Should my gen charge coach batteries?

[memphisflyer]

On the road for 2.5 hours with gen running for A/C. When we arrived the coach batteries were not charged. I assume my gen should charge coach batteries and they charge just fine on shore power (both batts are new). If they should be charging, any ideas what to check? It's a 2000 Allegro Bay. Thanks y'all.

[doc]

Mine does.

[Stan.Birch]

Sounds like your continuous duty solenoid has been compromised by burned contacts. Very common, even after only 5 years!

With gen running, check your battery voltage monitor. It it shows low voltage even with the gen running, then the solenoid is the most likely culprit.

Get a new one at any auto parts store . . . $20 !!

[Mr_D]

Mine was a dead alternator, $424 from a Cummins dealer. Works fine now.

[conmoto]

Your generator had a dead alternator?

[Rich-n-Linda]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Mine was a dead alternator, $424 from a Cummins dealer. Works fine now.

I'm with you Conmoto. That doesn't make any sense...

Memphis Flyer, your generator should charge your house batteries.

[Medico]

Mine does as well. If my house batteries drop much below 12 V the generator starts hard. At about 11.2 V, will not start. I have to fire up engine, then generator starts fine and charges house batteries. If I run the generator for a couple of hours before shutdown (about 10 PM), at 7 AM still have enough power to start generator (does not turn over great, but starts) If I do not run generator for a couple of hours, may not start in morning. I do have a residential fridge and quite a few electronics and LED lights that are on during overnight hours.

[tompen]

Is your salesman switch by any chance turned off ? You should be recharging the coach batteries with both the generator, through the convertor, and with the alternator on the engine through the BIRD or isolator diodes. It seems odd that both systems do not work unless the batteries are switched off or the latching relay has failed.

[AGP]

Originally Posted by tompen

Is your salesman switch by any chance turned off ? You should be recharging the coach batteries with both the generator, through the convertor, and with the alternator on the engine through the BIRD or isolator diodes. It seems odd that both systems do not work unless the batteries are switched off or the latching relay has failed.

What is a Salesman switch? Never heard of one.

[flaggship1]

Originally Posted by AGP

What is a Salesman switch? Never heard of one.

This is a pic of my salesman switch located in my control panel cabinet just inside the front door (locations vary).

They are lit when the batteries are in service. Turn them off - no light. There is one for coach and one for house. They get the name from dealers using them to keep batteries from going dead. The salesman can enter and flip them on to show a unit and flip them off when they leave.

If you put coach in storage for any amount of time and don't flip them off your batteries are getting drawn down. Now they usually don't shut everything down so some units have or install cut offs at the battery bank.

Not sure if this has anything to do with your problem but that's what the salesman switch is and does.
Steve

On Edit: Don't want to speak for Mr D but think the suggestion is - depending on how the battery control center is set up and if it's working - the priority may be - or maybe stuck at - alternator charges battery even with generator running.

Also - depending on the level of deletion - new or not - 2.5 hours of running a generator will get you a surface charge - but not a real charge. Don't recall all the cycles my charging goes through - but starts as floating charge - moves to bulk charge and a few others as I recall to get batteries where they should be. Probably 6 or 7 hours depending - for 2 chassis and 4 house flooded batteries. YMMV

As others have said - the battery control or continuous duty solenoid may be the culprit. You do want to get to the bottom of it and have the generator charging the batteries if you go any real time without electric hookup. If you rely too heavily on your generator to charge your batteries you're over working it and could end up in Mr Ds boat needing a new alternator before its time.

[Stan.Birch]

Oops! I misread the question.

Yes the batteries will be charged via your converter when the generator is running. But you should still be getting a charge through the chassis alternator. If the batteries are severely discharged, running the generator for an hour will get house batteries up to about 75 - 80% charge. Getting the final 20% of the charge may take a number of additional hours.

[memphisflyer]

Thanks for all the help.Can you point me to where the solinoid is and what it looks like please? I think I might know what it will look like but not where. Thanks.

[flaggship1]

Originally Posted by memphisflyer

Thanks for all the help.Can you point me to where the solinoid is and what it looks like please? I think I might know what it will look like but not where. Thanks.

Not familiar with your coach but electric bay or under hood (or ??) is a good place to start.

Will probably look something like the 2nd one on this page. http://www.trombetta.com/dc-contactor-products.cfm

[tompen]

Mine is under the hood at the battery control center.

(Flagship..I couldn't get your link to work)