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07-15-2015, 07:54 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Texas
Posts: 5
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Battery charging
Should my on board generator be charging my batteries? They only seem to charge when the truck is running. Even with the onboard generator running they will run down within an hour or two. Then the Fridge starts beeping that it is in limited operation and says lo dc. Also it seems that if I let the dc system go completely dead the onboard generator will die. Does this sound normal?
Thanks.
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07-15-2015, 08:37 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: victorville ca nxt des arc ar
Posts: 73
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Onboard generators? Most trlrs dont come with even one generator. Only toy haulers typically come with an onan 5500w. What trlr do you have?
__________________
2005 Duramax 4X4 Lb, Arp studs, EFI Live, turbo dp, cat delete, str pipe, Mike L trans cooler, PPe deep trans pan, Lbz Mouthpiece, PPE Ported fuel rails/Guages
20K Curt hitch
5K airbags
2013 Keyston Cougar 333MKS
2 15K BTU AC's
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07-16-2015, 07:59 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: WESTERN,CT
Posts: 2,095
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ONLY GUESSING HERE BUT Do you anve a manual or automatic transfer switch? I am assuming the generator is factory installed. The generator should run the fridge and charge the battery if working properly. You many have a bad transfer switch. would like more info about the gen and if it is factory or not.
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BARNEY AND CHRISTINE
2010 MONTANA 3750FL
2005 DODGE 3500 DUALLY TD
2 RESCUE PUPS: SUSITNA AND CRYSTAL. RIP ALYESKA!
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07-17-2015, 02:16 PM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Texas
Posts: 5
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I have an Onan 5500 watt onboard generator in my toy hauler model 331. So, is the transfer switch a part of the generator?
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07-17-2015, 02:58 PM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Fraser Valley BC Canada
Posts: 7,015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Heavyrider
I have an Onan 5500 watt onboard generator in my toy hauler model 331. So, is the transfer switch a part of the generator?
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A transfer switch does exactly what its name describes.....it senses whether or not you are plugged in to shore power and if you are, it will (by means of the switch) automatically transfer over to the generator.
In one sense, it is part of the generator but at the same time separate ....make sense?
__________________
2008 Cougar 5th Wheel 27RKS
2005 2500 GMC Duramax
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07-17-2015, 08:04 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Texas
Posts: 5
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Yes, Is this switch usually located in the generator compartment? So, would the power go from the gen to the switch then to an inverter then to the batteries?
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07-17-2015, 08:13 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Fraser Valley BC Canada
Posts: 7,015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Heavyrider
Yes, Is this switch usually located in the generator compartment? So, would the power go from the gen to the switch then to an inverter then to the batteries?
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Do you mean the converter? This is the device that converts or changes 110VAC to 12VDC. All RV's have a converter but unless you have installed an inverter your RV likely doesn't have one. An inverter changes 12VDC to 110VAC and would be wired to your batteries.
If you Google "RV transfer switch" read up what it says about this device and where it is placed in the circuit and mounted in the RV.
__________________
2008 Cougar 5th Wheel 27RKS
2005 2500 GMC Duramax
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07-17-2015, 08:16 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Texarkana, TX
Posts: 1,052
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Think of the transfer switch as a "Y" connector that either allows you to get power from the shore or from the generator. That's all it does. Everything else after "switching" should work the same.
Does your battery charge when on shore power? If not, it's actually your converter that you should be looking at.
If you have a volt meter, you can check it by testing the battery voltage. A volt meter will help determine when it's being charged.
Generally, neither the converter or transfer switch are near the battery. Follow shore power path to find the transfer switch. The converter is probably a little harder to find.
There are generally 3 ways that your batteries could get charged:
1) Shore power - via converter
2) Generator power - via converter
3) Connected to the trailer, via a feed on the trailer plug while the truck is running
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07-17-2015, 09:08 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Texas
Posts: 5
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Greta info . Thanks. I'm taking it out again this weekend. I will check it out. But I think it charges on shore power and from the running truck but not the gen.
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07-19-2015, 08:21 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Texas
Posts: 5
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It seemed to charge fine this weekend
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