Wanted to bring this subject back from the dead. I finally got the chance to bring the RV home from the winter storage lot and get under it with a creeper to check things out again regarding this:
Regarding the starting of the generator: In the fall while under the RV looking for holes mice may be able get in through I saw a battery box behind the Onan generator. The house batteries are under the entry stair, and the chassis battery is in the engine compartment. Does the generator have it's own battery for starting? If so, how does that battery receive a charge? Only when the generator is running/via the converter/via the vehicle's alternator/all three??
There is indeed a third battery mounted on the left frame rail (driver side), forward of the generator. It is an AcDelco battery, says GM, so I am guessing it came from the factory. The negative cable goes to ground on the frame, and the positive goes forward and disappears into a hole in the driver door footwell.
Called coachmen but no answer. Prelimanary research
Here shows this might be the GM option : "Isolated 2nd Battery — allows 2nd battery to be used when the vehicle is not running without affecting ability to start the vehicle"
Anybody know anything about this feature? I apparently have three sets of batteries: One in the engine compartment, the house batteries under the stairs, and this third battery mounted on the frame rail under the RV. I'm wondering if this third battery is connected in with the house at all, or how it can potentially be capitalized on for RV use.
I found it funny that this extra battery actually has more CCA (770) than the battery in the engine compartment (600).
And FYI for anybody with a Chevy-based RV, you may have this extra battery as well. Bonus!! ??
