Troubleshooting guide

Understanding Battery Charging Times
In addition to being aware of battery charging loads, it is important to know that
battery charging takes time. The chart below shows how long a 100A charger must
run before reaching 100% battery charge.
Battery chargers replenish power drained from:
• engine starting
• generator starting
• appliances working on inverter power like microwave and refrigerator
• mechanicals like slide outs and pumps
NOTE: Table is for a 100A battery charger (typical 2000-watt inverter) pulling 21A
(2520-watts) from generator, depending on battery bank size.
EXAMPLE: Dashed box shows that using a 100A battery charger, a 600A/hr battery
bank at 60% charge level must be charged for 4.2 hours before it is fully charged.
Conditions that increase battery charge times:
• If too many DC loads like pumps and fans are applied, the charger may never
catch up with the batteries. The Battery Charging Times Chart assumes no other
DC loads are operating.
• 120v air conditioning loads powered through the inverter lengthen charge time
due to power sharing. Consult your inverter/charger’s manufacturer manual for
charge rate control.
• Poor batteries, cables, or connections.
Manage electrical loads to get the most from your generator and electrical system.
If you need help, ask your coach dealer for training on how to operate auto-starting
systems as well as how to adjust battery charger output. If the dealer can’t help,
contact inverter/charger or control manufacturer.
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Battery Charging Times
Battery
Hours That A 100A Battery Charger Must Run To Reach
Bank Size
Float Rate Starting From This % Of Battery Charge.
(Amp Hours) 80 % 60 % 40% 20 % 0%(11 VDC)
100 0.3 0.7 1 1.3 1.6
200 0.6 1.4 2 2.6 3.2
400 1.2 2.8 4 5.2 6.4
600 1.8 4.2 6 7.8 9.6
800 2.4 5.6 8 10.4 12.8
1000 3.0 7.0 10 13.0 16.0
1200 3.6 8.4 12 15.6 19.2
1500 4.5 10.5 15 19.5 24.0
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Managing Electrical Loads
If you try to operate too many things at once, you’ll “overload” the generator. You’ll
know because your lights will flicker or the circuit breakers on the generator or the
main coach electrical panel will trip open, stopping the flow of power.
Battery charging loads can also overload your generator and you may not realize
this is happening because the charging starts automatically. Be aware of how large
this “invisible” load can be.
• Air conditioners need “reserve” power to start. Too much baseload can prevent
air conditioners from starting.
• Air conditioners typically draw 1400-2400-watts, depending on size and
operating conditions (more power is needed at high temperature or humidity).
During start-up, air conditioners can draw 3-4 times that amount.
• Battery chargers come on automatically and can draw a large load (up to
3000-watts). Manage your electrical loads by adjusting battery charge rates
to best suit your needs. Consult your inverter/charger manual or manufacturer.
• If you have an automatic generator stop/start system, learn how to control
it. Consult your inverter/charger manual or manufacturer for adjustment
procedures. Adjust battery charge rates to best suit your total electrical needs.
This system is not part of an Onan
®
or Camp Power
™
generator.
• Disable auto-start systems while refueling, servicing, storing or long-term parking.
NOTE: The generator will continue to run after a circuit breaker trips. Turn off all
appliances and reset the breaker. If the breaker trips again with all electrical loads
off, you may have a short circuit in your wiring. Turn off the generator and contact
a qualified electrician.
EXAMPLE: Dashed box shows that a 2000-watt inverter running at 100A battery
charge capacity creates the same load as an 11000 BTU air conditioner plus a
microwave oven.
Battery Charging Loads
Inverter/ Battery Charger Amps Required Equivalent
Converter Max Output From Generator Watts Appliance Load
Size (Watts) (14vdc) (at 120VAC) Example
1000 50 Amps 12A 1440 Hi-efficiency AC
or microwave
1500 75 Amps 16A 1920 Hi-efficiency AC
plus microwave
2000 100 Amps 21A 2520 11000 AC
plus microwave
2500 120 Amps 26A 3120 13500 AC
plus microwave
3000 140 Amps 28A 3360 11000 AC
plus 13500 AC