Jump Start Onan 4000 microquiet Generator?

[HeWhoIs]

Greetings!

I am having problems getting my generator started. It is flashing a 32 code, low cranking power. I believe I may need new house batteries. In the meantime, I need to run my air conditioning!

Can I jump start it with a jumper box? Where should I hook it up, at the house batteries under my steps or directly to the generator? How?

Any and all help appreciated.

thanks!

[Hank_MI]

Effy wrote:
I've jumped my house batteries off my truck at home. I tried the emergency start and couldn't get it to work. I though that used the house batts to start the chassis engine not the other way around. may not matter. But anyway, yes you can jump them. I am not sure how it works though if you have 6v batts though. 12v worked fine for me.

The emergency start connects the chassis and house batteries together. It doesn't care which set of batteries is low. Now if you have multiple dead house batteries the chassis battery may not have enough juice to bring them up to where they'll start the gen. I have used it on ours when the house batteries were low but not completely dead.

[HeWhoIs]

Thought I would give ya'll an update.

Took it in for service Tuesday and they said something about the starter flywheel being stuck and how that probably happened when it was trying to start with low power before I changed the batteries. Anyway, it works great now.

[Bobbo]

darsben wrote:
Start rig, wait for power transfer from house batteries to chassis alternator Then start genny.
At least I can do that on my MH

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Starting the MH hooks the chassis battery and house battery together for charging. While hooked together for charging, they are also hooked together for powering the house, or starting the generator.

I had to do that once when I had a loose ground wire on the house battery.

[tatest]

If your genset starts from the house batteries, you usually have two alternate sources of 12V power: the engine alternator, and the converter/charger.

If I start my engine and have someone hold down the accelerator to a fast idle RPM, I can get more power to the 12 volt side than I can from the pair of house batteries or from the converter. Similarly for the other sometimes high-load problem, moving the slideouts.

Not every motorized RV is rigged to send 12V power from alternator to 12V house circuits, but most are, so long as the starting battery is in good shape and the alternator is putting out enough to trigger the isolating circuits that protect the starting battery.

If I had to use an emergency-start jumper, I would try connecting it directly to the terminals on the generator. Some of these, however, want to see a healthy partially charged battery on their connection, to avoid damage by shorting the jumper out.

[HeWhoIs]

Thanks All!

I had my house batteries checked and they are dead. Replaced them both. Crossed my fingers....and generator still not starting, same error code. Oh well, batteries needed replacing anyway.

I am at work right now. Will try the other suggestions tomorrow morning, if I wake up early enough before work anyway 😄

I am also going to clean all the connection points and then tighten everything up.

[mgirardo]

darsben wrote:
Start rig, wait for power transfer from house batteries to chassis alternator Then start genny.
At least I can do that on my MH

That is what I have done when the house battery didn't have enough power to start the generator.

-Michael

[wa8yxm]

HeWhoIs wrote:
Greetings!

I am having problems getting my generator started. It is flashing a 32 code, low cranking power. I believe I may need new house batteries. In the meantime, I need to run my air conditioning!

Can I jump start it with a jumper box? Where should I hook it up, at the house batteries under my steps or directly to the generator? How?

Any and all help appreciated.

thanks!

With one small difference I have done.. The difference. Your Generator is smaller than my 5500. .If it worked for me it should work for you.

Procedure.

When I open the geneerator access panel (So I can reset a breaker or use the "on board" Start/stop switch) I see a bolt with a RED RUBBER cap on, in my case, the left.. This is labeled +12V.
This is where I hook the RED lead (hook it up first)

Black lead goes to any metal portion of the generator frame.

PRess and hold STOP as per manual.. When light comes on hold a bit longer (you should hear fuel pump clatter) then press START to .. Well you know what happens.

Remain connected for one full minute

NOTE: If you can, Disconnect house batteries (if they are low) First.

[darsben]

Start rig, wait for power transfer from house batteries to chassis alternator Then start genny.
At least I can do that on my MH

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Hook it directly to the gen-set if you can. That way you won't have a bunch of line loss.

[Effy]

I've jumped my house batteries off my truck at home. I tried the emergency start and couldn't get it to work. I though that used the house batts to start the chassis engine not the other way around. may not matter. But anyway, yes you can jump them. I am not sure how it works though if you have 6v batts though. 12v worked fine for me.

[Hank_MI]

Do you have an AUX start switch? Connects coach and chassis batteries together. Normally used to start engine when chassis battery is dead. If engine battery is good can be used to start gen.

[gbopp]

I've started my engine by jumping the battery from the house batteries.
I would make sure your terminals and connections are clean and tight, then jump it from the house batteries.

I don't think it makes a difference what jump point you use.