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Topic: House battery charging (Read 636 times) previous topic - next topic

House battery charging

Just confirming that the house batteries will charge while driving when the boost button is on?
Peter
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox

Re: House battery charging

Reply #1 –
Absolutely that ties the house and the start batteries together. The alternator will charge both and the generator will charge both.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: House battery charging

Reply #2 –
On my coach both battery banks charge when driving with the boost switch on or off,the boost switch is used to give the start
batteries some extra oomff when starting.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: House battery charging

Reply #3 –
As Chuck said the boost switch ties the house and the chassis batteries together but
if your alternator is charging it should be charging both sets of batteries with the boost
switch off.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: House battery charging

Reply #4 –
Quote from: John44 –
On my coach both battery banks charge when driving with the boost switch on or off,the boost switch is used to give the start
batteries some extra oomff when starting.


Correct.  The BATTERY ISOLATOR has power (12 VDC positive) IN from the alternator and OUT to both house and chassis battery banks.

So no need for boost switch in order for both banks to automatically be charged by the alternator.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: House battery charging

Reply #5 –
Bret, is that also true for the isolator when the generator is running.? No boost switch needed to tie together batteries for charging via generator?
Keith and Dawn Hudson #18766
Current- 1999 U295 DFGE 40ft. - Build #5405
Coach Name: 4BUS4US
Previous- 2008 Nimbus CE338: 40th Anniversary Edition- Build #6486. 
Toad: 2021 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk

 "I know something about a lot of things..a lot about something's..and everything about nothing "

Re: House battery charging

Reply #6 –
If there isn't some kind a device added to charge the chassis batteries from the house
batteries the chassis batteries won't charge from the generator.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: House battery charging

Reply #7 –
That's what I thought Pete, thanks. I just thought, up until now that I had to have the boost switch on to charge house batteries while going down the road.....
Keith and Dawn Hudson #18766
Current- 1999 U295 DFGE 40ft. - Build #5405
Coach Name: 4BUS4US
Previous- 2008 Nimbus CE338: 40th Anniversary Edition- Build #6486. 
Toad: 2021 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk

 "I know something about a lot of things..a lot about something's..and everything about nothing "

Re: House battery charging

Reply #8 –
Think of it this way-- from the ATS (automatic transfer switch) onward, generator is EXACTLY the same as shore power in terms of what things it can power.

Yes, the "fine print" is that the total number of things you can run at the same time may be different, depending on amp/watt rating of your generator.

50 amp shore power= 50 amps @240 VAC= 100 amps @ 120 VAC.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: House battery charging

Reply #9 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
50 amp shore power= 50 amps @240 VAC= 100 amps @ 120 VAC.

100amps @ 120V = 12KW of generator

A 10KW generator puts out 83.33 amps of 120V power at full rated load.

Not so much with the generators in our coaches but when you see these portable generators that have large rating and low $ cost, good chance the rating advertised is peak rating for part of a second and not continues
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: House battery charging

Reply #10 –
Quote from: dicksop –
Just confirming that the house batteries will charge while driving when the boost button is on?
Peter
If all is as it should be, the engine driven alternator will charge the house and chassis batteries with the Boost switch in the OFF position.
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

Re: House battery charging

Reply #11 –
Sounds like what I said yesterday.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: House battery charging

Reply #12 –
Thanks all!
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox

Re: House battery charging

Reply #13 –
Put twin voltmeters or plug in digital meters in the lighter sockets and never wonder what is going on. Ours are on 24/7 for years now. Gives house voltage early in the morning after an evening of TV, etc, driving voltages, floating voltages when parked, etc, etc. Any problems that come up will be seen before you are stranded, etc. and give plenty of time to diagnose.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)