Charging the Generator Battery

Topic: Charging the Generator Battery (Read 936 times) previous topic - next topic

Charging the Generator Battery

August 12, 2014, 09:56:27 pm

I have a question regarding the Generator battery, is there a way to tie the generator battery in with the house and coach battries to keep it charged when not being used. or tie the generator into the house battries.
the way it is now and correct me if I'm wrong it is only charged when the generator is running?

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #1 – August 12, 2014, 10:03:58 pm

Yes, several ways to do this. You can use a device like an Echo Charger that charges one bank off another bank.

You can install a separate 120 VAC charger for that bank.

You could also wire one bank to the other through a large gauge wire and switch. Be sure to put a fuse at BOTH positive terminals, as anyplace that wire would touch metal would be a DEAD SHORT.

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #2 – August 12, 2014, 10:16:05 pm

Thanks Brett

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #3 – August 12, 2014, 10:18:27 pm

Quote from: Andy 2 – August 12, 2014, 09:56:27 pm

I have a question regarding the Generator battery, is there a way to tie the generator battery in with the house and coach battries to keep it charged when not being used. or tie the generator into the house battries.
the way it is now and correct me if I'm wrong it is only charged when the generator is running?

Not normal to have a separate gen battery

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #4 – August 13, 2014, 09:47:23 pm

Well that's what i thought, but from what I can tell that is how it looks. I will look and see what i have. Thanks Andy

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #5 – August 14, 2014, 11:14:16 am

Andy,

Ours was a confusing bunch of cables. I have a 12V schematic for your coach with the cable codes (if yours are still visible) so let me know.

Pierce

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #6 – August 14, 2014, 12:07:23 pm

Andy, please post a picture of the generator battery,
Thanks

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #7 – August 14, 2014, 12:15:21 pm

Andy,

Here is the PDF you need. Suggest taking it to Kinko or other print shop, blowing it up and then rolling it and storing it in a mailing tube. Keep it on board.

Pierce

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #8 – August 15, 2014, 01:00:33 am

where is the generator battery on the schematic?

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #9 – August 15, 2014, 01:50:39 am

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – August 15, 2014, 01:00:33 am

where is the generator battery on the schematic?

There is none. The wiring diagram shows only two banks of batteries, coach and engine, with the coach batteries connected to the generator.

Either this is how it is wired, or somebody rewired it for an extra battery just for the generator. If that is the case, wiring between that extra battery and the rest of the coach is anyone's guess.

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #10 – August 15, 2014, 08:31:18 am

Quote from: Tom Lang – August 15, 2014, 01:50:39 am

There is none. The wiring diagram shows only two banks of batteries, coach and engine, with the coach batteries connected to the generator.

Either this is how it is wired, or somebody rewired it for an extra battery just for the generator. If that is the case, wiring between that extra battery and the rest of the coach is anyone's guess.

It appears as if Foretravel built many coaches with special custom features and so I suppose it's possible this one was ordered with a dedicated generator battery.

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #11 – August 15, 2014, 10:57:50 am

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – August 15, 2014, 01:00:33 am

where is the generator battery on the schematic?

Generator starts from the house batteries. Stock coach/house batteries for that year would (probably) be two 8Ds, one directly above the other wired in parallel. My isolator was miswired so I spent an hour tracing cables and putting labels on cable ends. Engine batteries in our U300 are just in front of the rear bumper in the engine compartment.

Anytime you are connected to shore power, the coach batteries will be charged but as others have said, either you need a jumper at the bus panel (next to wet bay on ours) or much better, use the 110V plug just under the bus panel to connect a $20 high frequency trickle charger to the right most large red cable directly above. That way, when you are plugged in, both sets charge.

Dash lighter plug comes from engine batts, air leveling panel lighter plug is from house batteries. Cheap digital plugin voltmeter is good to keep track of voltages.

Pierce

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #12 – August 15, 2014, 11:49:01 am

Thanks for all the help Guys I have been out of town for a couple of days. Dave will do on the pictures and Pierce I have all the books on our coach and the Schematics . I'm going over to the Coach this morning and check it out. Thanks again will have more information later today.

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #13 – August 15, 2014, 04:27:48 pm

Country Coach used a dedicated generator start battery for some of their models. And some generators have alternators. I think Country Coach gen battery was charged with something like Trik-L-Charge.

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #14 – August 21, 2014, 11:05:14 am

K I went to the coach and took a picture as best I could, the battery is in the back on the left . the PO must have removed the wire feeding the Gen battery. As best I can tell it is not connected to the house bank as Pierce suggested. So I guess I will have to do some tracing and see what I can find.

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #15 – August 21, 2014, 11:19:59 am

If it is connected to the generator for both cranking and charging, I would leave the wiring alone. An unusual setup, but useful. This is how the generator would be connected for a non-RV application.

Although, it might come handy to wire it to the coach or engine battery through a usually off disconnect switch, just in case.

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #16 – August 21, 2014, 11:43:33 am

Hey Andy,

That's certainly a puzzle. I've included a picture of my gen compartment. My coach number is 4150 so only a few coaches newer than yours.

The shelf the battery is sitting on is only about 6" wide on my coach. That would make the battery in your compartment very tiny. I'm surprised it can even start the gen. It looks like a wet cell. Hope you have long skinny arms to service it!

There is not much room to poke around in that compartment. Good luck tracing the wiring! Maybe a call to FOT is in order to see if it was factory installed or a PO installed it.

If you can reach the battery you could disconnect the negative side and see if it turns over. That would at least tell you if it is truly the start battery.

Let us know what you find. Very interesting.

see ya
ken

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #17 – August 21, 2014, 11:48:57 am

Andy,

Downloaded the image you posted and took a closer look. It appears there is an extension to the rear shelf the battery is sitting on.

Is the battery a full size automotive type battery?

see ya
ken

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #18 – August 21, 2014, 02:28:37 pm

Yes it is Ken, When we first bought the Coach the battery that was in it was dead gone to heaven lol So w went out and bought a new NAPA battery and changed the air filter and she fired right up.. The fella that owned this coach did not use the genny much they were big into wind and solar power. we have 5 solar panels and used to have a wind generator attached to the rear ladder. Iam good with the Solar but could not deal with the big wind generator so I sold it.
When we had the Eagle I ran the Generator off the house battries and it worked great. I went over this morning and checked to see if the generator had a alternator and it appears it does.

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #19 – August 21, 2014, 03:00:54 pm

Andy,
Correct, it should have a belt driven 12volt alternator.and should keep the battery charged up. The thought is since others do not use the seperate small battery, just connect thru the house battery system. Makes me wonder what, whom & if there has been a wiring change.

We are aware of many creative Hands making what seems like a grand idea improvements that lead to problems.

I would suggest Investigating your wiring diagram of both house electrical & the Onan DKD wiring. Might contact James T for specific info as to IF they ever used the small battery & alternator. No end to possibilities on a preowned unit.

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #20 – August 21, 2014, 03:42:58 pm

You are so right Dave I really found some different items on my Eagle that didn't make sense that I had to change. I have noticed tags on some of the larger cables in the battery compartment but have no idea what the # mean, so further investigating will be required for sure.

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #21 – August 21, 2014, 06:57:28 pm

Nothing wrong with having a separate battery, but it is one more maintenance item though. My generator has an alternator too so I suspect that part was standard. I know it still works because I can see a slight voltage rise right after it starts up and before the inverter/charger kicks in.
The 12 volt power (large cable) that goes to the generator comes directly from the "salesman" switch that's close to the entry right behind the recliner. Foretravel just conveniently tied into the cable that supplies the switch using it as a junction box. The generator power does not pass through the salesman switch. Look at the bottom side of the salesman switch in the fuel tank/propane compartment: mine has 3 large red cables coming out - one goes directly across and goes through a hole in the bulkhead between the tanks and generator. I can post photos if you like.
P.S. Schematic drawing G-3861/A-3440 in your manuals will show this.

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #22 – August 22, 2014, 11:57:52 am

Thanks John, I will check it out. It only matters to me to be able to keep the new battery charged while in storage, as mentioned in this post I could put a trickle charger on and that would solve the problem.
I was a little surprised that it was not hooked into the battery bank, but it really isn't an issue. Thanks to all for your help.

Re: Charging the Generator Battery

Reply #23 – August 22, 2014, 12:08:53 pm

Andy,

You are on the right track. Having a separate battery is not that big a deal. Someone probably thought it was a good idea.

A trickle charger will solve your problem.

see ya
ken

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