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House batteries

Yahoo Message Number: 116489
I've encountered some battery issues recently. First issue is my chasis battery (crank battery. Turns out this was a fuse blown in my echo charger. Problem solved.
However, my house batteries although they are showing fully charged on the Xantrex they don't have enough power to start the generator. If that issue shows its ugly head I simply start the big motor, then that will give me enough power to start the generator.
Anyone else had this issue?

Re: House batteries

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 116490
Doesn't make sense to me that you have battery strength to start big engine and not the generator. Have to wonder if you have a lousy ground some place .

Michael
Inspire 51748

Re: House batteries

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 116491
Ours is the same way. Since we have had coach it, gen, won't start unless main is running. I think there is a bad or loose connection on the terminals on back of gen. Very hard to get to in order to check. I don't have jumper cables long enough to by pass the internal wiring to see if it is ground or positive wire that is bad. Assuming it is the positive but not sure.

Re: House batteries

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 116492
If my battery voltage is not fairly high I hit the Boost button and the generator always starts quickly.

Steve Dailey
08 Magna 6879

Re: House batteries

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 116493
Chassis batteries start the engine, house batteries start the generator. The generator needs to be spun quickly to start, particularly on a cold morning. So that is why, either running the engine or using the battery boost switch gives a little extra juice to help the generator spin quickly and start. Do your tests on your house batteries to ascertain their condition. If they are fine, it could be the connections of the cables at the back of the generator box, clean and tighten them. How old are the house batteries? I suspect it is them. Lots of other weird things start happening around the coach when the house batteries get weak, so don't hesitate to change them if needed. I know they are expensive, but it is what it is. A set of new Lifeline AGM's will probably solve a lot of problems lurking around your coach.

Greg
06 Magna

2006 Magna Rembrandt C13
2016 Jeep GC toad

Re: House batteries

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 116519
There may be another issue at the generator. Onan Diesel generators have glow plugs that need to get hot before the generator will start easily. On my coach, the generator is an 8KW Onan which has 3 cylinders which means 3 glow plugs. If there is a bad connection to one or more plugs, the engine will be slow to start or may not start. When starting, there is a delay, length of time depends on engine temperature, after hitting the start button before the engine starts to crank. This delay is to heat up the glow plugs and colder temps mean longer delays. It is not uncommon to have a high resistance in the wiring to the glow plugs, and possibly you could have one or more failed glow plugs.

If there is a high resistance in the circuit to the glow plugs, the generator may have to turn over rapidly for a long time and still may not start if in cold weather. This circuit is fairly easy to check and test if you are familiar with electrical circuits and the use of a multi meter.

[Note that glow plugs are used in lower compression diesels to heat the air fuel mixture for a fast start. The heat generated in a cold low compression diesel is insufficient to ignite the fuel until the compressed air/fuel cylinders get hot enough by fast cranking of the engine to ignite the fuel, which is why the supplementary heat is provided by the glow plug. Also the controller for the glow plug circuit doesn't know that a glow plug has failed or that there is a high resistance in the circuit. The power to the glow plug is removed at the time the engine starts cranking.]

I hope this helps.

Dennis
2003 Country Coach Allure #30884

Re: House batteries

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 116526
Dennis, you have provided a very good explanation of the generator in cooler weather.
We are leaving for Florida today with our coach. Maybe we can hook up during the
Coming season. Bob

 

Re: House batteries

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 116534
Concur with Bob, nice write up Dennis:)!

Smitty
04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)