Is an RV generator worth it?
My RV has an Onan Microlite 4000 generator that has been well maintained. It now starts but stops running as soon as I release the Start button. My mechanic identifies the problem as electrical and ...
Forum Discussion
pnichols wrote:
Hmm ... my Winnebago Itasca only has 8 gauge wire running from the engine 12V system to my coach's AGM battery bank, and the Ford V10 engine alternator is only 130 amp.
When my coach battery bank is down around 50% (~12.1 volts) and with the V10 at idle, I've seen the alternator deliver up to 70 amps into the AGM batteries. This pretty much matches the power output curve versus RPM for Ford's E450 stock 130 amp alternator.
I can watch all this happening because I have a coach battery bank ammeter, a coach battery bank xx.xx voltmeter, and an engine battery xx.xx voltmeter mounted on the cab dash on the driver's side. Both voltmeters track very closely when everything is operating as it should.
When the voltmeters do not track, so far it's been because the solenoid that interconnects the engine battery to the coach batteries has failed - either failed to engage - or engaged but suffered from high contact resistance due to erosion of the contacts. This has happened twice now over the years. I now have installed an aftermarket heavy duty solenoid with silver plated contacts in place of the stock battery interconnect solenoid.
8 Gauge and 70 amps, scary, hope its not very far.
I have a Blue Sea 500 amp ACR that replaced my stock failed trombetta, I can manually control with a switch or it auto engages. I monitor my bank with the Magnum BMK shunt based meter. I have never seen it provide much more than 100 amps from alternator buts its a pretty long run from engine to combiner to batteries under steps, also chassis take at least 30 amps.
