Just curious
On newer motorhomes, when connected to shore power, and the engine is started, does the engine generator over ride the shore power charging the batteries?
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6 Replies
- Let me give you a plumbing analogy. You have a sink with 3 faucets.
Faucet 1 always trickles. Always. (Solar charger)
Faucet 2 runs slowly when on. (Converter/charger)
Faucet 3 gushes when on. (Vehicle alternator) - Thank you for your comments. ????
Steve 911 wrote:
On newer motorhomes, when connected to shore power, and the engine is started, does the engine generator over ride the shore power charging the batteries?
Depends on RPM.. Both the alternator and the converter are present (And Solar if you have it installed) all 3 work in parallel. But the one that is currently the "Hottest" (highest voltage) is the one that actually charges the battery. The rest just sit there till needed.
The bottom line is "There is no conflict"
That's the lovely thing about Battery (DC) power. you can have 20 different sources (or more) in parallel and they all work together. the one that is the highest voltage doing the work and as the load increases and voltages thus drop the others chime in.- Steve,
Your question has several parts and all answers are model specific.
The simple answer is that most electrical systems involving batteries will accept charge from anywhere they can get it when it is needed.
Matt - Mine senses the most economical power available and switches to that, in your example it would be shore power.
- Never gave it much thought or measured but I'm betting both have isolation diodes and which ever had the higher voltage would do the charging. Some of the newer MHs also charge the starting battery with shore power so isolation diodes would be required to prevent any damage.
