Community Forums

Fred420 · 12-05-2011, 08:01 AM

Went to move the coach to the RV lot and the batteries on chassis were dead. I could start the generator and the house batteries were OK. Is the generator started off the house batteries? Also.....wil the gen charge both the chassis and the house? I ran it for 30 min and even tried the boost with no results. I did call and get a jump with my roadside assistance. I am replacing the chassis batteries since they are almost 6.

flounda42 · 12-05-2011, 08:08 AM

my bounder(flounda) has a aux..start button to jump engine from coach. They are kept on separate circuits apparently for a reason. I really dont know how a monaco is wired. but most manufacturers have similarities. buy a heavy duty battery, shut down power switches when not in use, this one has 2 shut offs near entry door, one for coach, one for engine

Gary RVRoamer · 12-05-2011, 08:20 AM

Generator start power source varies by RV manufacturer and model - some use the chassis and some the house. Likewise, whether or not the chassis battery(s) are charged from shore/generator power depends on the manufacturer and his power system design. If you have a Monaco, I'm pretty sure it does charge the chassis when on shore power or generator.

And you do have an Auxiliary or Boost start switch somewhere on the dash that will couple the house batteries to the chassis for emergency starting.

Wayne M · 12-05-2011, 08:22 AM

I'm going to ask a stupid question, just in case.

By any chance did you disconnect your chassis battery when you put it in the RV lot using the disconnect switch?

Fred420 · 12-05-2011, 08:34 AM

tried the boost after running gen for 30 min. And..... No ...... I forgot to turn off the disconnect. This is a new coach we recieved form my Dad due to his health issues.

W4MBG · 12-05-2011, 08:36 AM

you might have to hold the boost switch down for a minute or so to get some charge into the chassis battery. just like jumping a very dead battery.

Fred420 · 12-05-2011, 09:16 AM

Should have said that it is a 2006 Monaco LaPalma DP with 2 slides.

larry koenn · 12-05-2011, 09:43 AM

Fred,

I have a Monaco and have had to work on the charging circuits a time or two. You probably would have a simular charging system depending on model and year. On mine, in the rear engine compartment on the right side, it has a control pannel with the boost solenoid and the battery isolators. The isolators keep the house and chassis batteries seperated.

I have had the chassis isolator go out twice, and I don't know why they failed. The last time I put in a bigger capacity isolator and its been fine for over a year now. The isolator that failed for me was the one allowing shore power to the chassis batteries. You should also have one for the house batteries. If you can check the voltage of your house and chassis batteries while connected to shore power or with the gen running. Both should be at least 13.5 volts and as high as 14.5 volts after a charging time of an hour or two. The house batteries could be higher if the convertor is doing a boost charge. If one set or the other is close to 12 volts or lower there is a problem somewhere.

The boost thing seems like a good idea but it doesn't work very well on my coach either when the chassis batteries are real low.

Larry