I have recently purchased a 2012 Winnebago ERA. The RV had 5000 miles and I have racked up another 11000 miles since my purchase in the Spring. (I really like my Sprinter Chassis!) Like everyone here, I have run into some minor problems and have generally enjoyed the process of exploring each problem and finding solutions. Until now! My generator runs well and powers my A/C quite well. Unfortunately, I am unable to charge my battery with the 2500 Onan Generator. The battery charges well when connecting to AC Power as well as charging itself directly from the Alternator following the operation of the vehicle engine. Following the depletion of a day or two of camping including using a TV etc, the low voltage alarm occurs on my 1800 Watt Xantra (?) Inverter?Charger and am forced to run the engine to again charge the battery or just do without. On occasions when I find myself boondocking, I am forced to fun the vehicle engine to use things like a coffee maker and the TV.I understand that the Inverter simply transforms DC to AC to allow me to run my TV etc. I am unsure where the problem lies. Is it likely the invertor or is it the generator? Is it likely I am neglecting to hit some switch someplace that would permit the charging of the house battery when the generator is engaged. I am perplexed and have needlessly run the generator many hours trying to find a solution. Everything else on the ERA is working fine and I am sure I am overlooking something obvious. Hopefully someone may have run across this problem and could give me a possible solution before I take the thing into a place for service. Thanks in advance for the help!

I would be looking for a battery cut off switch.

If you have an inverter which also charges then generator should provide AC power to inverter so charger can function.When hooked up to AC power does battery get charged?Check inverter for tripped ac power.....check charger output.

#40Fan, could you pleae let me know where I would possibly find a battery cut off switch? Old -Biscuit, the batterey definely charges when hooked up to AC power. Where exactly would I check for tripped AC power on the Xantex inverter? I have pressed a small button on the back of the invertor but with negative results.Thanks!

You did not say how long you run the generator. It will take many hours to recharge a battery from the converter. Overnight if it is really low. The engine alternator puts out much more. If you really want to charge from the generator the fastest way is to carry a good battery charger and with the generator running hook the charger to the battery, even this will take several hours if the battery is very low. The fastest way is the engine. Things like a coffee maker that produce heat use a lot of battery power. We always use the stove when boondocking. Good luck,Wayne

Thanks Wayne. I didn't realize that the generator would take overnight to charge the battery. Someone had told me 30 minutes! I guess that I should only use the generator as a last resort and rely on the alternator to recharge the battery when I am unable to find AC Power readily available. I guess that the generator primary use will be to run the Air conditioning. I appreciate the reply. Paul

Generator Problem | Good Sam Community

_40Fan
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
I would be looking for a battery cut off switch.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Aug 19, 2013
If you have an inverter which also charges then generator should provide AC power to inverter so charger can function.

When hooked up to AC power does battery get charged?

Check inverter for tripped ac power.....check charger output.
CASERTA
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
#40Fan, could you pleae let me know where I would possibly find a battery cut off switch?

Old -Biscuit, the batterey definely charges when hooked up to AC power. Where exactly would I check for tripped AC power on the Xantex inverter? I have pressed a small button on the back of the invertor but with negative results.

Thanks!
wsfurrie
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
You did not say how long you run the generator. It will take many hours to recharge a battery from the converter. Overnight if it is really low. The engine alternator puts out much more. If you really want to charge from the generator the fastest way is to carry a good battery charger and with the generator running hook the charger to the battery, even this will take several hours if the battery is very low. The fastest way is the engine. Things like a coffee maker that produce heat use a lot of battery power. We always use the stove when boondocking.
Good luck,
Wayne
CASERTA
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
Thanks Wayne. I didn't realize that the generator would take overnight to charge the battery. Someone had told me 30 minutes! I guess that I should only use the generator as a last resort and rely on the alternator to recharge the battery when I am unable to find AC Power readily available. I guess that the generator primary use will be to run the Air conditioning. I appreciate the reply. Paul
georgelesley
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
We have a 2013 ERA and the battery cutoff switch is just under the counter. It is a small rocker type switch which obviously only trips a relay. It does not carry all the battery power. Our ERA 70A might be a bit different than yours, but the manual we got describes the switch in detail and says where it is. Yours will likely as well.

As others have said, running the genny to charge batteries and then use an inverter is not cost effective especially with a LP genny. Just run the genny when 110 volt is needed for a short time. Far more efficient.
CASERTA
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
Hello georgelesley. I have not seen any reference to a battery cutoff switch in my documentation. Nonetheless, I will look again. Could you be more specific as to the location under the counter. I have a 70X but I have not noticed any such switch. As well, could you please expand upon your comment about the inverter. Should the inverter be turned off when not in use. Should it only be used to run TV and the dome satelite attached.? I am obviously a Newby and having problems understanding the proper use of the inverter as well as the purpose and linitations of the generator. Thanks again!
georgelesley
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
CASERTA wrote:
Hello georgelesley. I have not seen any reference to a battery cutoff switch in my documentation. Nonetheless, I will look again. Could you be more specific as to the location under the counter. I have a 70X but I have not noticed any such switch. As well, could you please expand upon your comment about the inverter. Should the inverter be turned off when not in use. Should it only be used to run TV and the dome satelite attached.? I am obviously a Newby and having problems understanding the proper use of the inverter as well as the purpose and linitations of the generator. Thanks again!

Since we have an ERA 70A, the location is likely different than ours. It should have been shown to you by the dealership. If not, I would contact them. It will have one somewhere. I guess I don't completely understand why you need an inverter to run the tv, satellite, etc. Ours all run on 12 volt thru the converter when plugged in and thru the coach batteries when without power. We don't even have a inverter other than a very small one from Walmart to charge the computer and a few other things from the 12 volt power point.

You may have different needs I am just not understanding. This forum is the right place to get answers from. Good luck, maybe our paths can cross someday.
Fastpaddler
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
When I dry camped on Gabriola Island last week, I found that the generator would fully charge up the house battery when it had been depleted, in about 1 hour.But wait a minute:that is what the monitor claimed. In actuality it only partially charges the battery. Upon heavy useage it discharged faster than after a day of charging up from the alternator when driving or a full day on shore power. A lot depends on your useage of the house battery. I used only lights and so I had adequate amps from my 90AMP/hr battery.I would like a second so I could run a dvd or use inverter but no where to put it. Hi Caserta in Ottawa. Hope you are enjoying your ERA. I might be rving to Ottawa next year.
AL
PS: unless I am actually out there camping I ALWAYS turn off the power switch to prevent any parasitic amp drain from any electronics in the vehicle. That way the battery doesn't discharge when sitting, so fast.Hope you found switch to do that Caserta.
CASERTA
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013
Thanks everyone for responding to my problem. I believe the comment from wsfurrie probably hit the nail on the head. I have not been using the generator long enough to charge the battery once it has been depleted. I had been told that 30 minutes would be sufficent. I now know that significantly more time will be required to charge a depleted battery by use of the generator. As well, I realize that precharging battery by AC before the trip is very important and that driving the vehicle often, and relying on the alternator, will likely satisfy my battery charging requirements as well. Although I welcome the use of the generator to run Air Conditioning, I see that the charging of the battery by generator as the least attractive option because of the noise involved but I am sure I will welcome the use of the generator when the other 2 options are not readily available.
Fastpaddler, I will also heed your comment about the parasitic amp drain. Hope to see you in Ottawa next year.
Paul

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