97 Dolphin electrical

[pjtaxi]

After from returning from a 3 day dry camping trip I found there are many things about the electrical system I don't understand and can't find in my manuals. First question does the gen only charge house batteries? My monitor panel will show batteries low and after running gen for 20 min will show charged. Then at nite while running heater will show low after only a couple hours. I know the fan is a big draw. But also when the monitor shows low bat and I start mh and run for 20 min the panel will show charged again. So I assume the gen should charge house bat and alt on mh will charge chassis bat and then house bat? Also when running gen does the fridge switch from gas to electric ? Another unusual happening when we returned last nite and unloaded we turned off fridge and furnace but left gen plugged in to circuit and at 4 this am my wife heard the gen running and turned off. Does it start by its self if plugged in to mh? I know that's a lot of questions but I really need to know. Any info appreciated

[donhoward49]

When you read the battery panel while the generator is running, you are seeing the volts going into the batteries, not the "strength" of the batteries.. I would guess two hours for a charge.. run the gen two hours, turn it off, wait 30 minutes and then read the battery volts.
Yes your fridg will switch from Gas to electric. I donnt know why your gen turned on in the early hours... Buy the way, you did not plug in your generator to a circuit, you plugged in the Motor Home to a circuit. A big suggestion. Google "the 12 volt side of life" for great reading

[chboone]

Your batteries are charged by the converter/charger, and by the chassis engine alternator when the engine is running. Power is supplied to the charger when connected to shore power or when running the generator. The refrigerator will switch to electric from LPG anytime there is 120 volts available and the refrigerator control is set to auto. If you don't want the refrigerator to switch to electric turn off the auto mode. It takes several hours to recharge batteries to full capacity when drained such as you did. The only way to explain the generator starting on it's own is you may have an auto start feature when to batteries are low.

Chuck