Generator Not charging Batteries

Go here to download the manual for the converter

Scroll down a short distance and download the manual show. You should find two 30 amp reverse polarity fuses.

Yep, need to know mh model number and year. Some older units charged at a very low rate. I had one that charged at 3 amps. That was a pain.

2012 Forest River Sunseeker 2450 is what you have after digging through your profile.

So a 2012 should have a good charger. You need to find the manual for your converter panel and check fuses per the manual.

Oh, just another thought. Some RV's need to have the shoreline cord plugged into an outlet in the compartment the cord is in. Never mind, brochure says it has an automatic transfer switch.

Check your AC outlets to see if they are working. If not check any breakers on your generator.

If your AC outlets are hot then back to the converter to see if the charge line fuses are popped.

Yep, need to know mh model number and year. Some older units charged at a very low rate. I had one that charged at 3 amps. That was a pain.

So we are all just guessing. Because we have no idea what we are working on. This is why I ask for full model and serial number.

littlemo wrote:
We have our MH at our Deer Camp right now. Have had a few cloudy days so solar panels not much help. DH says the Generator not charging batteries but when he starts the Truck THAT battery charges it?

I believe you mean the truck's alternator charges the battery just fine.

As others have pointed out, (unless the gen is set up to charge the batteries directly), the gen supplies 120v AC power to a converter/charger, which in turn, supplies approx. 12-15v DC power to the batteries and rig.

Make sure the converter's 120 ac plug is indeed plugged in. Also check if the converter is properly wired to the batteries. With generator running, check its 120v ac output. If that's fine, check the converter's output. It should be either in boost mode or normal mode... boost being probably somewhere in the 14.0-14.6 range, normal being in the 13.6v range.

Post the make and model of the converter here, so folks here can better help you.

Also, check any fuses or breakers in the circuit between generator, converter, and batts.

And x2 on the combo inverter/charger possibility.

My guess is the solar didn't keep up with the demand on the batteries, so they eventually went dead. You will need to learn how to properly monitor (and maintain) your batteries, so this doesn't happen again and again. :)

With them being new batteries, it would be beneficial to get them properly conditioned before putting them into full time service. Please see the thread "first top charge" to get advice on preparing your new batteries for reliable full time service.

could your inverter be a Combo "inverter and Charger" ?
what is the brand name and model number

if it is a COmbo unit .. it is the converter/charger

disconnecting the cable means it can not charge the batteries

New batteries? Odds are they were connected incorrectly. Could be a number of things. Connected backwards, wire left off. Need more info.

Did this start immediately after the new batteries or was it happening before the new batteries?

My son set up my Solar panels about 4-5 weeks ago and he hooked it all up and it has been working fine keeping batteries charged. Then something happened and the batteries were down. The light on my awning switch was blinking for whatever reason. My husband changed a fuse out that was where the generator charges the battery ( I think) It is by the steps where the batteries are. I think that's when things got messed up. I think my husband did something and didn't get it back together correctly. I probably will have to take it to my son and let him look at it. I just thought I would see what I might learn on here. He didn't take the battery cables off the batteries. The only thing I know he did was take the cable off the Inverter. I don't know what he did down there in the compartment where that fuse is. It is a lone fuse. Anyway, Thanks.

littlemo wrote:
We have our MH at our Deer Camp right now. Have had a few cloudy days so solar panels not much help. DH says the Generator not charging batteries but when he starts the Truck THAT battery charges it? Why will the generator not charge it?

thanks,
Sharon

BTW they are brand new 12 volt deep cell batteries.

New batteries? Odds are they were connected incorrectly. Could be a number of things. Connected backwards, wire left off. Need more info.

Did this start immediately after the new batteries or was it happening before the new batteries?

The generator does not actually charge the battery. Generator supplies power to the converter. The converter charges the batteries.

Easy to check the converter. 120 volts AC in, 13.6+ volts DC out.

So check the converter output voltage and battery voltage and post them here.
Also post the make and model of the converter or electric panel for best answers.

Could also be a fuse, switch or other connection from converter to battery.

MH ... truck. Your confusing me
Not charging with generator running
New batteries
Sounds like a missing wire, or a blown fuse from the converter charger circuit
Dropped..misplaced wires are a very common occurrence when replacing batteries
Wiring them backwards is also very common
When looking at white and black wires
White is the Negative/ground wire and black is the positive hot wire
Just the opposite of what most people expect