We have in the driveway our used MH for a few days. 1999 Rexhall Arebus. We bought "as is" so now the fun begins. We have it hooked up to the house and the lights, air cons, microwave came on fine. We have not tested anything past that point. But...when we unplug, nothing. Generator has not started but we are at a 1/4 of a tank of gas, so hoping that is why there is nothing there when we hit the start button inside. We do own a portable one so not overly concerned if we have to plug into a portable to charge batteries up. But if we and the other owner had it hooked up to shore power, shouldn't the batteries have a charge and run at least the lights. We have read through the manual on this and it says very little. Could it be dead batteries, that may have frozen over this past winter? Could it be as simple as there is a switch somewhere we are not aware of yet? Or do the batteries, shore power, generator just switch over by themselves? Any and all thoughts would be appreciated. We will be checking all fuses, could one of those cause no charging or running off batteries? We are starting from zero knowledge, but by the time we ask 100 questions and work on fixing these things we should be professionals..lol. We are aware there are a lot of questions in there. Thanks in advance

When you say the generator hasn't started, are you referring that it doesn't turn over, or that it turns over but does not start? Have you checked the voltage on the house batteries?Does the engine battery start the motor?

No generator is not turning over. Bob is bringing home a multi meter tonight.Yes engine battery starts the motor. We will be able to give all fine details soon. Would be wonderful if we were just dumb about a switch somewhere...lol. We did find out that the engine did not start the other night because there is an anti theft switch we must have hit when messing around...lolThe silver lining, buying something that needs work, means when you are done, you will know what is going on...hopefully.

Make sure you battery disconnect switch hasn't been accidentally toggled - that takes the batteries off line. Also - somewhere near your batteries will be a fuse/circuit breaker(often an auto reset breaker) - make sure that's OK.Rigs are wired differently - many rigs have there generator wired to coach batteries and if they are offline/low then you won't be able to start the generator.

ksg5000 wrote:Make sure you battery disconnect switch hasn't been accidentally toggled - that takes the batteries off line. Also - somewhere near your batteries will be a fuse/circuit breaker(often an auto reset breaker) - make sure that's OK.Rigs are wired differently - many rigs have there generator wired to coach batteries and if they are offline/low then you won't be able to start the generator.I agree. Since everything DC works when you plug to AC indicates that your converter/charger is ok

ksg5000 wrote:Make sure you battery disconnect switch hasn't been accidentally toggled - that takes the batteries off line. Also - somewhere near your batteries will be a fuse/circuit breaker(often an auto reset breaker) - make sure that's OK.Rigs are wired differently - many rigs have there generator wired to coach batteries and if they are offline/low then you won't be able to start the generator.We will search all those out, fingers crossed that could be it. Not sure if this is the same as on board generator, but if we can get everything working but the generator, would our portable gen do the same job charging batteries with Motorhome pluged into it. That may be something we should know, but hey we don't lol.Thanks so much, just being pointed in a direction is helpful. A place to start. Tonight after DH is home from work and over the weekend, many many projects and problems to solve or at least take a crack at.

Battery charging and using? | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

CT_WANDERER
Explorer
Jun 28, 2014
Just a few ideas, 1) plug in your chore power cable. Check to see if you inside light and any house fans run. Yes? That is a good start. 2) hit your power disconnect switch. Do you hear it click ? Yes another good start. If not check your house battery voltage. Could be low. Need charging. If charging is need it, if you can have your shore power plug in you might be better off. It could take a long time to get the batteries up to par. 40 If you can get fuel into your tank. you might be able to start the generator, if you have a boost switch up near your dash, With you engine running try pushing Boost switch it might link engine battery power with house Power. With the boost switch on have someone try to crank over the generator? You might get lucky and get it started. Just for starters. Good luck. It is hard to give someone information as these MH are not all made the same way.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jun 28, 2014
IF generator does not respond to a press of the START button, epically the one on the generator itself, Then the suspects are IN check it order:

Battery disconnect (Salesman switch) OFF/Disconnect/Store mode
Dead batteries
broken/tripped breaker.
Bad connection or wire.
Burwoods
Explorer
Jun 27, 2014
Found the switches Store and use marked coach...along with one marked Chassis, I think that was just on and off....it does not seem to be that simple. Will look for something in Battery compartment, and will be testing batteries in the morning. Almost hoping they are completely dead and will not charge, that would make it a simple fix...but but but. After that going to check converter and fuses.
JimM68
Explorer
Jun 27, 2014
Need a like button, couple of likes in this thread.
Our monaco has physical rotary battery switches in the battery compartment. Off cuts all power to/from that battery bank. Converter/inverter still works, still have full 12v power if plugged in.

First moho, a 99 pace arrow gasser, had switches in a cabinet above the door that controlled relays, possibly labelled use and store or something like that, it's been a while.

It sounds very much like your house batteries are completely dead, or switched off.

Start by finding the batteries, checking the voltage of each battery, charging them with an automotive battery charger if you have one, then move on to tracking the current path from the batteries to the coach distribution panel.
Peg_Leg
Explorer
Jun 27, 2014
Just like in the "Wizard of Oz", follow the red bricked wire.
OnaQuest
Explorer
Jun 27, 2014
Burwoods wrote:

Ok the hunt is on for this friggin switch...lol. Not feeling that lucky but sure as heck hope I am..lol.

Some rigs put that switch by the entry door. It may be labeled a "disconnect" switch, or may say "use" and "store".
Burwoods
Explorer
Jun 27, 2014
rookie_rv wrote:
Hello, Rookie Rver :C here!. I own a 97' Rexhall Vision and yes, yes, and yes to everything you asked. The gen will shut off at 1/4 tank of gas, house batteries have no second life once they go down, and there is a toggle switch to shut off house batteries.

When I first got mine I took out the house batteries and used shore power. This allowed me to turn on everything to see if they worked (not necessarily at the same time). Once I knew everything did work I replaced the house batteries (including at wiring). I filled it up with gas and went for a ride. Sure enough after about thirty minutes of highway driving I pulled into a parking lot, started the generator and have been rving every since.

I drove for about another hour in the direction away from home with the gen running before I turned around and headed back.

After that there were a couple of times I thought I was having problems again but it turned out I just forgot the house battery switch. That was just part of being the Rookie Rver :C

Ok the hunt is on for this friggin switch...lol. Not feeling that lucky but sure as heck hope I am..lol.
rookie_rv
Explorer
Jun 27, 2014
Hello, Rookie Rver :C here!. I own a 97' Rexhall Vision and yes, yes, and yes to everything you asked. The gen will shut off at 1/4 tank of gas, house batteries have no second life once they go down, and there is a toggle switch to shut off house batteries.

When I first got mine I took out the house batteries and used shore power. This allowed me to turn on everything to see if they worked (not necessarily at the same time). Once I knew everything did work I replaced the house batteries (including at wiring). I filled it up with gas and went for a ride. Sure enough after about thirty minutes of highway driving I pulled into a parking lot, started the generator and have been rving every since.

I drove for about another hour in the direction away from home with the gen running before I turned around and headed back.

After that there were a couple of times I thought I was having problems again but it turned out I just forgot the house battery switch. That was just part of being the Rookie Rver :C
Fleetwood99
Explorer
Jun 27, 2014
When asking for help, it is always good to know Brand, Model, and Serial# if possible. In fact you might want to start a Log Book or Maintenance Log for future reference or troubleshooting with a List of installed appliances in your MH.

Looks n sounds like your first entry in Log is going to be the purchase of New House Battery's.

Good Luck have fun with it.
Burwoods
Explorer
Jun 27, 2014
ksg5000 wrote:
Make sure you battery disconnect switch hasn't been accidentally toggled - that takes the batteries off line. Also - somewhere near your batteries will be a fuse/circuit breaker(often an auto reset breaker) - make sure that's OK.

Rigs are wired differently - many rigs have there generator wired to coach batteries and if they are offline/low then you won't be able to start the generator.

We will search all those out, fingers crossed that could be it. Not sure if this is the same as on board generator, but if we can get everything working but the generator, would our portable gen do the same job charging batteries with Motorhome pluged into it. That may be something we should know, but hey we don't lol.

Thanks so much, just being pointed in a direction is helpful. A place to start. Tonight after DH is home from work and over the weekend, many many projects and problems to solve or at least take a crack at.