We own a 2007 Monaco Executive that is parked in a covered space in a storage facility. There is no electrical hookup to run the onboard charger inverter. There are three chassis batteries (12 volt AGM) and 8 house batteries (6 volts each and wet cell). When it is cold, I have a time trying to start the engine and sometimes I am successful and other times I have no luck. When I jump start, I hook the jumper cables (heavy duty) to my truck's battery (650 Cold Cranking Amps (CCAs)) and to two of the three batteries (950 CCAs each). There are two batteries that have the positive and negative connected so that I can jump them properly. Yes, I know that the CCAs are not compatible, but sometimes I am lucky.I am researching the feasibility of a jump starter with 1400 - 1800 CCAs that I can use to assist in this effort. Based on some of my readings, there is one school of thought that endorses a portable jump starter and another school of thought that says that it is a waste of time.In the past, I have removed all three chassis batteries and charged each individually at home; however, this is just a pain and I do no relish performing this task.I am soliciting your sage advice and/or recommendations as to any heavy duty jump starter or if I am wasting my time. The ones I have researched so far comprise either two or three group 31 AGM batteries and the total package weighs from 289 - 300 pounds.Please excuse the long post and Happy Holidays!!!!!!

Abusing your batteries like you are will cost you a lot of money replacing prematurely killed batteries.Your truck, with the engine running will provide as much or more amperage than any portable jump starter pack.

I would suggest starting the genset, then turn on engine block heater if equipped, while the genset charges batteries.

First make sure all of the wire connections are tight and clean - battery posts, chassis grounds, etc. You probably have battery drains with all of the switches off which is part of the problem. Remove the ground wire on both banks or add disconnect switches on the battery wires.My chassis battery will discharge 25% in a month and the house batteries 50% with all Monaco switches off. If the gen will start (yet another Monaco wiring problem on my rig) then use it to charge the batteries, run engine block heater and AH engine heat if so equipped. Independent of low temps Monacos tend to have gen starting problems due to the distance to the batteries. Installing a battery up front solves that problem. AGM self discharge is very low and starting should not require your truck, etc.

You already have automatic jumper cables... it's called the boost switch on the dash. It connects your 8 house batteries to your three engine batteries. Unfortunately the contacts in the BigBoy solenoid (located in the back electrical run box) are bad about corroding BUT it can be taken apart and the contacts cleaned. I would listen near the BigBoy for a loud click when someone else pushes the boost switch to make sure it's energizing. I would also hold the boost switch on for 30 seconds before trying to start. I would turn your engine battery disconnect switch off while in storage and then on when you want to start your engine. I agree with starting the generator (use the boost switch if it's slow turning over) and using the block heater if it's below 20 but it will take an hour for the block heater to do much. Your AquaHot will heat your engine faster than the block heater. Below 40 I turn the ignition switch off after the wait to start light goes out and then back on so the grid heater gets even warmer before trying to start when it goes out the second time. I've never used my block heater or A Hot to heat my engine... cycling the key twice always works for me.

Good info above. On a cold day in storage check the battery voltage on both banks with a digital voltmeter. I'd bet a donut you'll discover low voltage on both banks.

Jump Starting 2007 Monaco Executive | Good Sam Community

beemerphile1
Explorer
Dec 09, 2015
Abusing your batteries like you are will cost you a lot of money replacing prematurely killed batteries.

Your truck, with the engine running will provide as much or more amperage than any portable jump starter pack.
enblethen
Nomad
Dec 09, 2015
I would suggest starting the genset, then turn on engine block heater if equipped, while the genset charges batteries.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Dec 09, 2015
First make sure all of the wire connections are tight and clean - battery posts, chassis grounds, etc. You probably have battery drains with all of the switches off which is part of the problem. Remove the ground wire on both banks or add disconnect switches on the battery wires.

My chassis battery will discharge 25% in a month and the house batteries 50% with all Monaco switches off. If the gen will start (yet another Monaco wiring problem on my rig) then use it to charge the batteries, run engine block heater and AH engine heat if so equipped.

Independent of low temps Monacos tend to have gen starting problems due to the distance to the batteries. Installing a battery up front solves that problem.

AGM self discharge is very low and starting should not require your truck, etc.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Dec 09, 2015
You already have automatic jumper cables... it's called the boost switch on the dash. It connects your 8 house batteries to your three engine batteries. Unfortunately the contacts in the BigBoy solenoid (located in the back electrical run box) are bad about corroding BUT it can be taken apart and the contacts cleaned. I would listen near the BigBoy for a loud click when someone else pushes the boost switch to make sure it's energizing. I would also hold the boost switch on for 30 seconds before trying to start. I would turn your engine battery disconnect switch off while in storage and then on when you want to start your engine.

I agree with starting the generator (use the boost switch if it's slow turning over) and using the block heater if it's below 20 but it will take an hour for the block heater to do much. Your AquaHot will heat your engine faster than the block heater. Below 40 I turn the ignition switch off after the wait to start light goes out and then back on so the grid heater gets even warmer before trying to start when it goes out the second time. I've never used my block heater or A Hot to heat my engine... cycling the key twice always works for me.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Dec 09, 2015
Good info above. On a cold day in storage check the battery voltage on both banks with a digital voltmeter. I'd bet a donut you'll discover low voltage on both banks.
TZScales
Explorer
Dec 09, 2015
Thanks to all on replying to my request. I surmised from your responses that a separate jump starter system will probably be a waste of money. I did not think about the block heater nor Aqua Hot engine preheat, and will use these systems to assist in a start.

I always run my generator at least two hours monthly with a minimum 50% load, but it did not occur to me to activate the block heater or Aqua Hot engine preheat. In addition, I take it out for its twice monthly exercise with a minimum of 25 miles round trip.

I have used the booster switch but this latest episode of trying to start the engine was to no avail.

Once I have instituted these methods, I will report back and thanks again.
TZScales
Explorer
Dec 09, 2015
CA Traveler wrote:
Good info above. On a cold day in storage check the battery voltage on both banks with a digital voltmeter. I'd bet a donut you'll discover low voltage on both banks.

You are correct. I did check with a DVM and the results were less than standard.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Dec 09, 2015
It sounds like your BigBoy (it says this on it) is not energizing (fuse is to the right of it plus a square test button... follow the small white wire) or the contacts are corroded... more likely. With your DVM test the voltage on each side of the BigBoy. The AGM's should be at a higher voltage and then have someone push the boost switch... the voltage on each side should now be the same. If not the the contacts need to be cleaned... a 1.5 hour job as a 3/4" wrench will remove the contacts for wire brushing.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Dec 09, 2015
Be sure to remove the negative ground wire on both banks before any wrenching.
TZScales
Explorer
Dec 09, 2015
Ivylog wrote:
It sounds like your BigBoy (it says this on it) is not energizing (fuse is to the right of it plus a square test button... follow the small white wire) or the contacts are corroded... more likely. With your DVM test the voltage on each side of the BigBoy. The AGM's should be at a higher voltage and then have someone push the boost switch... the voltage on each side should now be the same. If not the the contacts need to be cleaned... a 1.5 hour job as a 3/4" wrench will remove the contacts for wire brushing.

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