This - Engine on/no Gennie: 12.6 - indicates the house battery is not being charged by the alternator PROVIDED you waited several minutes for any electronic time delay.
Moffittclan wrote:
can I jumper from the battery directly to one of the smaller terminals to test the solenoid? If I understand them correctly, applying voltage to one of the small terminals (the one NOT the ground) should engage the solenoid and I should hear it click...If it does click, then my problem would be somewhere else (like the ignition sensing circuit or something)???
Sound about right?
Clicking is a good sign but DOESN'T mean there is electrical contact. A common failure is pitted/corroded contacts inside the solenoid. The solenoid requires continual power to engage and either your alternator or charger provide that power. It's also common for the charger to NOT charge the chassis battery and the solenoid remains off on shore power.
FYI The bottom part of your latching relay (your first picture)
is a second small relay. It is set up to mechanically latch the main relay. A pulse changes between on and off and then it draws no further amps. Exactly what you want - no amps used to keep it on.
