Battery & electrical questions

coolmom42 wrote:
I have a 2014 Coachmen 21QB on a Chevy 4500 chassis, with an Onan 4KW generator.

*Does the generator have its own starting battery? If so, how is this battery charged? Or does the generator crank off the chassis battery? (I'm assuming it doesn't crank off the house battery, as that would kind of defeat the point of having a generator.)

No the gen. does not have it's own battery. It uses the house battery(s)to start. If you see a battery under the chassis most likely mounted on the left-side frame rail somewhat near the generator, that is a GM option called "isolated 2nd battery." I've posted on it before in this forum.

*Does the generator charge the chassis battery?

No.

*Does the chassis alternator charge the house battery? If so, how well?

Yes. It does it so well that if the house batteries are already or mostly fully charged, on long drives (I drive 10-12+hours some days) I will disconnect the charge function (solenoid) from the chassis alternator as to not over-charge the batts. My alternator puts out 14+ volts much of the time. The GM chassis with the rv package (which coachmen usually seems to have) have a higher amperage alternator as well.

*Does the battery isolator switch completely isolate the house battery and chassis battery from each other?

I don't have a battery isolator switch between house and chassis batteries. If by chance you meant the house battery disconnect (off) rotary switch, the alternator will still charge the house batteries with that switch off.

*Does the converter charge the chassis battery when the RV is plugged into shore power?

No.

*On the side of the engine compartment, there is a 200 amp fuse. What is this for?

Do not know. I do not recall seeing a 200amp fuse, not sure if I have one. That's a pretty hefty fuse.