Solar/generator

[CgZito]

I have a 1993 b190 airstream.

Originally i had a 2.8kw onan microlite generator and a coach battery under the hood.

The generator died and i removed the single coach battery. I
bought 3 solar panels, 1 xantrex inverter ,a charge controller and 4 batteries. It is wired in a way that powers my lights, fan, outlets, and fridge.

I am now getting the generator repaired.

I want to have one battery under the hood to start the generator that is seperate from the 4 batteries (totaling 5 batteriers) and power everything inuding the a/c


I want the generator to charge all 5 batteries but the solar panels to only charge the 4 in the back.

I am being told at a service shop that it cannot be done.

How can I accomplish this?

[alano]

Your Onan generates 12 V @ 1A during operation to prevent discharge of the battery used to start it. It's true you cannot use this output to charge all your batteries, only the one used to start it.

Just curious, don't you have a converter to generate 12 V when you're connected to shore power? When your generator runs, why isn't your converter charging the four other batteries?

If you don't have a converter or shore power inlet, you can always add a Battery Tender or like charger to the output of your Onan to be able to charge your four batteries.

Furthermore, you can add a second Battery Tender to also charge the single battery used to start the generator.

[CgZito]

I cannot plug shore power into a regular house outlet. It trips the outlet everytime. I can only use 30 amp outlets which i dont have access to.

Solar panels usuay charge the battery bank. I am not clear on how my system works because the tech gets frustrated when explaining it to me seeing as how I dont understand right away.

Apparently the truck battery that starts the engine is also used to start the generator. The generator is charging all five batteries but i cannot get it to be disabled.