Just got 94 31' Seabreeze. Lots of questions. Any bit of help appreciated

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WHALERACER

WHALERACER

Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2010
Posts
8
Location
Springfield Mo
Drove 200 miles home and no issues with handling, (pleasent surprise).
This is first MH for us and I don't know where to start.
All I know for sure is its the 190" wheelbase gm p30 chassis.
Could sure use some help with figuring out whats what.
If anyone has a manual, even from a model close to this
I would be very gratefull and willing to pay if a copy could be shared.
Lacking that, Specific things I could use help with:
Where would the gvwr info tag be located ?
Or does anyone with this combo have the info on this
and approx what it would weigh dry?
What transmission would most likely be installed in this?
Is it common to have an inverter in these?
Where would I look for that and the batteries.
Also if anyone might be familiar with the dash layout
I have at least 8 switches that I have no clue on.
Thanks in advance for any help. 
 
Congratulations on the new rig.  You are in for some fantastic times.

You have not provided sufficient information to allow for good answers.  If you could modify your post to include the year, make, and model of the MH you will have better luck.
 
geodrake said:
Congratulations on the new rig.  You are in for some fantastic times.

You have not provided sufficient information to allow for good answers.  If you could modify your post to include the year, make, and model of the MH you will have better luck.
Click to expand...
George, you missed it in the subject line.
 
We  had a '94 Seabreeze on a Ford chassis so can't help on chassis stuff.

There was no inverter as the TV is a 12 volt one installed in the dash.  It may have ben changed by now though.

The batteries are under the entry steps, first one down If I remember correctly.  There should be 2 12 volt batteres, one a starting battery and the other a "deep" cycla, usually a multi purpose Marine type.

I don't recall the switches off hand but might if I had a picture of the dash.

A word of caution, The tanks are exposed so any freezing temperatures will cause things to freeze fairly quickly.  My SB had heaters on the tanks and was good down into the low 20s.
 
Thanks for the info guys. Ill look under the steps.
And Jim I will try to get some pics up.
Yea the origanal TV is long gone so the wife's
first project is a storeage cabinate for the hole in the dash.
Also will leaving it hooked to shore power
over cook the batteries?
Also it has tank heat but we have it all emptied out.
Thanks again
Neal
 
The charger in this vintage of RV may indeed boil away the electrolyte in the battery if left on too long. On the other hand, it may well have been replaced by now. If you could identify the make & model on the converter/charger, we could give a better answer.  In the meantime, check the water in the battery cells regularly until you get a feel for how often the water needs to be topped up. Could be a few weeks, or could be months.
 
Jim, do you mean the Magnetec 6345? That's what I suspected it might be, and that charger is notorious for boiling batteries. If that is what Whaleracer has, I recommend upgrading it with the 73xx replacement unit. It is $215 well spent.

http://www.bestconverter.com/Magnetek-63007300-Upgrade-Kit_c_64.html
 
OK So that leads to the next ?
The charger would be where?
And Jim do you recall if the wipers work
with just the switch on the turn signal stalk,
or do they need to have one of the unmarked
toggles on the dash on as well?
As soon as the weather hits 40 degrees
I guess I'll start by getting behind the dash panel
and a long lead ohm meter to trace down wires.
Much appreciation for the info. I have it unplugged
to be safe.
Neal
 
OK So that leads to the next ?
The charger would be where?


Not sure in the 31' SB but it is in the power center with all the fuses.  The converter has both the 12 volt supply for the lights etc. and the charger is one line from it to the battery.  Google "magnetek 6345" and you will find a wealth of information.

The Chassis battery does not charge when on shore power, it only charges from the altermator when the engne is running.

And Jim do you recall if the wipers work
with just the switch on the turn signal stalk,
or do they need to have one of the unmarked
toggles on the dash on as well?

It is probably the standard Chevy switch so it would work from the turn signal if that is what Chevy did in that year.  A quick way to check is to turn on ignition and then push or pull on the stalk and see if the washers work. 
 
The converter is integrated with the main power distribution panel.  Take a look at this replacement kit and click the Installation Instructions link at the bottom for an excellent description with photos.

http://www.bestconverter.com/45-Amp-Converter-Replacement-Kit_p_46.html
 
Thanks Gary. Going to be about a week or two till I get
time to get after the interior and electric. My
truck mech gets it next week for the full
top to bottom on the chassis.
He'll check the brakes and suspension
and I might even have him do some of the
maintenance it needs like belts and hoses.
I'd like to do as much myself as I can
but with teens and snow in the forcast
his heated shop trumps my driveway. 8)
If the converter is still the old type I will
definatly be looking at that new board.
Learned with the race car, that the more
things that take care of themselved the
better the smile at the end of the day.
 
Neal, as Jim Godward replied, your chassis battery will NOT charge while plugged into shore power.  You might want to consider a device called "Trick-L-Start" which bleeds some of the converter charging voltage normally applied to the coach battery (the one that is devoted to the "living quarters" of your motorhome) and routes it to the chassis battery.  If you envision using your RV frequently, this may not be necessary, but if it sits for long periods at a time between uses, and particularly if it's cold where you live, then the chassis battery may discharge enough to be a problem.  Another solution is to simply attach a "maintenance charger" to your chassis battery and leave it on there while parked.  Maintenance chargers like a Battery Tender sell for the mid-40s and that's about the price of the Trick-L-Start as well.  It's simply a matter of personal preference on your part.

I've got a Trick-L-Start on my coach because it allows me to plug in a single power cord and maintain both batteries.  Heed the warning of Gary about the older converter if you still have it.  "Smart Chargers", as they're called, are a recent development and do a much much better job of keeping your battery charged without cooking it dry.  The older converters charged at a fixed voltage which could perhaps be adjusted to 1 or 2 fixed values but that was it.  The Smart Chargers charge at varying voltages, starting out at a high voltage if the battery is in need of charging, then dropping the voltage as the battery becomes fully charged and finally operating as a "float" charger maintaining the battery at full charge, but not overcharging.
 
Durring Race season this rig will get plenty
of exersize. For right now I just moved the
race trailer's battery tender over to the MH.
After next week I'll have a better handle
on where the $'s need to be spent first.
Brakes, front end and such will have to take priority,
even if it means babysitting the batteries
for a few weeks.
Thx
 
WHALERACER said:
Drove 200 miles home and no issues with handling, (pleasent surprise).
This is first MH for us and I don't know where to start.
All I know for sure is its the 190" wheelbase gm p30 chassis.
Could sure use some help with figuring out whats what.
If anyone has a manual, even from a model close to this
I would be very gratefull and willing to pay if a copy could be shared.
Lacking that, Specific things I could use help with:
Where would the gvwr info tag be located ?
Or does anyone with this combo have the info on this
and approx what it would weigh dry?
What transmission would most likely be installed in this?
Is it common to have an inverter in these?
Where would I look for that and the batteries.
Also if anyone might be familiar with the dash layout
I have at least 8 switches that I have no clue on.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Click to expand...
HI BRAND NEW HERE...COULD YOU PLEASE HELP A NEWBY OUT AND TELL ME...DID YOU FIND OUT THE DRY WEIGHT OF YOUR MACHINE?
 
G and G ... seemingly you both are the guru's here ... any idea on the UVW or Dry Weight of my 92 P30 Seabreeze ... I am needing to know it is under 6600lbs ! thanx muchly ?!
 
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