I have a 2006 Four Winds 28ft with a standard Generator. Have not had any problems starting or running at all. Today all of a sudden it would not start...meaning it sounded like a motor that did not have enough battery to turn over. So I started the coach (Chevy Express 3500 chassis) and then tried the generator and it started just fine. If there is enough battery to start the coach engine then why would there not be enough to start a small generator? My logic says that the coach battery must have a low battery but with starting a big V8 was not a problem. Any ideas if this is something else?

Sounds like the generator is wired to the coach battery, not the chassis battery. You can always use the battery boost button to start if need be.

I had a 2006 Triple E and it had a two way charging system on it. When the coach was plugged in, the system charged the chassis, and when the chassis was running, it charged the coach. Yours might be like that, and when you ran the motor the voltage to the coach was high enough, so your generator started. Check your coach batteries with and without the engine running to see what the voltage is. I believe the generator should start from the coach batteries.

Our generator starts from the coach batteries. If they are drained you can start the engine, then the alternator will provide power to the coach battery, which will in turn allow you to start the generator.

Our generator also starts from the house batteries. There is also a relay that connects the alternator to the house batteries when the engine is running, so that the house batteries get recharged while driving. Since starting the engine allowed you to start the generator, you must have a similar system.

my 2010 3500 chevy coachmen starts from the chassis battery.

what battery is used for starting a generator in a class C

Capt_Storm
Explorer
Aug 03, 2014
my 2010 3500 chevy coachmen starts from the chassis battery.
CloudDriver
Explorer
Aug 03, 2014
Our generator also starts from the house batteries. There is also a relay that connects the alternator to the house batteries when the engine is running, so that the house batteries get recharged while driving. Since starting the engine allowed you to start the generator, you must have a similar system.
RvBill3
Explorer
Aug 03, 2014
Our generator starts from the coach batteries. If they are drained you can start the engine, then the alternator will provide power to the coach battery, which will in turn allow you to start the generator.
Artum_Snowbird
Explorer
Aug 03, 2014
I had a 2006 Triple E and it had a two way charging system on it. When the coach was plugged in, the system charged the chassis, and when the chassis was running, it charged the coach.

Yours might be like that, and when you ran the motor the voltage to the coach was high enough, so your generator started.

Check your coach batteries with and without the engine running to see what the voltage is. I believe the generator should start from the coach batteries.
Mandalay_Parr
Explorer
Aug 03, 2014
Sounds like the generator is wired to the coach battery, not the chassis battery.
You can always use the battery boost button to start if need be.

Forum Discussion

what battery is used for starting a generator in a class C

About Motorhome Group

Related Content

Generator start issue

Generator not starting

Generator Won't Start

Generator clicks but wont start

Onan Micro 4000 Generator Won't Start