Community Forums

warped_five · 07-26-2014, 12:19 PM

Help! We are new owners of a 2104 Aspire DEQ. We took it on a 2-week trip right off the lot. We have been home for 2 weeks, not hooked up to shore power. I tried to set the auto generator, but obviously did something wrong. Now both the engine batteries and house batteries are all dead. We are installing a 50-amp plug today so we will have shore power. I have done tons of research on this forum today so I can turn off the energy drains in the future and correctly set the auto gen start.

But my questions, I haven't been able to find an answer to are:
1) How do I start the coach?
2) How can I charge the batteries? Will they charge when plugged into to shore power or do I need to do something different.

Thanks!
Dawn

Skip426 · 07-26-2014, 01:44 PM

Welcome to iRV2 .
Once you hooked up to shore power the coach batteries will re-charge.
Depending on your coach systems ; the charging system from shore power should , charge the chassis batteries too, BUT, may not start to charge the chassis batteries until the coach batteries are charged up. So may take a few days.
How soon do you need to start the coach ?

TeJay · 07-26-2014, 02:31 PM

While you are installing the 50-Amp service you can hook up a portable charger to your engine battery and recharge that battery. If it's completely dead unless you have a little more fancy charger with a quick boost it will take at least 12-24 hours to recharge.

As stated an 04 coach should charge all batteries when either running the engine or gen, or plugged into shore power. The transfer switch and converter take care of all that stuff.

Think of it this way. If you park your rig in AZ at a CG and plug in for 6 months I've never heard anybody ever say.

"When we tried to pull up stakes and head for home the engine battery was dead."

Or, "After we unplugged and left for home our coach batteries were completely dead."

To the best of my knowledge not once has that topic ever come up and I have been reading these forums for 4-5 years.

That said, Once you have the coach running, or plugged into shore power your charging voltage at both sets of batteries should be 13.6 volts or better. If it's not then yes you have a charging.

Post if you have any concerns with this. There are a number of individuals who know there way around troubleshooting (TS) these issues and can walk you through it.

TeJay

warped_five · 07-26-2014, 02:37 PM

Thanks for the info!

- First, we forgot that we had switched the yellow switch for the engine batteries to the off position when we got home. Flipped that and the coach started with no problem.

- Got the electric installed at the house and the RV is hooked up to shore power.

- Started the coach and hit the battery boost and the Magnum system is now charging the batteries and we have power to all things in the house portion of the coach.

Every day is a learning experience with this coach. It is our first RV of any type. But, we love it and can't wait to get to spend more time in it.

Dawn

brobox · 07-26-2014, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warped_five

But my questions, I haven't been able to find an answer to are:
1) How do I start the coach?
2) How can I charge the batteries? Will they charge when plugged into to shore power or do I need to do something different.

Thanks!
Dawn

Oops we posted at the same time, disregard mine and glad everything is working.

It's been 2 months since we picked ours up and I am still reading owners manuals and learning the new systems.

You can use jumper cables on the two batteries that are by themselves. Those are your starting batteries. Or you can use a portable charger plugged into a standard 110V outlet and charge the starting batteries.

Once your 50 amp is hooked up, turn your battery chargers on above the passengers seat, they will do the rest.

johnnyreno · 07-26-2014, 02:55 PM

Or you can just plug into any of your house with reducer plugs it will charge everything just don't run a bunch of stuff I ran my aquahot most of the winter just plugged into a house yard 20 amp with almost all the other stuff turned off also the start batts will charge once the house bank is charged just dial down the inverters to 5 amps you will be fine THE CHARGE BLEEDS OVER TO STARTER BATTS

Skip426 · 07-26-2014, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

It's been 2 months since we picked ours up and I am still reading owners manuals and learning the new systems.
.

Read everything and take notes, your back in school and " Murphy" is in charge of all exams.
He says , " The system you don't understand , will be the first one to fail."

brobox · 07-26-2014, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip426

Read everything and take notes, your back in school and " Murphy" is in charge of all exams.
He says , " The system you don't understand , will be the first one to fail."

Amen! to that statement.