deltabravo wrote:fitznj wrote:
Plug the shore power cord into the generator; Turn generator on.... done
Ditto.
This is how I do it.
That's a good recipe to fry electronics you might have in the camper.
Starting generator creates voltage spikes, that is why designated transfer switches have time delay to let generator stabilize the current before the relay gets turned on.
I would start the generator and on give it at least 30 seconds in warm weather before plugging in TC cord.
Or flip the main breaker in TC off, go start the generator, come back and by then it should be safe to turn the power on.
2017 can have very advanced charger, but manufacturers often put old, discounted part on the production lane as buyers routinely don't do their homework and will buy something that shines, not something with advanced technology.
So check the manual, or email manufacturer what converter you have.
For last decade advanced converter are hook up parallel with battery, what makes other choices difficult to use. If you want to use other charger, you should flip the breaker on converter, but that brings hassle to the operation.
Than read what is the converter output and continuity rating.
My older converter is rated at 40 amp, but some kind of "smart" system splits the 40 amp between battery charging and camper operations.
Meaning I have no idea what that "stupid" thing does.
Either way you should have calibrated voltmeter hook up in your TC to monitor those things and reality can be full of surprizes.
So check the manual, or email manufacturer what converter you have.
For last decade advanced converter are hook up parallel with battery, what makes other choices difficult to use. If you want to use other charger, you should flip the breaker on converter, but that brings hassle to the operation.
Than read what is the converter output and continuity rating.
My older converter is rated at 40 amp, but some kind of "smart" system splits the 40 amp between battery charging and camper operations.
Meaning I have no idea what that "stupid" thing does.
Either way you should have calibrated voltmeter hook up in your TC to monitor those things and reality can be full of surprizes.
I found my factory charger in Fleetwood a lousy one.
The 2001 model is not smart, so it delivers voltage that will boil the batteries dry in long storage, but it goes into overheat very fast.
When I had discharged batteries, even in only 85F the charger would run for a minute, than overheat would kill it for several minutes and than another minute of charging. So after 2 hr of generator run my batteries were still low.
For such incidents I am carrying smart charger with 25 amp continuous charge.
The 12V charging circuits some generators have supposebly delivers "dirty" power, so I would not use it. Worth checking with manufacturer as technology changes and hopefully new generators have it improved.
The 2001 model is not smart, so it delivers voltage that will boil the batteries dry in long storage, but it goes into overheat very fast.
When I had discharged batteries, even in only 85F the charger would run for a minute, than overheat would kill it for several minutes and than another minute of charging. So after 2 hr of generator run my batteries were still low.
For such incidents I am carrying smart charger with 25 amp continuous charge.
The 12V charging circuits some generators have supposebly delivers "dirty" power, so I would not use it. Worth checking with manufacturer as technology changes and hopefully new generators have it improved.
