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Topic: shoreline hook-up - is it OK to start engine when hooked up? (Read 818 times) previous topic - next topic

shoreline hook-up - is it OK to start engine when hooked up?

When hooked to shoreline power...
can I start my rig????????????
 I would like to know...because  I loose air pressure, overnight..
I guess the auxiliary  air won't keep it at 60 psi...must have a leak???
No question is a stupid one ...but any-who
Thanks
Elaine 1991 U225 36'

Re: shoreline hook-up - is it OK to start engine when hooked up?

Reply #1 –
Won't hurt to start, but don't drive off. :o
Steve DeLange
2005 U320T 40'
Pearland, Texas

Re: shoreline hook-up - is it OK to start engine when hooked up?

Reply #2 –
I nearly always start my engine while still hooked up to shore power, it assures I will have juice if it takes a few cranks, particularly in cold weather, I can hit the boost switch. By the time I walk around and disconnect the power
cord and do a last minute walk around, I have air pressure and am ready to roll.
No RV! Have hung up the keys.
In the past: 2016 Winnebago Era, 1994 Foretravel U240, 1995 Foretravel U240 (wide body), 1999 Foretravel 320, 36 Foot, 2003 Foretravel U320 38 foot,

Re: shoreline hook-up - is it OK to start engine when hooked up?

Reply #3 –
Elaine,

Leaking air down to 60 psi over night is not a concern.  We sit for weeks with zero air pressure.

Please consider adding the year and model of your coach to your signature.  Helps with reply to a question.

Welcome to the forum.

Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: shoreline hook-up - is it OK to start engine when hooked up?

Reply #4 –
I always start our coach first, then bring in the slides, close awnings, then unplug. By then we should have full air pressure and we can go.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: shoreline hook-up - is it OK to start engine when hooked up?

Reply #5 –
Thanks and sorry we are new to all of this. ;D
Elaine 1991 U225 36'

Re: shoreline hook-up - is it OK to start engine when hooked up?

Reply #6 –
If your 12 volt is working you have a pressure switch that will keep the air at somewhere above 30lbs. Mine was 65 and it was lowered down to 35 lbs.  I always start up with the coach connected if I am at a campground. It takes less the a min to put the cord away and the battery charger is working and if I throw the boost switch then I have the battery charger helping out too. I also do it when it is cold out much more then the middle of the summer.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: shoreline hook-up - is it OK to start engine when hooked up?

Reply #7 –
When plugged in to shore power, your house batteries are being charged via the converter/charger.  you can also charge your engine battery if you cross connect via the boost switch.  When running your engine, your engine battery is being charged via the engine alternator.  You can also charge your house battery via the engine  alternator if the boost switch is in boost.  I don't normally have the boost switch in the boost position with the engine running and on shore power, you are then paralleling the alternator with the charger and I dont like to do that.  With boost off, the engine battery is isolated from the house battery/shorepower and is not affected by shore power.  Hope that helps  ----  Have a great day  ----  Fritz
Fritz & Kathy Johnson
1991 36'

Re: shoreline hook-up - is it OK to start engine when hooked up?

Reply #8 –
Quote from: elaine –
Thanks and sorry we are new to all of this. ;D
Nothing to be sorry about.  Each one of us was new at one time.  The nice thing about this forum is that there are no questions "dumb" questions as that is the purpose.  Welcome and ask away.  And yes I too start the engine build up pressures and temps, bring in the slides, do a final walk around disconnecting shore power in the process.  David
David & Lou Ann Bouchard
Summer: Mount Vernon, Ohio
Winter: RiverBend Motorcoach Resort  LaBelle, Florida
2003 U320 38' Build #6174 "Willie"
2013 Cadillac SRX Toad
MC #17151 FMCA #F431393

Re: shoreline hook-up - is it OK to start engine when hooked up?

Reply #9 –
Actually on my coach he alternator will go to the isolator and that will charge both the chassis and the house battery if needed.  If you have used some energy out of the house batteries it is better to start the generator and let it bulk charge rather then burn out your alternator. I am not familiar with a 91 but it works that way on my 99 and newer coach.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: shoreline hook-up - is it OK to start engine when hooked up?

Reply #10 –
Quote from: fkjohns6083 –
You can also charge your house battery via the engine  alternator if the boost switch is in boost.
If the isolator and alternator are working properly, the engine alternator will charge house batteries AND chassis batteries regardless of the state of the Boost switch.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: shoreline hook-up - is it OK to start engine when hooked up?

Reply #11 –
Welcome, Elaine. I think many of us start while still plugged in. As others have learned the hard way, don't attempt to drive away while still plugged in.

Your aux air pump is there only to keep your air bags inflated, not to fill the main air tanks. Many of us have parked for several weeks and stayed perfectly level, but the air gauges show 0 for air pressure. If your coach is staying level you are in reasonable shape. Yes, you may have one or more leaks (many of us do), but probably nothing to make you start the big engine.

Please ask your questions and we'll try to answer them. There are no stupid questions. You can search this forum for answers to some of your questions, but you may find yourself looking at an answer that isn't current. A "quick and dirty" search method is to scan through the most recent two or three pages of topics to see if anything has been discussed that is relevant to your question.

One thing that will help us is for you to put your coach information in your signature. Take a look at the signatures in this thread and make yours give at least the year and model of your coach.

Re: shoreline hook-up - is it OK to start engine when hooked up?

Reply #12 –
While it might be fine to start while plugged in and then do other stuff, I prefer not to stray too far or too long from the driver's seat with the engine running.  When I start the coach I want to be focused on driving /maneuvering.  Guess multi-tasking is not my preference in this situation.
The selected media item is not currently available.

Mark & Mary Benko
Former coach: 2005 U295 3823
Jeep Cherokee, Honda Fit

Re: shoreline hook-up - is it OK to start engine when hooked up?

Reply #13 –
For a summer overnight stop, I'll get everything stowed, then start the Detroit and take off when the air is all the way up, which happens fairly quickly. If the air is all the way down, such as would be the case when parked for a week or more, I'll fire up the Detroit and let the air build while I'm stowing the last few things (electric cord would be part of that group). Either way, the wheel chocks stay in place until we're completely ready to go, and then I pull them.

Re: shoreline hook-up - is it OK to start engine when hooked up?

Reply #14 –
Now that Elaine has put her coach year and model in a signature, we should be careful with our answers.  So she does not have airbags or likely a compressor to keep the air up while parked, like some of us with airbag suspensions.  She is likely looking and talking about her dash air brake gauge, filled by running the engine.

DOT allows a full loss of all air in 8 hours.  Our Foretravels usually keep air much longer unless we have a large leak.
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)
 

Re: shoreline hook-up - is it OK to start engine when hooked up?

Reply #15 –
Quote
As others have learned the hard way, don't attempt to drive away while still plugged in.
I've managed to avoid doing that but Foretravel once backed out my coach while it was plugged in. Ripped the cord and outlet right out of the coach. Interesting visit. They also installed an electric reel that I didn't order!
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320