I've been running the Benchmark kit since this summer with no problems, but tonight I just tried to turn on my compressor with no luck. The main battery's charging at just over 14v, but the voltage on the aux reads at 3.5. Anyone know a cheap easy way to find whether it's a problem with the battery, solonoid or my wiring of the kit?

 

hmmmm whats hooked to the aux? something draining it? If you have the car running and the main batt is over a certain voltage then it should start charging both at least I think thats what it does. So maybe run it and see if it is sending 14 to the second then you will know if the solinoid works. You can also test the solinoid with a meter open close ect. I actually got to use my dual batt setup to jump me worked great I was up and going in um however long it takes to hit a switch

 

Thanks, there was no power running to the aux with the motor running. Also the LED on the solonoid wasn't on. How would you use the meter to check the solonoid?

 

ill look at mine tomorrow but u should just have to energize the coil and see if the soliniod closes. Easy if you installed a switch.

 

A couple ideas to try:

1. Is the small black wire on the smart isolator grounded properly?

2. There are 2 small top posts on the solenoid - unscrew the nuts and temporarily remove the wires leading to them. Then jumper 12V directly to them (polarity doesn't matter) - you should hear the solenoid click shut. If it doesn't click shut when 12V is applied, it's the solenoid itself.


Those are just a couple ideas. Try those and let me know what happens. I have more smart isolators coming next week and could swap yours out for a new one. Give me a call, email, PM, post etc. and I can walk you through troubleshooting this. In the meantime, disconnect the aux battery and throw it on a trickle charger if you have one.

 

Thanks John, I was hoping to hear from you. Just got back in and the rain's coming down in sheets. The way my week's shaping up I won't be able to mess with it for a few days.

 

Sounds good, let me know what you find and give me a call if I can help.

 

Just wanted to take a minute to again talk up a great product and a great guy. First this kit is pure genius. I just can't say enough good stuff about the design of this whole thing. Then I have a problem and before I contact him about it he contacts me! After we talk, we figure it has to be the isolator. He sends me a new one out free shipping and all. It took a bit of time for me to get it changed out, but now both batteries are sitting at 12.8 volts. What a guy! If you're still on the fence about buying this, you absolutely will not get better service or a better designed setup anywhere else! Thanks John.