Community Forums

asheville · 11-13-2018, 11:15 AM

Does the generator start from house batteries? Thanks in advance!

WinnieView · 11-13-2018, 12:22 PM

Most motorhome generators are wired to the house batteries for starting, and recharging (from the converter/charger).

Stretch · 11-13-2018, 12:28 PM

Agree with seneca

96 Wideglide · 11-13-2018, 12:49 PM

Probably.

See this thread .......

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f115/generators-419449.html

asheville · 11-13-2018, 01:19 PM

Thanks, the reason I ask is : lately my gen doesn’t want to start unless I start MH And then it has more power and starts right up. My House batts show 13.1 but are 3 yrs old and my chassis batts are only 6 months old.

K7JV · 11-13-2018, 01:22 PM

On its junior cousin, the 06' Dynasty, the generator starts from the chassis battery, not the house battery. I would expect the Signature to be similarly configured.

The logic is that the auto-gen-start system that can be used to bring house batteries back up when they fall to a sufficiently low level of charge need to rely on a generator that can be expected to start. Having the generator on the same bank that is already low would not be a good configuration for that to work, reliably.

If the house battery and the chassis batteries are both well charged, all is good.

If the house battery is low but the chassis battery is well charged, the generator can be started to bring the house battery back up. All is good.

If the house battery is well charged but the chassis battery is low, the "Boost" switch can be used to help start either the generator and the engine. All is good.

If both batteries are low, the only hope of success other than a jumper or a commercial feed supply would be to try the "Boost" switch and see if the combination of the two batteries could get either the generator or the engine started. All probably might not be so good.

My experience has been that the engine is far easier to start than the generator, even on a somewhat low battery. Our engine usually starts after just a few revolutions. Our generator often takes quite a few tries. There is a lot of voltage drop just from the distance between the battery and the generator. Add to that the relatively high current draw of the starter, itself, and either the glow plugs or the induction heater, whichever it has. I've found that the engine takes far less energy out of the chassis battery to start than does the generator. In fact there have been times when the generator would fail to turn over, yet our very reliable ISL Cummins would still start in three or four revolutions.

vito.a · 11-13-2018, 01:49 PM

When our Big Boy solenoid fails, it tends to run the chassis batteries down and the generator will not start. So I'm very sure Jim is correct.

96 Wideglide · 11-13-2018, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K7JV

My experience has been that the engine is far easier to start than the generator, even on a somewhat low battery. Our engine usually starts after just a few revolutions. Our generator often takes quite a few tries. There is a lot of voltage drop just from the distance between the battery and the generator. Add to that the relatively high current draw of the starter, itself, and either the glow plugs or the induction heater, whichever it has. I've found that the engine takes far less energy out of the chassis battery to start than does the generator. In fact there have been times when the generator would fail to turn over, yet our very reliable ISL Cummins would still start in three or four revolutions.

I've found the same thing!

Odd isn't it

..... 3 fairly small cylinders vs 6 large cylinders.

CountryB · 11-13-2018, 02:16 PM

My 2005 Beaver (Monaco) Patriot has the generator powered off Chassis batteries. That makes sense - if the House batteries wear down boondocking, you would start generator off chassis batteries to then recharge House batteries.

asheville · 11-13-2018, 03:47 PM

Although it doesn’t specifically state, the manual insinuates chassis batteries! I’m going to flip the house cut off switch and confirm, thanks!

hypoxia · 11-13-2018, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CountryB

My 2005 Beaver (Monaco) Patriot has the generator powered off Chassis batteries.

My 2007 Monaco Signature and the 2008 Beaver Patriot Thunder parked here both have the generator on the chassis batteries.

Peterson143 · 11-14-2018, 10:32 AM

On our 1999 Sig we have two red top batteries for the generator, four AGM house batteries, and two engine start batteries. Not seeing anyone else here with that set up but maybe the setup was changed in the newer Sigs. These were not after market but appears the rig was built that way.

Windecker · 11-15-2018, 04:01 PM

What they all just said is true! Saw the same thing when my isolator went bad, engine started fine, gen did not.

Flip your manual disconnect off for one or the other, house or chassis ( I would turn chassis off myself), then try to crank up the gen. Whether it goes or not, you will have your answer.
Windecker

Quote:

Originally Posted by asheville

Does the generator start from house batteries? Thanks in advance!

Ivylog · 11-16-2018, 12:54 AM

My 04 Dynasty and 08 Navigator both use the chassis batteries. Some have to start the engine to get enough power to the generator 40+’ away from the batteries. Others have added another battery at the generator because of hard starting.