Community Forums

dgm51 · 01-12-2019, 12:11 PM

I have been reading the owners manual on the electrical systems installed in our new to us 2013 Knight. I am trying to find a clear answer to which batteries are used to start the generator, house or chassis. Any thoughts or direction to go look would be greatly appreciated.

duckboatking · 01-12-2019, 12:19 PM

On my 2001 Diplomat it's the house batteries.

You can check by turning off the battery switch's one at a time and seeing if it will start.

Hope this help
Michael

Windecker · 01-12-2019, 12:56 PM

Chassis on my Signature and Executive.
As Michael said, open your battery compartment and find your manual on/off switches. Should be two, one for the house batteries and one for the Chassis batteries. Some coaches have the chassis batteries in a different compartment than the house batteries.

To prevent interrupting DW or whatever I would turn the chassis battery mechanical switch off (engine not running of course) and attempt to start the generator. If it starts, your gen is hooked to the house batteries. If not, it is hooked to the chassis batteries. Don't forget to turn your switch back on

.
Windecker

Quote:

Originally Posted by duckboatking

On my 2001 Diplomat it's the house batteries.

You can check by turning off the battery switch's one at a time and seeing if it will start.

Hope this help
Michael

twinboat · 01-12-2019, 01:07 PM

Do your tests with the shore power cord unplugged.

If on shore power, your isolation solenoid could stay engaged. That keeps the battery cables between the batteries connected.

DaveBunker · 01-12-2019, 01:13 PM

Chassis usually. On most Monaco at least my 2004 Camelot

CountryB · 01-12-2019, 01:17 PM

Generator should be connected to Chassis batteries. If i's not, change it.

How can you charge the House batteries when boondocking - if the House batteries get low and the generator is connected to those batteries - you cant start the generator. The only thing you can do then, is start the RV engine (off Chassis batteries) and go home.

mmartin · 01-12-2019, 01:31 PM

Once you have the engine started hit the boost button that ties the the chassis/house batteries together and then the house batteries will charge enough to get the generator started.

twinboat · 01-12-2019, 01:43 PM

Just push and hold the boost button to start the generator. No need to start the main engine. The generator has a small engine.

If the generator started and ran off the chassis battery and was running the 120 volt charger, charging the house battery, it would be running down the chassis battery. That could be a big problem if the boost/isolation solenoid went bad.

Most generators don't have alternators. If it does, then it can be running from the chassis battery.

96 Wideglide · 01-12-2019, 07:34 PM

Originally my H.R had the generator starter motor wired to the house batteries.
I changed it to the chassis batteries to make the AGS more useful.

CountryB · 01-13-2019, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

Just push and hold the boost button to start the generator. No need to start the main engine. The generator has a small engine.

If the generator started and ran off the chassis battery and was running the 120 volt charger, charging the house battery, it would be running down the chassis battery. That could be a big problem if the boost/isolation solenoid went bad.

Most generators don't have alternators. If it does, then it can be running from the chassis battery.

Your example is counting on the Boost switch "to work" when needed and then expressing concern regarding the consequences if the boost/isolation solenoid "does not work".

I think one should wire the system up with the assumption that switches/solenoids will work as intended. You can always carry a spare switches/solenoids if you want. The Coach Owner can monitor the battery charging/state-of-charge periodically to ensure the appropriate battery bank is charging from the generator.

The Owner's Manual for my beaver states that the Generator is connected to the Chassis batteries. That makes the most sense to me.

Good luck.

duckboatking · 01-13-2019, 06:59 AM

Ok, so my generator is hooked up to my house batteries. I mostly dry camp with it, and have run into the house batteries getting too low to start the generator, which is a major issue when you are dry camping, and 4 or 5 days drive away from home. I can't remember if I have tried my boost button when this happens, I believe I tried it once and it didn't seem to do much so I didn't bother with it again.
How would I switch my generator from starting off the house batteries to the chassis batteries ? This seems like it would be a benifit to how we use our Monaco. Otherwise, is there anyway I can " Jump " start the generator off my chassis batteries in the event the house batteries are too low to start it ?
Thanks
Michael

Soppy · 01-13-2019, 07:08 AM

My generator starts from the house batteries. It does not have its own charging system and relies on the inverter/converter to charge the batteries. It will also charge the chassis batteries via an isolation solenoid. If the house batteries are dead, I can press the boost switch to start the generator.

robertj1979 · 01-13-2019, 07:57 AM

From my 2012 Monaco Knight manual:

Starting the Generator
Requirement for Generator Operation: House and chassis battery disconnect switches must be on.

Hope that helps.

CountryB · 01-13-2019, 08:19 AM

Here is the wiring diagram for my coach. If you want to move your generator from House to Chassis batteries you need to find "your" wiring diagram and see where it connects now and where the chassis fuse block is located. However I don't if it is a simple as just moving the heavy 1/0 cable, there may be some smaller wires too (wires to start switch, fule pump or glow plugs, battery voltage sensing wires, etc.) - so you need to study the wiring diagram before doing anything.