Generator charging batteries question

X3...

I see this all the time here. Something's not working right. Many apply what I would call a "band-aid" fix, instead of finding and addressing the actual problem, which is usually a fuse or a relay.

Jim

OnaQuest wrote:

et2 wrote:
Thanks for all the suggestions. The owners manual says to run the generator when not in use for two hours every month as part of the maintenance. I'm not worried about running it as I believe what Onan says and it is better to keep these running frequently than not running at all.

So, that is my reasoning for running the gen to keep the batteries charged. I can kill two birds with one stone. If I didn't plan to run the gen then disconnecting the batteries negative cable would be my choice.

I was just curious about the engine starter batteries being charged along with the house.

I love the way the same usual suspects make the same uninformed comments when I say ALL modern Fleetwood coaches are designed to charge the chassis battery from the inverter charger or converter when on shore power or generator.

Your coach is definitely supposed to charge the chassis battery from the IC or Converter. PM me and I'll prove it.

Also, it can take much longer than a few hours to fully charge the house battery bank...this is likely a factor for the OP.

OnaQuest wrote:

et2 wrote:
Thanks for all the suggestions. The owners manual says to run the generator when not in use for two hours every month as part of the maintenance. I'm not worried about running it as I believe what Onan says and it is better to keep these running frequently than not running at all.

So, that is my reasoning for running the gen to keep the batteries charged. I can kill two birds with one stone. If I didn't plan to run the gen then disconnecting the batteries negative cable would be my choice.

I was just curious about the engine starter batteries being charged along with the house.

I love the way the same usual suspects make the same uninformed comments when I say ALL modern Fleetwood coaches are designed to charge the chassis battery from the inverter charger or converter when on shore power or generator.

Your coach is definitely supposed to charge the chassis battery from the IC or Converter. PM me and I'll prove it.

X2---my vintage Eagle operates this way. Once the house batteries are fully charged, the big boy relay will switch the charging current to the engine batteries.

If this is not happening for the OP something is not working properly or his house batteries are not getting fully charged for some reason.

et2 wrote:
Thanks for all the suggestions. The owners manual says to run the generator when not in use for two hours every month as part of the maintenance. I'm not worried about running it as I believe what Onan says and it is better to keep these running frequently than not running at all.

So, that is my reasoning for running the gen to keep the batteries charged. I can kill two birds with one stone. If I didn't plan to run the gen then disconnecting the batteries negative cable would be my choice.

I was just curious about the engine starter batteries being charged along with the house.

I love the way the same usual suspects make the same uninformed comments when I say ALL modern Fleetwood coaches are designed to charge the chassis battery from the inverter charger or converter when on shore power or generator.

Your coach is definitely supposed to charge the chassis battery from the IC or Converter. PM me and I'll prove it.

stuplich wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Mark,
Because I tend to be a rolling stone, fuel is my #1 expense after the purchase price of the RV. In the next year what I have paid for fuel will exceed what I paid in purchase price.

pianotuna
I'm with you brother!
Another 4000 miles and I will have spent as many $$ on fuel as the coach cost me in '01.
That's more $$ than my coach has deprecated in value, (and I thought maintenance and repairs would be most expensive).
Mel
'96 Safari

Hey, what works for you guys is fine with me. I'm not mechanically inclined so staying away from the repair shop allows me to be somewhere else. :D

I'm so glad that I don't have to worry about the cost of a gallon of fuel per month to exercise the equipment.

MM.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Mark,
Because I tend to be a rolling stone, fuel is my #1 expense after the purchase price of the RV. In the next year what I have paid for fuel will exceed what I paid in purchase price.

pianotuna
I'm with you brother!
Another 4000 miles and I will have spent as many $$ on fuel as the coach cost me in '01.
That's more $$ than my coach has deprecated in value, (and I thought maintenance and repairs would be most expensive).
Mel
'96 Safari

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Mark,

Because I tend to be a rolling stone, fuel is my #1 expense after the purchase price of the RV. In the next year what I have paid for fuel will exceed what I paid in purchase price.

Mr.Mark wrote:
I don't understand people worrying about using fuel to exercise the generator. The generator needs to be exercised once a month per the manual, especially, if you are in a humid environment.

Fuel is such a minuscule cost of motorhome ownership while maintaining and exercising various equipment. I exercise my Aqua-Hot along with the generator too. Equipment just works better when used on a regular basis. That's why I leave my fridge on 24/7 just like at home.

MM.

But using a gallon of diesel to run the gen 2 hrs a month is way cheaper then a gen repair because you choose not to follow what the manufacture recommends. Is under $10 a month going to break you?

Hi Mark,

Because I tend to be a rolling stone, fuel is my #1 expense after the purchase price of the RV. In the next year what I have paid for fuel will exceed what I paid in purchase price.

Mr.Mark wrote:
I don't understand people worrying about using fuel to exercise the generator. The generator needs to be exercised once a month per the manual, especially, if you are in a humid environment.

Fuel is such a minuscule cost of motorhome ownership while maintaining and exercising various equipment. I exercise my Aqua-Hot along with the generator too. Equipment just works better when used on a regular basis. That's why I leave my fridge on 24/7 just like at home.

MM.

Canadian Rainbirds wrote:

BobGed wrote:
I agree with Stuplich but would recommend stepping up to the Amp-L-Start as it supplies 15A of charging compared to 5A for the Trik-L-Start. My coach came with a Battery Minder charger for the chassis batteries, but it is only a 1.5A charger, so it's more like a maintainer. The chassis batteries receive the majority of their charge from the alternator.

I replaced the OEM Battery Minder with the Amp-L-Start, which "steals" some of the charge from the house batteries to so that running the genset will charge both sets of batteries.

We have used a Xantrex Echo Charger for years. Similar to Amp l Start, good for 15 Amps.

Looks like it's pretty much the same thing. I just personally no longer trust anything from Xantrex.

I don't understand people worrying about using fuel to exercise the generator. The generator needs to be exercised once a month per the manual, especially, if you are in a humid environment.

Fuel is such a minuscule cost of motorhome ownership while maintaining and exercising various equipment. I exercise my Aqua-Hot along with the generator too. Equipment just works better when used on a regular basis. That's why I leave my fridge on 24/7 just like at home.

MM.