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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Maintenance and Technical Tips -> House battery charging question
Post Info TOPIC: House battery charging question
breckrider


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House battery charging question
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I have an '85 Class C "Lindy" by Skyline with a 3500 Onan generator.  I'm a little confused about what charges what.  Does the generator charge the house battery?  Does the generator start from the house battery or the motor battery? 

I recently had the motor battery lose power.  We turned off the motor.  When I tried to restart the motor, the generator died and wouldn't start again until we got the motor battery charged. 

I also appear to be in the same boat that the house battery doesn't charge when connected to shore power.  I've read that there's a switch.  Where would that be located?

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Roz


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Yes and no are the answers to your questions.  But the answers to your questions depend on your particular RV. 

In some units, the house battery powers the Gen Set to crank, in others it may be the engine battery.  Usually, the Gen Set should be charging the house batteries.  In newer units, shore power usually charges the house batteries and depending on the electrical setup also the engine batteries.

As to a switch to alter the distribution of shore power, again it depends on the individual unit.  If you can obtain any printed material from Skyline, or phone/e-mail advice from Skyline or an owner of a similar unit, you will get your answers.

A good RV tech should be able to provide answers.  Stay after the info and you shall receive!!



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bjoyce


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With a 1985 RV it would not be surprising if someone had not changed the setup over the years, so even knowing how it was originally might not tell you the whole story.
You have already determined the engine and generator share the engine battery for starting.
Anyway most RVs treat the generator just like shore power and thus use the same battery charging method for both shore power and the generator. Your engine should also be able to charge the batteries but the electronics piece that allows this might be disconnected or broken.
If you have a good multi-meter and are comfortable using it you can trace the charging.
Unfortunately there are no standards here so that is why we are not being that helpful, we would have to trace it ourselves and we need your motorhome in front of us to do that.

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breckrider


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I'll get out and play with the multimeter. I have the original owner's phone number and have called but have not gotten a call back. I'll see if I can find a Lindy group somewhere.

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LakeConroePenny


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Most MH's that I have had, had a "Momentary Switch". Usually a rocker switch that you can hold down, temporarily, to use BOTH batteries for starting genny or engine, in case one should be low on juice. Someone might have messed with it, and wired it into the permanent position.
Happy Trails, Penny, TX

-- Edited by LakeConroePenny on Tuesday 9th of June 2009 07:35:03 PM

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