Community Forums

Tmyz · 05-03-2020, 08:43 AM

Hi

Seems like I should know this but do the house and chassis batteries charge with genset on and all switches off?

Trying to set up generator excersize schedule and want to make sure batteries get charged while in storage

I have no way to read panels inside coach with switches off to test myself.

Thanks

Tom

sbleiweiss · 05-03-2020, 08:59 AM

You generally need switches on for either shore or genny to charge batteries.

twinboat · 05-03-2020, 09:01 AM

Turn on the switchs.

No harm doing it that way and no question if it charges with them off.

Tmyz · 05-03-2020, 09:59 AM

Thanks guys.

**CountryFit** · 05-03-2020, 01:52 PM

Not sure about other inverters but both Freedom Interface 20D and Magnum MS2812 we have had would charge the house batteries regardless whether the inverter is turned on or off. The inverter consumes about 6a at 12v when on.

phays · 05-03-2020, 04:40 PM

There was a post in the CCI Facebook page of a person having his house batteries charged by the generator. I didn't know that was possible but Onan has an option for doing just that. In the poster's concern was the voltage the generator was sending to his house batteries was over charging them.

I just checked my Onan set up by turning off my charger and running the genset. The house batteries showed a discharge rather than a charge so my 8K Onan does not charge the house batteries. I leave my charger turned on.

I assume that a generator with the charging option charges the battery set used to start the genset.

twinboat · 05-03-2020, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phays

There was a post in the CCI Facebook page of a person having his house batteries charged by the generator. I didn't know that was possible but Onan has an option for doing just that. In the poster's concern was the voltage the generator was sending to his house batteries was over charging them.

I just checked my Onan set up by turning off my charger and running the genset. The house batteries showed a discharge rather than a charge so my 8K Onan does not charge the house batteries. I leave my charger turned on.

I assume that a generator with the charging option charges the battery set used to start the genset.

Its never going to charge like your 100 +- amp inverter/charger.

10 to 30 amps maybe. Its only to maintain the generator start battery, not a house bank.

**CountryFit** · 05-03-2020, 06:18 PM

Re-read the original post, realized it was asking about the battery master switch... Agree with others it should be on, otherwise the genset won't have power to start in the first place.

Tmyz · 05-03-2020, 09:09 PM

Thanks all. Didn’t even connect the won’t start without switches on.

deandec · 05-04-2020, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phays

There was a post in the CCI Facebook page of a person having his house batteries charged by the generator. I didn't know that was possible but Onan has an option for doing just that. In the poster's concern was the voltage the generator was sending to his house batteries was over charging them.

I just checked my Onan set up by turning off my charger and running the genset. The house batteries showed a discharge rather than a charge so my 8K Onan does not charge the house batteries. I leave my charger turned on.

I assume that a generator with the charging option charges the battery set used to start the genset.

Actually, my rig has a dedicated start battery for the Generator which was charged by the Generator circuit.

I had that feature disconnected, due to component failure and cost of replacement, after I determined that the house battery charger also charged the dedicated generator battery.