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Old 12-27-2014, 08:53 PM   #1
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1982 27' Excella
Pensacola , Florida
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Generator not charging batteries

I'm still a newbie at this, bought a 1998 31' land yacht about a year ago, I always assumed the generator would recharge my deep cycle batteries but put it to the test today. No luck. I'm sure the generator works properly, I can run both ac's with no shore power. Am I missing something?
Thanks for any help.
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Old 12-27-2014, 09:16 PM   #2
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If your converter has a off and on switch , I would say it is off, turn it on, check your fuses, your breaker panel , your converter maybe went south, do your 12 volt lights work inside the trailer?
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Old 12-27-2014, 09:36 PM   #3
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All 12v systems in the trailer work, all the fuses seem okay, batteries recharge almost instantly when connected to shore. Where would the converter switch be? Does it need to be switched one way for shore and the other way for the generator?
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Old 12-28-2014, 06:39 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by r.i.p._FZ View Post
All 12v systems in the trailer work, all the fuses seem okay, batteries recharge almost instantly when connected to shore. Where would the converter switch be? Does it need to be switched one way for shore and the other way for the generator?
This tells me your converter is working OK.

About the generator...are you hooking it to the batteries at the 12volt output, or are you plugging the trailer into the A/C outlet of the generator? Or, is this a motorhome with an on board generator?
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Old 12-28-2014, 06:51 AM   #5
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1982 27' Excella
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Has an on board onan 5500. Just had it serviced and voltage appears perfect.
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Old 12-28-2014, 07:16 AM   #6
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Probably a connection problem between the generator and the MH, or maybe a circuit breaker. Don't have a MH, so sorry this is the best I can do to help.
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Old 12-28-2014, 07:53 PM   #7
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SteveH
RIP was also asking "Where would the converter switch be? Does it need to be switched one way for shore and the other way for the generator?" Can you address that please. Thanks. jon
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Old 12-28-2014, 09:24 PM   #8
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The way it works.
On shore power the 120VAC comes in to the RV to a transfer switch, to the circuit breaker panel, through a CB to the converter. The converter changes the 120VAC to 12VDC to power all 12V stuff and charge the batteries.

On generator the generator provides 120VAC to the transfer switch the switch changes positions and provides 120VAC to the same circuit breaker panel and same circuit breaker.
The transfer switch is automatic and prevents you from having 120VAC from 2 sources (generator or shore power) at the same time.

What you are describing is on shore power everything works OK and the batteries are being charged.
On generator power all 120VAC things work except the 12VDC is provided by the batteries and the batteries are not being charged.

I think you need to verify 120VAC at the outlet the converter plugs into on shore power and then on generator.
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Old 12-28-2014, 09:59 PM   #9
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1982 27' Excella
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Thanks for the response Garry,
Maybe I wasn't clear in defining the problem. With shore power and generator power both 120v and 12v work fine, I don't believe the 12v is draining the batteries with the generator running though I haven't tested that.
My trial was to run down the batteries with no power from shore or generator. I let one of the two deep cycle batteries get low then crank up the onan to recharge. First problem was apparently the generator uses those batteries to crank, she just barely turned over. Second problem the generator wouldn't recharge the depleted battery, had to connect to shore.
It seems like this would make boondocking impossible for me.
Thanks for helping such a novice.
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Old 01-28-2015, 10:56 AM   #10
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2000 31' Land Yacht
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Seems your converter is working and the house batteries not accepting a charge. Suggest you check the electrolyte levels, clean and lube the terminals and connectors, charge up with an external battery charger. If batteries charge up you have an open connection between the converter and the batteries, if they do not, replace the batteries.

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Old 01-29-2015, 09:39 PM   #11
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My generator was designed with two output circuits both 120v, they were wired in with auto switches to be able to run both a/c and household 12v by way of convertor.
The convertor does charge the batteries but not what you would expect, I can put on a quick charger and charge them faster. You might try to find the exact output for charging from your convertor in it's manual.
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Old 02-19-2015, 05:58 PM   #12
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I had a similar problem last September. Seemed the RV batteries would charge when plugged into 120 AC or when driving, but not when from the generato when parked.
The dealer said it was a solenoid located behind the 12 V panel/inverter. Once replaced, it has been working fine so far.
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Old 02-26-2015, 01:05 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lemdog View Post
I had a similar problem last September. Seemed the RV batteries would charge when plugged into 120 AC or when driving, but not when from the generato when parked.
The dealer said it was a solenoid located behind the 12 V panel/inverter. Once replaced, it has been working fine so far.
very interesting lemdog! My genny will not charge the batteries either but I so rarely use the genny it is not a big concern. Please describe what year, model m/h that you have. Thanks.
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Old 02-27-2015, 06:58 AM   #14
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Sorry, should have listed make and model. I have a 33ft 2004 Airstream Land Yacht. Still fairly new at RVing. Have done a few short trips and a one month tour of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
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