Can’t turn house battery on after using generator

Well first off let me welcome you to the Forums. It's always nice to have a new member. Next, when posting a problem it is imperative that you give some vital information. In this case knowing that you have a 2005, Minnie Winnie 26A, I was able to look on winnebagoind.com and find the Operators Manual for your rig. If you don't have the manual, you too can find it on the Winnebago web site and download it in a PDF format. If you do have it, I think you need to sit down and read all of it but you should pay particular attention to Section 9, Electrical. Not only will it tell you that you have a Battery Disconnect switch, it will show you a picture of it and it's location. You'll find that on page 9/7. It's called a Aux. Battery Switch.

The next thing you need is a DMM. That is a Digital Multi-Meter. They are available at HFT, Norther Tool, Lowes, Home Depot... Many under $20.

With the Aux, Sw. turned on and the engine running, touch the meter probes to the battery terminals. Red is positive and Black in negative. You should get a reading of 13.8 to 14.4 volts DC. Turn the engine off and the voltage will drop to about 12.7 VDC. That will tell you that your engine alternator is charging both the chassis and house batteries.

On shore power or generator power, the charge rate will be given in the manual for your Converter.

When your done reading the owners manual, search for The 12 Volt Side Of Life 1 & 2. Read them.

At that time you should be well on your way to being an knowledgeable RVer. Good luck and Happy Camping.

I'm wondering if the batteries are viable.

Nikki,

I don't know where the disconnect switch is in your particular RV, but I'm fairly certain there is one.

The good news is the generator is ok, and the converter is probably ok too!

Do you know where the converter is? And what make it is?

Nikki,

At least we now know the converter is working.

But for some reason it is not charging the "house" battery bank.

There is often a "salesman switch" or master disconnect switch. It may have been accidentally turned off.

Also, the friendly Rver from next to us who helped me, checked the fuses. He couldn’t find a bad one, but there was a green light blinking when the generator was on. He said he didn’t like that, but also didn’t know what it meant.

I’m by the way on public land by the entrance of capitol reef park - my 5 year old son and me. It’s been an adventure from LA till here. RV people are great folk, that’s for sure!

Aw, thanks so much for answering so quickly.
We have a Mini Winnie 26A from 2005 with an Oman 4000 generator.

The lights work when the generator is on.

What is the disconnect switch? Is it the one next to the steering wheel? I think I did kick that, but put it back to where It was.

Nikki we need more information.

Here is what we know:

The generator works to send 120 volt power to the RV.

The "converter" which should charge the house batteries is not doing so.

Do the lights work when the generator is running?

Update: I found a guy with an electronic meter and he says the coach batteries are not charging via generator not via motor. They have been serviced just 3 month again when I bought the rv used :(

You completely recharged your battery? Got through bulk and absorption phases? Must have been running for 3-4 hours. Rested the battery and it showed 12.7 volts?

Nikki,

Welcome to the forums.

Please let us know the make and model of RV and the make and model of the generator.