charging rates

countrykids wrote:
Main points learned are that alternator is likely to be quite slow and that it's OK to use the generator while traveling. I'll just experiment to see when I need the generator and when not.

In your 2004 Class C that probably is built on a Ford E350 or Ford E450 chassis, you should not need to run your generator while going down the road to charge your motorhome's batteries between campsites that are at least 3-4 hours driving time apart. If your chassis is a Ford E350 or E450, it probably has a 120 amp or 130 amp alternator in it. This size alternator is more than enough to take care of your motorhome's batteries between campities most of the time when underway.

For instance we have two Group 31 12 volt batteries in our 2005 Class C - and even when IDLING, the Ford alternator has supplied 70 amps into those two batteries to charge them. When traveling between campsites a few hours, the alternator has way more capacity than when idling and so can charge the batteries all the way up to where they are only taking 1 amp or less.

It's very important that you have a voltmeter plugged into a 12 volt socket back in your motorhome then check it quickly with the V10 engine running, before starting out down the road. If this voltmeter DOES NOT read 14 or more volts before you start out, then something is wrong with your charging circuit going from the alternator back to the motorhome's batteries. If so, this problem should be addressed - instead of having to run the generator all the time between campsites.