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F53 Triton V10 High Output Alternator Upgrade - 250A Install
Electrical Medium 4-6 hours for complete installation 81 👍

F53 Triton V10 High Output Alternator Upgrade - 250A Install

Before I drop $800 on having a shop install a 250A high output alternator on my mid-2000s F53 Triton V10, wondering if this is something I can DIY without breaking anything. I need to upgrade from the stock alternator to handle a large inverter battery bank, and I'm looking at high-output units in the 250A range.

I found this Tucson alternator that puts out 190A at idle for under $500, but I'm worried about whether the existing wiring and belt system can handle it safely. Could I damage the engine or electrical system if I just swap it in? What upgrades would I absolutely need to do this safely?

I've worked with high-output alternators on boats before, but RV chassis systems seem different and I don't want to create a fire hazard or burn out expensive components. Has anyone successfully done this upgrade without major issues? …more
AGM Battery Deep Discharge Damage - East Penn 6V Recovery
Solar Batteries Medium 30-45 minutes for testing 77 👍

AGM Battery Deep Discharge Damage - East Penn 6V Recovery

Looked inside my battery compartment and immediately hit with that acrid sulfur smell - my East Penn 6V AGM batteries are completely dead after a deep discharge. Last July, I installed six East Penn 6V house batteries and set the Magnum remote to AGM type. Left my coach at a shop for 2.5 weeks and came back to completely dead batteries - we're talking 8V dead, folks. Nothing worked: steps, lights, even my fancy electric shades decided to take a permanent nap. Chassis batteries were still okay.

After plugging in at home, the Magnum charger went through its whole song and dance - bulk charging at 100A, then eventually settled into float at 13.2V. When I unplugged and fired up the generator briefly, voltage dropped from 13.0V to 12.7V.

So here's my million-dollar question: did my deep discharge adventure turn these batteries into expensive paperweights, or do these voltage readings suggest they might have survived my negligence? I'm cautiously optimistic but honestly have no idea what signs indicate whether AGM batteries bounced back from the dead or are just pretending to be okay! …more
Jayco Greyhawk E450 AC Not Cooling: Intermittent Compressor Clutch Diagnosis
Ac Refrigeration Medium 1-3 hours 72 👍

Jayco Greyhawk E450 AC Not Cooling: Intermittent Compressor Clutch Diagnosis

This compressor clutch for my Jayco Greyhawk E450's intermittent AC is going to cost me big — but am I even diagnosing the right part? The problem is specifically with the cooling function - the AC will blow ice cold air for about a minute or two, then the cooling suddenly stops even though the fan continues to run perfectly at all speed settings. After a few minutes, the cooling kicks back in again, then cycles off once more. This pattern repeats constantly while driving.

I've noticed that the fan motor and all the controls are working flawlessly - I can adjust from low to high speed without any issues. It's purely the cooling/compressor function that's acting up. The system isn't completely dead, which makes this even more puzzling. I suspect this might be related to the compressor clutch since the cooling cuts out so abruptly while the fan keeps running normally.

What should I be checking to diagnose this intermittent compressor clutch behavior? I want to understand the most likely causes and the proper diagnostic steps before taking it to a shop, since intermittent problems can be tricky for mechanics to reproduce and fix. …more
Monaco Cayman Complete Electrical Power Loss Fix
Electrical Medium 2-4 hours 63 👍

Monaco Cayman Complete Electrical Power Loss Fix

Already flipped every switch and tried starting my 2005 Monaco Cayman after complete electrical power loss yesterday and absolutely nothing responds. Just getting back into camping season after winter storage, and while merging onto the interstate last week, my entire RV just died - engine shut off, all electrical went dark, no warning lights or alarms beforehand. Managed to coast to the shoulder safely, and after sitting about 5 minutes, everything mysteriously came back online and I could start up normally. It's like someone flipped both my house and chassis battery disconnect switches simultaneously. This exact same thing happened about two years back. My local shop couldn't reproduce the problem or find any stored codes. I'm thinking it's some kind of relay or solenoid that's overheating, but I need help tracking down which one. Anyone experienced this total power failure before? …more
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