Results for "alternator charging"

Solar Batteries Medium 4-6 hours 685 👍 0

Georgetown GT7 Lithium Battery Conversion: Complete RV Installation Guide

Turned the keys on my 2023 Georgetown GT7 and discovered the previous owner left the electrical system in complete shambles, now facing this intimidating lithium conversion nightmare. I know I need LiFePO4 batteries, but every forum post I read mentions different components and I'm getting conflicting information.

I really want to make this upgrade work - the lead acid batteries are killing me with their weight and charging limitations. What specific components do I need beyond the actual lithium batteries? I'm especially confused about whether my converter will work and if I need additional charging equipment for the alternator. Please tell me my 2023 model year gives me some advantage here! …more

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Engine Medium 2-4 hours 473 👍 0

Generac 7.5kW Diesel Generator Repair Guide - RV Troubleshooting

Planning to ignore the weird noises from our Generac 7.5kW diesel generator backfired when my wife pointed out I definitely made things worse during my repair attempt. I have a 2007 Monaco with a Generac 7.5kW diesel generator, and yesterday when I tried starting it, the battery was really weak. I probably held the starter button too long - maybe 15 seconds or so - because it was cranking so slowly and I kept hoping it would catch.

Now when I try to start it, I just get a single click and nothing happens. I'm worried I damaged something by cranking it so long with that weak battery. Should I be looking at the starter solenoid or starter motor? Is there anything I can check myself before I have to take it to a repair shop? I'd really appreciate any guidance on troubleshooting this. …more

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Electrical Medium 2-4 hours 410 👍 0

Protect Your RV Alternator When Charging Lithium

Tried everything my neighbor did to charge his LiFePO4 batteries but mine keeps frying the alternator while his works flawlessly — what's different? I want to install a temperature sensing device that can interrupt charging by opening the solenoid between chassis and house charging systems if the alternator gets too hot. I'm looking to spec out components and understand the installation process, and I'm open to hearing why this might not be a good approach. My goal is preventing alternator overheating when these lithium batteries draw high current compared to my old flooded or AGM batteries. I'm looking for technical feedback and am totally open to critique. …more

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Best RV Refrigerators

4.3 (9,200 reviews)

Electrical Easy 10 min read 285 👍 0

RV Battery Disconnect Switch Guide: When to Use, What Loses Power & Staying Safe

Wondering if I can skip the $400 shop diagnosis for my electrical issues and just figure out this battery disconnect switch myself, even though I'm getting conflicting advice.

Specifically, I'm concerned about what happens to things like my LP gas detector, carbon monoxide alarm, and refrigerator when I disconnect the battery. Will I lose all my radio presets and clock settings? Are there certain situations where I absolutely shouldn't use the disconnect switch?

I want to use it for storage to prevent battery drain, but I'm also wondering about daily use scenarios. What are the best practices to avoid any problems or safety issues? I really don't want to mess anything up or put my family at risk. …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 4-8 hours 282 👍 0

Lead Acid vs Lithium RV Batteries: Complete Upgrade Guide

Pulled into my favorite boondocking spot with batteries that used to last three days, but now these lead acid units are completely dead after just one night! I've been running two 12V lead acid batteries in my travel trailer and I'm SO tired of dealing with their limitations - slow charging, constant maintenance, and they seem to die at the worst possible times.

I found these Dyness 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 lithium batteries and I'm really hoping they might be the solution I've been looking for. But I'm completely lost when it comes to lithium technology. Will my current converter/charger work with lithium batteries, or am I looking at more upgrades? I keep seeing mentions of something called a BMS - what exactly does that do and why is it important?

I just want a system that actually works reliably and charges properly both when plugged into shore power and while driving. Can someone please tell me if making the switch to these Dyness LiFePO4 batteries is worth it, and what I need to know about compatibility with my existing charging system? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 1-2 hours 279 👍 0

Xantrex Freedom X 1200 Inverter Low Battery Warning: Critical 11.2V Fix Guide

Walked into my new RV and discovered the previous owner left the Xantrex Freedom X 1200 inverter constantly throwing critical 11.2V low battery warnings. My Xantrex Freedom X 1200 inverter is displaying warning indicators on the panel, and I'm seeing some concerning voltage readings that have me worried about potential damage to my electrical system.

Here's the complete situation: My house battery is reading 11.2 volts, while the chassis battery shows 13.1 volts. The inverter panel is lit up with what I assume are low voltage warnings. I've been noticing the interior lights dimming significantly, especially when trying to run any appliances through the inverter. To make matters worse, it's currently overcast and getting dark, so my solar panels aren't generating any meaningful charge to help recover the battery.

I'm particularly concerned because I know lead-acid batteries can be permanently damaged if they're discharged too deeply. The voltage reading of 11.2V seems critically low to me, but I want to understand exactly how urgent this situation is and what my immediate next steps should be. Should I be looking at shore power connection, generator use, or is there something wrong with my charging system that caused this in the first place? I need to know both the immediate fix and what might have caused this failure. …more

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Appliances Easy 10 minutes 278 👍 0

Complete Guide to RV Control Panel Lights and Display Meanings

Dashboard has about 15 different indicator lights and half of them just came on after hooking up at a new campground. Some I recognize from the manual but a few aren't even documented. Need to understand what each light and display reading actually means before I start troubleshooting. …more

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Electrical Hard 4-6 hours 241 👍 0

RV Alternator to Lithium Battery Charging: Complete DC-DC Wiring Guide for Safe Installation

Last week I picked up my 2007 Holiday Rambler and discovered the previous owner left the alternator-to-battery charging system a dangerous wiring disaster that could destroy my new lithium batteries.

I'm upgrading from four 6V lead-acid house batteries to lithium, and I keep reading conflicting advice about alternator charging. Some people say "just connect it directly," others are warning about alternator damage and proper current limiting. I'm planning to add a DC-to-DC charger eventually, but I'm confused about whether I can safely use the alternator to charge lithium batteries in the meantime.

What's the right way to handle alternator charging with lithium batteries? Should I disconnect the alternator feed completely until I get a proper charging system, or is there a safe way to make this work without turning my alternator into an expensive paperweight? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-3 hours 222 👍 0

DC-DC Charger for Lithium RV Battery: Protect Your Alternator

Despite everyone saying I need a DC-DC charger for my lithium RV batteries, I'm skeptical about dropping $400 — will it actually protect my alternator? Just got a shiny new 2026 F250 (after my poor F150 basically begged for mercy when I hooked up my 2600RB) and had a 230ah lithium battery installed in the trailer. Now I'm reading horror stories about truck alternators and lithium batteries having some kind of electrical death match that could fry my alternator or damage the battery.

I keep seeing mentions of DC-DC chargers but honestly have no idea if I actually need one or if this is just RV paranoia at its finest. The trailer has solar and I've only got a 12V fridge drawing power when towing, so it's not like I'm running a mobile data center back there. Can I just use my truck's existing charge line to the trailer, or am I about to become another cautionary tale about expensive electrical mistakes? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 220 👍 0

How to Use DC/DC Charger for RV Chassis Battery Winter Storage Maintenance Guide

Leaving the RV in storage for five months over winter and worried about the chassis battery dying again. Last year I came back to a completely dead battery and had to get a jump. Looking into DC/DC chargers connected to a trickle charger setup but not sure about the wiring. …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 217 👍 0

How to Convert RV from Lead Acid to Lithium Batteries - Step-by-Step Guide

Despite having perfectly fine lead acid batteries yesterday, it's 11 PM and my RV's two 6v deep cycle batteries just died completely — need to swap them for LiFePO4 lithium before we head out tomorrow morning. Since they're similarly priced, I'm looking to upgrade, but need guidance on system modifications.

Specifically need info on: converter voltage requirements, solar controller settings, inverter cutoff adjustments, and whether I need additional battery management components.

What are the key steps to convert successfully? …more

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Best RV Water Heaters

4.4 (6,800 reviews)

Electrical Easy N/A - planning 210 👍 0

RV Battery Charging: Underhood Generators vs Engine Idling Guide

Since my neighbor can boondock for weeks with perfect battery power while mine die after just a few days, what charging method am I missing? I came across this interesting information from a New York City perspective (original link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/ar...S&cvid=f9f9617373f147cba291498b28b099b4&ei=17).

I've been thinking about either just idling my engine to let the alternator do its thing, or maybe installing one of those underhood generators I keep hearing about.

My buddy says idling is fine and super easy, but I'm wondering if there are any downsides I should know about - like regulations or whether it's actually efficient. Are underhood generators worth the investment, or should I be looking at completely different options? What's the real deal here? …more

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Engine Medium 2-3 hours 209 👍 0

Fleetwood Discovery Generator Won't Start: Battery & Electrical Fixes Guide

Since the manual says to check the fuel shutoff solenoid first on my 1999 Fleetwood Discovery 37V diesel pusher generator, why am I getting power there while the battery connections are completely corroded? The generator absolutely refuses to start unless I run the main Cummins engine for several minutes first, and I've already tried using the boost battery switch which seems to do nothing.

I have brand new batteries - two 12V for the chassis and four 6V house batteries properly wired. Everything else works fine, but this generator issue has me concerned. I want to understand: 1) Why won't the gen set start from its batteries without the main engine running first? 2) Which battery bank does the gen set actually use - chassis, house, or a separate gen set battery?

I'm 80 years old and hesitant to crawl under the coach to trace the gen set 12-volt cable. Can someone help me understand what might be happening with my generator's electrical system? …more

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Electrical Easy 30-60 minutes for testing 203 👍 0

RV Battery Boost System: How to Connect Chassis and House Batteries for Emergency Power

Every time I try starting my RV, my chassis battery barely cranks in 30°F weather, takes forever to turn over, AND just died completely at my last gas stop. The voltage dropped to about 11V and it failed the load test. I tried using the battery boost switch but had to hold it down for about a minute before it worked.

How exactly does the battery boost system work? Does it connect the house batteries to help start the engine? Is it normal to have to hold the switch for that long, and what should I check to prevent this from happening again? …more

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Solar Batteries Hard 6-8 hours 203 👍 0

Complete Newmar RV Lithium Battery Upgrade: DC-DC Charger and BIM Wiring Guide

Staring at my 2019 Newmar's freshly wired lithium upgrade with Victron BVM-712, Orion XS DC-DC charger, and Cerbo GX — finished yesterday but the system still isn't charging properly.

The main issue is I can't figure out how to properly integrate my existing boost switch with the new DC-DC charger setup while maintaining the ability to trickle charge chassis batteries. Currently, my Orion XS DC-DC charger flows only one way from engine alternator to lithium batteries. Should I replace the existing BIM with a LI-BIM, which would be in series with the 2/0 cable? Is there a control wire on the Orion XS that will allow flow from lithium to chassis batteries while on shore/inverter power?

I'm considering adding a 120V battery tender for chassis batteries, but want to confirm what modifications might be needed to my existing BIM. Can someone provide guidance on the correct wiring approach? …more

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