Generator Battery

[Smitty007]

Gen battery is low, how do I jump start the generator???? My rig is a Damon Astoria 3772..............

[bigb56]

Originally Posted by Smitty007

Gen battery is low, how do I jump start the generator????

Is it a motorhome? Usually on a MH the genny uses the house batteries. If you start the MH engine that may do it as this connects the battery banks together and charges the house.

edit: I see you added your rigs info after I posted. Did you try starting up the MH then crank the genny?

[Tony Ramirez]

Sometimes starting & running the coach will charge the house batteries after a few minutes. Try that.

[twinboat]

You could try plugging the cord into the tow vehicle for a while. If the charge line is working, it will send a charge from the pickup while the engine is running. Give it 20 minutes or so .

If you have jumper cables, turn the truck around and connect truck battery to generator battery, positive to positive and negetive to negetive.

[d23haynes57]

Does it have a "boost" or emergency start switch? That should help get the genny to start.

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by d23haynes57

Does it have a "boost" or emergency start switch? That should help get the genny to start.

It's a tow behind.

[Gary RVRoamer]

A Damon Astoria is a class A motorhome, a diesel pusher. It won't have a separate battery for starting the generator. Older models use the house batteries to start the generator but by around 2006 or so RVIA standards had changed to using the chassis battery for that. The Boost/Aux Start switch will aide the chassis battery if they have any charge in them, allowing the generator to start. Otherwise, put jumper cables on the chassis (engine) batteries.

[d23haynes57]

Originally Posted by twinboat

It's a tow behind.

Sorry about that mis connection on RV type.
So, for battery not able to start the generator you need to get the battery jumped just like for a car. One of those small jump packs will work. As part of the RV ownership experience you will need to monitor and manage battery usage to avoid running the batteries below the point of being able to start the generator or add a dedicated generator starting battery. You will also need a means to charge that battery, the generator does use some battery power to run. It would be a wise investment to get a battery monitoring system that monitors voltage, current in and out, and calculates state of charge. Observation will then enable you to determine when and for how long generator or other charge source is needed.

[d23haynes57]

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

A Damon Astoria is a class A motorhome, a diesel pusher. It won't have a separate battery for starting the generator. Older models use the house batteries to start the generator but by around 2006 or so RVIA standards had changed to using the chassis battery for that. The Boost/Aux Start switch will aide the chassis battery if they have any charge in them, allowing the generator to start. Otherwise, put jumper cables on the chassis (engine) batteries.

It is still current practice for motorhomes to use the House Batteries for generator operation. Many do not automatically charge the chassis batteries from the generator or even shore power. Some larger generators with "alternators" or other battery charging equipment may use the chassis batteries or even have a dedicated generator only battery.

[SJ-Chris]

Originally Posted by d23haynes57

Sorry about that mis connection on RV type.
So, for battery not able to start the generator you need to get the battery jumped just like for a car. One of those small jump packs will work. As part of the RV ownership experience you will need to monitor and manage battery usage to avoid running the batteries below the point of being able to start the generator or add a dedicated generator starting battery. You will also need a means to charge that battery, the generator does use some battery power to run. It would be a wise investment to get a battery monitoring system that monitors voltage, current in and out, and calculates state of charge. Observation will then enable you to determine when and for how long generator or other charge source is needed.

Agreed! A battery monitor ($40-$200) is one of the most useful components to add to an RV. Being able to monitor the amps going in/out and also the (near) exact battery state of charge is useful for SOOOO many reasons. Anytime I get an RV, it's one of the first things I add. Here's an inexpensive one that I use ($40):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FGFFHC6


Good luck!
Chris

[dvspl]

Originally Posted by d23haynes57

So, for battery not able to start the generator you need to get the battery jumped just like for a car. One of those small jump packs will work. As part of the RV ownership experience you will need to monitor and manage battery usage to avoid running the batteries below the point of being able to start the generator or add a dedicated generator starting battery.

Very handy to keep one of those small jump packs in the RV and keep it fully charged all the time. It can then be used to jump the chassis battery to start the engine or the house battery to start the generator.

[Tony Ramirez]

"As part of the RV ownership experience you will need to monitor and manage battery usage to avoid running the batteries below the point of being able to start the generator or add a dedicated generator starting battery."

Plus teach the wife & kids, "IT"S NOT LIKE THE HOUSE, water, electricity & sewer space is NOT LIMITLESS!

[Unplanned Tourist]

Originally Posted by Tony Ramirez

"As part of the RV."

Plus teach the wife & kids, "IT"S NOT LIKE THE HOUSE, water, electricity & sewer space is NOT LIMITLESS!

I have to chuckle at this. We had some good friends that never did get it. Whenever we went somewhere that we were dry camping, they would have the grey tank full and fresh tank empty in 2 days! Years before the MH days we had a camper and PU and they had a popup tent trailer. We were dry camping later in the Fall and they turned on the furnace around noon and wondered why it wouldn't work later that night.

[Smitty007]

Thanks to all for the great ideas. Running the coach for 30 min did the trick. Thanks to ALL.....