So while in storage if I start the generator every two weeks to keep the charge on the house batteries, will it charge the engine starting batteries as well? Or do I need to start the engine to keep those two charged? I rather not start the diesel up. I just want to make sure I don't have dead starting batteries. Removing any of them from the MH isn't going to be considered. 2013 Fleetwood Expedition 40xThanks!

Hi,Most will not--but some do. Take along a volt meter. Measure the starting battery voltage. Start the genny, then measure again. If the voltage went up tha answer is yes. If it did not, then add either a trik-l-start or an amp-l-start unit.

pianotuna wrote:Hi,Most will not--but some do. Take along a volt meter. Measure the starting battery voltage. Start the genny, then measure again. If the voltage went up tha answer is yes. If it did not, then add either a trik-l-start or an amp-l-start unit.Don't have a volt meter yet but do I place the VM on the battery terminals .... it's that simple?? :h

2ndhom wrote:Don't have a volt meter yet but do I place the VM on the battery terminals .... it's that simple?? :hYup. Pretty much.Buy an inexpensive multimeter and learn how to use it.For starters; There will be several scales to choose from, volts, both AC and DC, Current (Amps) and Resistance (Ohms or ? )and possibly others. For the battery you will need DC Volts which may say that or just show a dashed line - - - - with a solid line over it. You will also need to select the voltage range, which may be 10, 50 100 etc. Chose 20 if that is an option or the next one higher. The red lead goes to positive and the black to negative, though on a digital meter it won't really matter, if you happen to reverse them it will just read - (minus).

ALL Fleetwood coaches are designed to charge the chassis and house batteries from the converter or Inverter/Charger when on shore power or the generator is running.If yours does not, then you have a circuit, or solenoid, failure in the BCC.

Generator charging batteries question | Good Sam Community

Canadian_Rainbi
Explorer
Jan 07, 2014
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.
JimM68
Explorer
Jan 05, 2014
While many RV's will charge both battery banks from either power source, most that do have some sort od delay system.

My Monaco, and the Fleetwood we has first both had such a system. The power source would charge "it's primary battery" (engine alternator = chassis battery, converter = house battery) until it was nearly charged, and then energize the boost relay to charge the other bank.

Relying on this system to charge both banks while in storage isn't practical.

Do the voltmeter test, and use a real portable battery charger to charge the chassis batteries if you need to.

I never run my diesel onan in the winter, ever.

And if I don't have power in my winter storage place, I pull all the batteries and take them home to somewhere warm. If you can't pull the batteries out (why not? Should be possible to find someone to do the heavy lifting if that is the problem?) then disconnect the negative cables and let them be.
G_Lewis
Explorer
Jan 05, 2014
While I have a 30 amp outlet in my barn to plug in my Bounder, I also run the generator once a month or sooner to keep it going. Remember, gas or DP, put a load on your generator when running it...I run the fans on the a/c in the cooler months and the compressors on both a/c in the warmer months. It helps them also. Just charging your batteries is not enough of a load on the gen.
BobGed
Explorer
Jan 05, 2014
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.
et2
Explorer
Jan 05, 2014
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.
Matt_Colie
Explorer II
Jan 05, 2014
To: Ettu,

Pulling the negative cables off the battery is a good start as a way to keep them from discharging. What you also might do is get two small solar panels to put in south facing windows and connect one each to the house bank and the chassis battery. You could do this even if you pull the negative cables.

If you are set on running the APU, you could go and get a decent battery charger to put on the main engine battery(ies) while you are there.

I would vote for not putting the extra hours on the APU (genset).

Matt
BobandShaz
Explorer
Jan 05, 2014
Then not such a good idea.
et2
Explorer
Jan 04, 2014
BobandShaz wrote:
A trickle charger will not work?

In a storage yard. No electrical hookup.
BobandShaz
Explorer
Jan 04, 2014
A trickle charger will not work?
stuplich
Explorer
Jan 04, 2014
et2

I don't think that "ALL Fleetwood coaches are designed to charge the chassis and house batteries from the converter or Inverter/Charger when on shore power or the generator is running".

If your Expedition does not you can add a Trik-L-Start: http://www.lslproducts.net/TLSPage.html
or an Echo Charger:
http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=9004

Mel
'96 Safari