Generator Killing Batteries

1. Manufacturers have connected generators to either chassis, or house batteries, over the years. Which is best is anyone's guess. Mine happens to be connected to house-batteries, but my converter/charger also charges the chassis battery and house when running or shore-power or generator.

If the house-batteries were too low to start generator, the problem could be overcome by starting the MH engine which allows the alternator to charge both sets of batteries. Since the alternator supplies 70 to 100 amps at 14.5 volts running the engine will make starting the generator much easier.


2. Because many people are now using inverters to power more items while on battery-power only, it is much easier to lower the battery's capacity from under charging and causing sulfation. This, or having a voltage drop from too many items "on", will lead to insufficient voltage (and amps) to get the generator started. Since the generator needs current to keep running the battery-bank it may have a "net loss" and not be charging which will lead to generator shutting down. This problem more likely to occur from too small a single or multi-stage charger for the amount of power required.

duplicate post

Generator should be wired to house battery since MH engine is wired to chassis battery. That way, if either battery dies, the OTHER engine can be started. You are not dead in the water. If both are wired to the same battery, and it dies, nothing will start.

If the generator is wired to the house battery and the house battery dies, you merely start the MH engine. The isolator/disconnect relay then connects the two batteries together and the chassis battery, boosted by the alternator, will start the generator.

So when your house battery is dead you can't start your generator?

Doesn't make sense.

My generator is connected to my start battery. However, when I am plugged into shore power or the generator both the house battery and chsssis battery get charged. Gosh, Right into the 21st century. They sell the Xantrex echo adapter for older MHs that don't charge both sets of batteries. :h

Likely two unrelated issues:

1. Generator should be wired to house, not chassis battery.

2. Verify that you do charge the chassis battery from 120 VAC (i.e. when generator is running or from shore power). Many, many coaches were NOT set up to do this.

Found some info from previos posts on internet about issue and mod.

xantrex echo charger for start battery

Because generators now consume current they can be a problem. If your house battery goes dead from over use and generator is hooked up to it you won't be able to start the generator. The solution on some of the newer MHs was to connect the generator to start battery but they isolate and charge the start battery any time the MH is plugged into power or into a running generator. You can buy an adapter charger that will accomplish the task. Just moving the generator over to the other battery may not totally solve the problem.

sounds like
generator is wired to the wrong battery
it is hooked to the chassis aka engine battery
the converter is charging the house battery
generator wire needs to be moved to the house battery

Generators consume DC current. All those protection devices. Some RVs have a charger that also charges the start battery when plugged into power or generator. You may want to check the charging current on both the coach batteries and start battery. You may have to add that option. Saw another post recently about that same problem.

check the output of your converter i think its dead