Alternator not charging auxiliary batteries

[ginga]

I'm lurking other forums and I'm searching around on here too but I also want to see if anyone here can point me in the right direction.  

I had previously made a thread here: https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-Battery-setup-diagram-good-to-go?page=3
This is my auxiliary battery diagram: 

My problem seems to be that my two batteries are not charging.  I know this by having hhecked with a hydrometer.  I flipped my isolator switch and I heard the solenoid switch turn. I drove 70mph for hours.  No change in charge.  My batteries are about in the middle of the yellow, so 1200 or half empty.  Great.  I'm not sure where to start with what may be the issue here.  I'm going to be checking my connections tomorrow morning.  Any input appreciated.

 

[highdesertranger]

by looking at your diagram you have 2 post on your alternator. the alternator has only one output. both the output to the main battery and the output to the solenoid should be on the same post. highdesertranger

 

[Trebor English]

It seems that the connection is open. Turn off the isolator solenoid.  Measure the voltage of the vehicle and house batteries.  If they aren't different turn on headlights to make them different.  If they stay the same the solenoid switch is on.  Turn it off.  Repeat. Go to the isolator and measure the voltages on the two battery leads.  They should match the batteries.  They should be different.  Turn on the solenoid.  Now they should have the same voltage.

 

[GotSmart]

Can you post a picture of the connection at the alternator?  Along with any vehicle and motor information?

 

[LoupGarou]

Make sure there's a common ground.

 

[ginga]

by looking at your diagram you have 2 post on your alternator.  the alternator has only one output.  both the output to the main battery and the output to the solenoid should be on the same post.  highdesertranger

Yes I believe my alternator has 2 large terminals and I attached my wire to the same terminal that the house battery uses.

 

[ginga]

Can you post a picture of the connection at the alternator?  Along with any vehicle and motor information?

Here are two photos of the alternator connections.  


The pink 1 is the ground.  The orange 2 is the positive to the cars house battery.  The green 3 is the wire to the solenoid.  

Lol it does look like I need to change that washer.

Van is a 98 Ford Econoline 150 conversion. I'm not sure what other info would be helpful.

 

[galladanb]

Ginga, that looks like a starter to me...

Older vehicles used to have generators, and is that what your calling an alternator?

Either way, I would pull each wire and clean them! All that corrorision is bound to be stopping max current flow.

But I am no expert by any means, sorry, there are plenty of those in here...
So please don't think I'm being a putz, just saying what it looks like to me...

 

[ginga]

Ginga, that looks like a starter to me...

Older vehicles used to have generators, and is that what your calling an alternator?

Either way, I would pull each wire and clean them! All that corrorision is bound to be stopping max current flow.

But I am no expert by any means, sorry, there are plenty of those in here...
So please don't think I'm being a putz, just saying what it looks like to me...

Well I guess it could be my mistake.  I traced the wires from my house battery to these terminals so I figured it was the alternator.  There is a little red cap that says 12v that covers the theee posts.  And yeah they are a bit corrodes.  The wire to my solenoid is fine, and I used a wire brush to clean the other wires as best I could before I wired.  

And no don't worry about it, you're fine, I want to gather all the info I can.

 

[gapper2]

ginga, 

    That looked like a starter to me also.   Have you ever put your house batteries on a home charger to see what the specific gravity looks like from a known full charge.  I believe your 6volts are fairly new so they should go to a full. charge.   If that is the starter, that is part of the problem.

 

[galladanb]

Are you having to go under the van to see these connections?

Most alternators are usually on the upper side of the engine...

 

[galladanb]

I looked at the photos again and I think you would need to remove only the red line with the blue tape on it and move it to your alternator and then you would be good to go...

 

[highdesertranger]

that is the starter. some starters are hot all the time some are not. there is also a hot shot conversion for GM that convert the starter to hot all the time to only hot when you are turning the engine over. ginga what area are you in? maybe someone could give you a hand and get it straighten out. highdesertranger

 

[ginga]

Boy do I feel dumb.

Pretty sure this is it

 

[LeeRevell]

Boy do I feel dumb.

Pretty sure this is it

Yes, THAT is the alternator. If necessary, you can upgradecto a higher output alternator, but usually not needed.

 

[gapper2]

yep that last photo is it.

 

[Trebor English]

There is a fat wire from the vehicle battery to the starter motor solenoid switch.  That can be used to connect the house battery for charging.  While it might not be best it should work.  That alone isn't keeping your house batteries from charging.

"The green 3 is the wire to the solenoid."  I think the house battery charging solenoid control might be wired to something that doesn't have it on while driving.

 

[ginga]

Well, as has occurred numerous times with my work on building this van I have learned the lesson of neesding to research things a bit more before actually doing them.

Thank you all for helping me once again. Haha I'm sure it won't be completely helpless one day.

I've connected the wire to the alternator now, yes the actual alternator this time.

 

[ArtW]

No one is born knowing automotive stuff, and everyone has a learning curve
The lucky ones, like me, get to learn at Daddy's knee, when we're kids, others gotta got to school, whether that school is the kind where folks get paid to teach you stuff, or the school of hard knocks, where you learn from trial and error
never be embarrassed you goofed, and never be embarrassed to ask, it's even more embarrassing to destroy your car
Like my Dad used to say "the stupid question was the one you didn't ask, when you should have"

 

[GotSmart]

It helps when the question is accompanied with a picture.