House batteries question

[puttin]

I tried to exercise my generator yesterday and my house batteries were too dead to start it. (The rig has been sitting since early Oct. in storage). The chassis battery was still charged so I started the engine.....thinking that would send voltage to the house bank. In my case, no. I had to jump my gen. from a jump box to start it- then my house batts. showed charge voltage from the converter (as it should). I have a Trkle-start installed as well. My question is- I thought starting the engine would have sent d/c back to the house bank but it didn't....is this normal? TIA. '08 Winnebago Sightseer 35-J.

[d23haynes57]

With the house batteries dead, the boost or combiner circuit will not be able to carry enough current to start the generator until the house batteries have gained some charge. If the charge relay is somehow voltage controlled, it may also be locked out on low voltage lock out. This may also disable the house battery charger or inverter charger. Is the coach outside and exposed to freezing temps? If so, the discharged batteries most likely have internal freeze damage and need to be replaced anyway.

[puttin]

The boost relay only works to start the rv. It takes voltage from house batteries to chassis battery- not the other way. I also looked at my owner's manual yesterday and found the answer. It states the alternator charges the house batteries when the engine is running. So, it might be that at only 6.5 volts it's too low to accept a charge from the engine, or I may have a solenoid that is bad. Thanks for the responses- now I need to do some more investigating.