BAC Forum

General Boards => Technical Support => Topic started by: Keith Moffett Co-Admin on September 24, 2016, 08:23:33 PM

Title: Digital Coach Electric Systems
Post by: Keith Moffett Co-Admin on September 24, 2016, 08:23:33 PM
Coaches newer than our 2002 have complex circut boards and modules instead of the analogue circuts and wires

Does anyone have an idea of how much or how often these modules quit working.  What kind of cost is there in diagnostics and repair on these systems?
Sure prefer the simple wiring and circut breakers.  At least I understand that.
Title: Re: Digital Coach Electric Systems
Post by: Fred Brooks on September 24, 2016, 09:18:43 PM
      Hi Keith,
  The reason they went with the multiplexing system was to cut down on excessive wiring. Here is how it works: each switch in the system has a dedicated address. All the switches in the system are daisy-chained together thru a 3-wire harness that goes eventually to the control modules. When you push a switch, The master controller says "I know which switch is calling me so I will execute that request and close a relay and send power to the respective load. At the control module you will see an LED light up when you push a switch to indicate it received the command. Check the fuse next to the LED to see if it is good.
       Hope this helps, Fred
Title: Re: Digital Coach Electric Systems
Post by: Steve Huber on September 24, 2016, 10:26:19 PM
Keith,
I don't have any "data" but it sure seems we see a lot more (orders of magnitude) problems on the forum with the analog systems than with the multiplex units.
Steve
Title: Re: Digital Coach Electric Systems
Post by: Edward Buker on September 25, 2016, 12:56:17 AM
Like with all things digital when they work they are great. In general they are more reliable as Steve points out. The issue is if you get one of those hard to diagnose digital problems it can leave you scratching your head as to what is happening. That is the downside of the more complex system. We used to call them Gremlins and wish they would just go away :-)

Later Ed
Title: Re: Digital Coach Electric Systems
Post by: Keith Moffett Co-Admin on September 26, 2016, 05:39:37 AM
Good explanation Fred and I appreciate everyones input.  We wont have an extended warrenty so the decision is critical.
Title: Re: Digital Coach Electric Systems
Post by: Dan Murphy on September 26, 2016, 05:22:21 PM
Keith
We have the multi-plex system and have been trouble free 3 yrs. We did attend a Maintenance rally in Goshen last May and we had M&M Electronics come to the coach and they "mapped" our system on a computer disc which is supposed to be invaluable IF AND WHEN we ever have a problem. Who knows??
Title: Re: Digital Coach Electric Systems
Post by: Keith Moffett Co-Admin on September 26, 2016, 08:11:51 PM
Thanks Dan, good to know.  Perhaps a trip to Goshen is in order.
Title: Re: Digital Coach Electric Systems
Post by: Dan Murphy on September 27, 2016, 04:42:55 AM
Keith
The Holiday Rambler Maintenance Rally is open to Beaver coaches and will be held again in Goshen late April or early May. We had 8 Beaver coaches in attendance this year and had a great time.Lots of good seminars and helpful vendors.