Generator surprise! or bad news >> good news...

[cnq50b]

I had planned on leaving San Diego this morning - finishing up my 5k mile journey, but, alas, I had hogged my parking spot so tightly this weekend (didn't move my van for 3 days) & it wouldn't start! Dang battery! Since I HATE undependable things like this, I went & put a new one in as soon as they got it going. Decided it was too late to get on the road today so decided to stay another day. Went to Fiesta Island with Sadie & decided to try the generator. SURPRISE!!!! IT WORKED!!! Ran it for a while there, then drove to have lunch with DD & it kicked right on again to keep Sadie cool while we visited. I'll have it serviced when I get home, but I think whoever said it might have been the altitude was right! I love this group! Such wisdom! You are AWESOME!!!!!
HOORAY, WOMEN RV'ers!!!!

Now here's another question for you battery gurus... I was trying to conserve my house batteries since I knew I wouldn't be plugged in until I got to a campground so I was putting them into storage mode unless I needed them for something specific like to power the water pump. Does putting them in & out of storage mode hurt anything? And just an fyi... my house battery setup is totally separate from my coach battery power - Here's what the manual says: "The engine battery and house battery are isolated from each other, preventing the house 12-volt system from drawing down the engine battery." so the house batteries don't charge up while I drive - argh!

[carolb]

Hey, so happy the gen worked! Now, the house batteries? Can't charge them from the engine, so does that mean you can only charge them with gen or plugged in? Dang, I can charge mine when driving, so I have no insight for you ...Well, hope you continue to enjoy your big trip Sounds like you & Sadie are really enjoying some special moments!

[cnq50b]

That about sums it up... I can only charge house batteries when I'm plugged in or via the generator. No worries though I replaced them before I started on this trip. I shouldn't have any battery problems for a while at least.
And yes, we are having a good time. Will be heading out today for home. I know I'll miss the kids terribly but looking forward to the freedom of the road again.

[sharon]

Why does everyone go to Cali when I'm not there? Are they trying to tell me something???

[Bethers]

My house batteries cannot draw down my coach battery but are charged when driving. One is not necessarily unable to be done and still be considered as your manual says.

[MelissaD]

Battery question: does the "storage mode" change the charging rate or does it isolate the battery from the system like a disconnect. If it acts like a disconnect it will have save battery life by shedding parasitic loads. Some RV's have a battery storage mode that reduces the battery charging rate to a trickle charge to prevent over charging the batteries. If that's the case you are not gaining anything and would limit them charging while the generator was running.

I would talk to you mechanic about being able to charge your house batteries off the engine. It may require a larger alternator but it would be much more convenient. The house and engine batteries can remain isolated but I would see real advantage to charging them while running the engine.

In semi's its done one of two ways. 1- house and engine batteries like you are saying but they all charge off engine. 2- a low voltage cut off. Once voltage drops to 10.2 volts I think it was, the system cut off power to the "house loads". This left you enough power to start the trucks and once the engine started the house loads came back up.

[SoCalGalcas]

Catherine, are you sure you do not have a SOL_NA_IDE???? I do not know how to spell it, but, it is put into the engine, somewhere, between the coach batteries and the house battery. It lets the electricity go one way only, toward the house battery. Therefore, the house battery charges while driving and when you are using the house battery, the the coach battery will not be drawn down because of the solnaide.
Have a nice trip home...lyn

[Bethers]

And another comment about when your generator didn't work. If your coach battery was low, it wouldn't have the power to start the generator. If you had the one way to charge the coach battery, and that was the problem, starting the engine would allow you to start the generator, as it would charge the coach battery.