Learning the hard way - Dead House Batteries in the RV and Generator Won't Start

We all make mistakes but it seems like I make more than my fair share! Today I try to start the generator during an "RV Maintenance Day" but I get stopped "dead" in my tracks (ha ha). I learn what power source the generator needs to get started.

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Let’s figure this out together, and I hope that I this helps you to hit the road with your family and make your memories today!

Our gear for video:

[QLFProductions]

You can use one of those portable jump starters to start the generator.

[jamesdumas]

You should ALWAYS have a pair of Jumper Cables with you. Then you could have just Jumped from your engine's battery to the house batteries, and had the generator running in about 30 seconds.

[davidrounds]

I wondered the same thing. Where is the generator battery? The rv tech who worked on my rig could not say for sure either. I asked if it came from the truck battery or the House battery. Thanks, now I know.

[GB_i]

Thanks for this video. We were wondering what's up with our generator while plugged I to shore. Now we know. Thanks. BTW where can I find those small upside down fans?

[snapperu]

I use a solar bank to keep my chassis battery
Charged daily my coach battery died and my chassis battery allowed me to use the bypass switch to turn the engine over and the generator as well

[Hungryrose]

No it fuckin where do I plug my fucking in to the generator where that on the generator

[jodibryan]

How long did you have to run the engine before the house batteries could power the genny?

[myfriendjenonline]

What are some tips to keep the battery from running down?

[briizcustoms]

If you have no generator how do you hook up your house batteries to charge when the chassis battery is running? The previous owner removed the generator and house battery so I’m trying to learn

[ethanmay]

Great vid! Quick tip, maybe leave out the music next time? ;)

[ChrisZwolinski]

We rented a class A and were gone all day (16 ish hours) only to come back to a dark dead RV. The owner didn't have any words of wisdom at all.

Since we were at a state park with no hookups, the manager had his son bring over a portable generator with a 50 amp connection. Plugged in, started the generator, and got the slides into get on our way. I have no idea what the voltage was since this thing was so old, I just had 4 LED (i assume) lights to show the charge state.... none of them were lit.

Wondering why the chassis battery isn't set up to start the generator. It's not like it would be doing it all the time. Other question I have is if it still is only the generator running that will work the slides, or was this because the RV was 12 years old?

Both limitations seem very strange to me. I would have gladly dealt with a pull start on this generator to get it going, but there isn't one.


Next time we'll take jumper cables and get out a lot quicker.