to charge the battery when the van is running) and the amps reading drop to zero.
I did measured the diodes and they look good?
do you all think is because I am not using the Isolator? do you all think that once I install the new Isolator the problem is going to be gone?

[Nic7320]

Alternators are multiphase generators with a diode array. The most likely problem is a bad diode, so maybe you somehow missed it when you measured it. Or, maybe it has a different leakage pathway, such as a short to the frame, but it appears you have now isolated it to the alternator.

Do you still have contact with the seller? There may be a warranty on the alternator.

[Xplore]

I did installed a new Isolator today and looks like is working I let the battery connected today, I will see in the morning if it still charge but the amp reading was zero after that change, so it should be charge. But I do agree with you the diodes in the alternator are shorted I will be taking it back to the place that installed the alternator and let them check it out.

Thanks for your input and advise.

[RD3171]

This is common with RT. You will spend a lot of time trying to track this down and probably never find it. Because you have a "house" tied to vehicle it can be challenging. You can install a separator in lieu of the isolator with a rocker switch ( auto, combine, separate), or you can install a switch on the battery to break the negative to ground. ( a lot easier.) I installed this switch and use it if the van is going to sit for 5 days or more. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1