Community Forums

dellajacono · 12-24-2013, 07:37 AM

I am a new RV'er and picked up my Class C yesterday to run the generator. Well, I pressed the button to start the generator but failed to turn the battery turn-of switch to on so I'm assuming I drained the battery. Well, I took it to a Cummings shop and they told me to drive the RV for awhile and it should recharge the house batteries. It didn't. So I drove the RV back to my storage area since it was gong to close in an hour.

With that said does anyone know what could have happened? I have no battery power to run the lights or even the radio but the vehicle starts up fine?

Thank you for any insights out there.

pcurt23 · 12-24-2013, 07:49 AM

Your post seems to indicate that you might not have turned the battery switch on. If you did turn the switch on then you can take the rig home and plug it in for an hour or two to charge the house battery. There are some rigs that do not charge house batteries from the alternator. You should check your documents. Of course you could always "fix" that.

I also noticed that you posted on another place on the forum and you have limited access to your unit. I can tell you from experience that this will aggravate you more than it is worth. Especially when you forget the DW's make up bag and the lot is closed.

t55watson · 12-24-2013, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pcurt23

Plug in the coach or put a battery charger on the house battery. Check your manual, your alternator may not charge your "house" battery. There should also be a cut off switch somewhere to prevent the house battery from going dead while in storage.

Right on the money. You could jump the chassis battery to the house battery to start the genny if you were in the boonies but far better to take it home and plug it in for a few days. Check the battery fluid levels first.

clyon51 · 12-24-2013, 08:46 AM

You have one of two problems and maybe both. 1st, the generator uses the house battery(s) for starting. So the house battery disconnect must be in connect mode. The house battery(s) could also be very low or dead.

Normally driving for an hour will charge the house batts enough to start the genny. Also plugging into shore power overnight will do the same. Of course if they are shot (not take/hold a charge) they need to be replaced. One more gotcha.... some coaches will not charge the house batts if they are disconnected with the disconnect switch.