New to RV world, bought 2001 C class Gulfstream, Help

I'm surprised that no one has yet suggested a Trik-L-Start from LSL Products.

It's an easy install and will ensure that your chassis (starting) battery gets a trickle charge when connected to shore power, answering your question #1.

Good luck!

GOOD POINT ----Learning all your systems on your R.V. has to be one of your first things to do

Going back to the 1970's...the motorhome engine running will charge both chassis and house batteries.
"If" your house batteries only were charged when you plugged in to shore power..you would really be disappointed....would be a real PITA

now..only recently does shore power charge the chassis battery on certain model motorhomes.

But..do the test.. check battery voltage unplugged..then checked plugged in..12.7 or so unplugged charged to 13.5 to 14.7 plugged in.

The bigger issue is the Converter..will converter cook your batteries.(overcharging)
when shore power is left plugged in for extended amount of time and boil the batteries dry..then you have to buy new ones..
maybe..the previous owner put some sort of battery minder that will prevent overcharging.. having a good volt meter will eliminate all the mystery....
Learning all your systems on your R.V. has to be one of your first things to do so you don't accidentally damage your many systems.
welcome to the adventure of r.v.ing.

I had a 2001 Gulfstream Conquest Classic, 31'. House batteries charged when plugged in and both house and chassis charged when driving.

1. Does anyone know if when your rv is plugged into 30amp AC, does your battery charge while connected to AC?

It depends on your converter. Some converters only provide 12VDC power from 110VAC. Some also have a charging circuit. You will have to see what kind of converter you have and look it up on the internet to see.

2. I also understand that the battery does not charge from alternator on motor engine while driving. Seems that if you are driving everything would then run off battery and would run battery down. Is this correct?

It depends on your RV. My RV is a 1990 Winnebago Warrior. It has a rocker switch on the dash. In order to have the RV engine charge the house batteries, I must set the rocker into the charge position by pushing it to the left. However, it is critical on my RV that the generator not be running at the same time the engine is running or it will kill the voltage regulator on the alternator. This is stated in my owner's manual and I know it from harsh experience also. I consider this a design flaw and surely this has been fixed over the last 24 years.

In addition, the same rocker switch has a momentary setting to the right that gangs the house battery to the engine battery. This is so if your engine battery goes dead you can momentarily (while you hold the switch) use your house battery to start your engine. It's an emergency setting.

Steve

Here is my reply to your other post, same subject.

I don't know specifically about your MH but usually when the MH is plugged in the coach (house) battery will be charged, the chassis battery will not.

When driving, both the coach battery and the chassis battery will be charged.

To check yours, measure the battery voltage when nothing is running and not plugged in, then when plugged in. If the battery voltage is higher when plugged in, it is being charged. You can check if being charged while the engine is running the same way.

It is a 2001 Conquest by Gulf Stream. I understood from a mechanic at Camping World that the C class did not convert to the coach battery being charged while driving until mid 2000's.

It is a 2001, and only the chassis battery charges when driving, not the coach battery.

Welcome to RV.NET.
1. Depends on model and year. My Gulf Stream charges the coach batteries when plugged into shore power. Chassis battery does not charge.
2. When engine is running, both coach and chassis batteries charge.