Adventurer coach battery/generator question

[smlranger]

Was checking out the rig today in preparation for trading it for a Journey and generator would not start. Shoreline is plugged in but coach battery switch on dash is 'OFF.' When I hit the gen start button, it barely cranks. However, if I put battery switch in 'ON' position, gen starts fine. I checked both my coach batteries (6 months old) and both show 13V and hydrometer in each cell checks full charge.

What am I missing? I understand the battery switch isolates the batteries from the converter to prevent overcharging but in OFF position does it also disconnect the coach batteries from the generator start circuit?

[smlranger]

Was checking out the rig today in preparation for trading it for a Journey and generator would not start. Shoreline is plugged in but coach battery switch on dash is 'OFF.' When I hit the gen start button, it barely cranks. However, if I put battery switch in 'ON' position, gen starts fine. I checked both my coach batteries (6 months old) and both show 13V and hydrometer in each cell checks full charge.

What am I missing? I understand the battery switch isolates the batteries from the converter to prevent overcharging but in OFF position does it also disconnect the coach batteries from the generator start circuit?

[Norm Newhall]

It shuts off the 12 volt supply to the generator on ours as well. I have had more than one "panic attack" when trying to start it with the switch "off"!

[tmcgeesr]

Sounds like a bad ground somwhere. I would check all grounds for corrision or looseness.

[troth]

smlranger, your genny needs the two coach batteries to provide enough amperage to start it. If your dash switch for coach power is off, you've effectively kept 12vdc in the coach batteries from going anywhere. But if you're plugged into 110vac, your converter is working, let's say at 45 amps. So you'll have 12vdc to the lights, fridge, etc. in the coach, but only up to about 45 amps that your converter is capable of... When the generator starter needs the amps, it can't get enough from the converter, so it barely turns over. That's why the coach power switch on the dash needs to be turned "on" to start your genny. And if you take a voltmeter, I think you'll find when the coach power (dash) switch is off yet you're plugged into 110vac, your converter is not charging your coach batteries (should see 13.2vdc at batteries). Hence, if you're plugged into shore power and want to charge up your coach batteries, you need to have the coach power switch on.

[rvten]

Our Batt switch is just inside entry door. When switch is in off position Gen will not start.

[Horsepowerfan]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by rvten:
Our Batt switch is just inside entry door. When switch is in off position Gen will not start. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yep. Same here! Gotta have the house batteries turned on. That's where the genset gets its power to crank. The converter can't provide enough current by itself.