Jimalberta Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 Does anyone here have this feature on your coach and if you have it....do you use it? It is on my coach and I have never set it up.....but was advised by an RV dealer today to use it when coach is in storage or when boondocking to keep the batteries up. He feels it is a great feature to have. <p>....JIM and LINDA......2001 American Eagle 40 '.towing a GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 with RZR in the rear. 1999 JEEP Cherokee that we tow as well. IT IS A CONTENTED MAN WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE SCENERY ALONG A DETOUR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill B Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 Not a Class A (really)- but the truck is registered that way. If I have to leave the truck in a non-powered spot, I'll turn off the "house" load (battery disconnect), and leave the APU (generator) powered. It keeps the 400 AH AGM's topped up. I've reset the "turn on" voltage to 12.6 volts which is 25% discharged. It runs a little more than 1 hour every week, which is about right. Engine / trans module draws about .75 amp per hour (.75*168= 126 amp hour per week) APU alternator = 150 amps*1 hour = 150 amp hour throw in some losses and the numbers work. Current thinking with the price of panels and such, replacing the trailer solar with newer equipment and use the "old" stuff (solar panels and charge controller) on the truck. 100 watt panel = 5 amps * 5 hours of sun = 25 AH per * 7 days = 175 amp hours per week, so those numbers work also. So the short answer is yes, I leave the auto start on. We get there different ways but $900 worth of AGM batteries is worth protecting from harm. Bill and Cecil2007 Volvo 780 Motorhome - Autoshift 3 Trans | 2003 38' New Horizons 5'erPhotobucket Pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BooneDocks Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 The used coach that we owned had a factory installed auto gen start that was a part of the inverter control panel. It triggered the generator upon lowering voltage. DW was concerned with temperatures as we would be living with a cat and I had the following unit installed which also had the ability to turn on the generator to turn on the air conditioning. Other than a one-time trial of the factory installed one, we didn't use either of them in four years as we rarely dry camped. .http://www.amazon.com/Magnum-Energy-ME-AGS-S-Generator-Controller/dp/B009M7A8OU Presently MotorHomeLessFollow Our Full-Time Travels Through Our Blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 When I store an RV I lift the battery cables so no need for that feature. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimalberta Posted April 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 Thats another thing Kirk.....was cleaning my cables the other day and had the battery cut off switch in the off position. Connected all the cables again and went to connect the last cable....the negative to ground and got a spark. Measured from that cable to the neg post and got 12.5 volts and .01 amps. Since the battery disconnect was off I should not have had any voltage or amperage reading.....kinda wierd. Now I need to figure out this draw. I didnt take the cutoff switch apart but might need to see if there is a problem there. <p>....JIM and LINDA......2001 American Eagle 40 '.towing a GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 with RZR in the rear. 1999 JEEP Cherokee that we tow as well. IT IS A CONTENTED MAN WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE SCENERY ALONG A DETOUR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wa_desert_rat Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 If I had autostart I would certainly use it; even though we have more than enough solar to keep the batteries charged. Especially with expensive batteries. I've known RVers who have had their gennies start up due to a load they forgot about. But if you're not around a stored RV much you could have a fuel supply issue. Once they start they keep running until you stop them or they run out of fuel. I don't have autostart, though... and I doubt I'll ever install it. But if I already had it, well, why not? For the parasitic loads (like the electric clock, the dash radio that stores frequency, furnace thermostat, etc.) a 100-watt solar panel (and a decent charge controller) should be sufficient. Unless you're under a cover, of course. WDR 1993 Foretravel U225 with Pacbrake and 5.9 Cummins with Banks 1999 Jeep Wrangler, 4" lift and 33" tires Raspberry Pi Coach Computer Ham Radio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bthomforde Posted April 20, 2015 Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 We boon dock a few times a year and use the auto gen start then. 2017 Allegro Bus 45OPP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted April 20, 2015 Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 Thats another thing Kirk.....was cleaning my cables the other day and had the battery cut off switch in the off position. Connected all the cables again and went to connect the last cable....the negative to ground and got a spark. Measured from that cable to the neg post and got 12.5 volts and .01 amps. A load that small might be your smoke, propane, or CO detectors as it is very common to connect one or more of those around the disconnect. That is what I'd check first. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zulu Posted April 20, 2015 Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 Does anyone here have this feature on your coach and if you have it....do you use it? I don't know what you have, but I had a Magnum AGS installed in my Class A. It interfaces seamlessly with my Magnum inverter & all the inverter & AGS settings can be accessed via one control panel. The AGS can be set up to start the generator on low voltage and/or high temps (in case power is lost in hot weather). It slices, it dices. SKP #79313 / Full-Timing / 2001 National RV Sea View / 2008 Jeep Wrangler Rubiconwww.rvSeniorMoments.comDISH TV for RVs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceNorman Posted April 21, 2015 Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 I suspect that our coach has the same setup as Zulu's (Magnum AGS, Magnum Inverter, Magnum transfer switch - all controlled via a central panel). While I'm looking forward to using the AGS - I can't imagine leaving it enabled when the coach is in storage as was suggested in the OP's post. The last thing I want is my generator firing up when my coach is parked in the storage lot !!! The Spacenorman 2012 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 43' DFT 2012 Jeep Liberty Our Travel Website: www.penquinhead.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrschwarz Posted April 21, 2015 Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 I installed the Onan EC30 in my previous motor home. My current one came with it. Whenever boondocking, it's always on. I had it on today in a full hookuup RV park. When the surge protector dropped shore power due to low voltage, the generator started. After having it for a few years, I wouldn't be without one. Michael 2017 Allegro Bus 45OPP Cummins ISL 450 Visit us at schwarz.org! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimalberta Posted April 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 Thanks for all the replys. I tend to agree that I dont know if I want my gen starting in some storage yard. Sounds like a recipe for things to go horribly wrong. Kirk ...yes I agree....I will have to look into my wiring harness or even disconnect the devices you mentioned and see if the draw goes away. <p>....JIM and LINDA......2001 American Eagle 40 '.towing a GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 with RZR in the rear. 1999 JEEP Cherokee that we tow as well. IT IS A CONTENTED MAN WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE SCENERY ALONG A DETOUR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mariner Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 So let me get this straight, the genny will start automatically, but you have to physically shut it off. Why can't it be designed to shut off automatically? Fulltiming since 2010 2000 Dutch Star 2009 Saturn Vue Myrtle Beach, SC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horizon36 Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 The Cummins EC 30W will start and stop the generator. Full time since August 2010 2002 Itasca Horizon One fur kid - a Shih-Tsu rescue Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrschwarz Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 So let me get this straight, the genny will start automatically, but you have to physically shut it off. Why can't it be designed to shut off automatically? There is no mode that automatically starts the generator that doesn't also stop it. You would need to manually drop it out of auto mode for that to happen. Michael 2017 Allegro Bus 45OPP Cummins ISL 450 Visit us at schwarz.org! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimalberta Posted April 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 Mariner my auto start will sense low voltage at the batteries and start on its own, recharge the batteries and then shut down again. According to the manual I can even program it to stay off during quiet times. <p>....JIM and LINDA......2001 American Eagle 40 '.towing a GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 with RZR in the rear. 1999 JEEP Cherokee that we tow as well. IT IS A CONTENTED MAN WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE SCENERY ALONG A DETOUR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zulu Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 The last thing I want is my generator firing up when my coach is parked in the storage lot !!! That's what I thought until a week of cloudy weather prevented my solar panels from charging my batteries. Now I leave the AGS on. SKP #79313 / Full-Timing / 2001 National RV Sea View / 2008 Jeep Wrangler Rubiconwww.rvSeniorMoments.comDISH TV for RVs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mariner Posted April 23, 2015 Report Share Posted April 23, 2015 Thanks. I've been toying with the idea of adding auto start. Fulltiming since 2010 2000 Dutch Star 2009 Saturn Vue Myrtle Beach, SC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djnorton Posted April 24, 2015 Report Share Posted April 24, 2015 I have three auto start sequences: 1. Like many of you with the magnum inverters, I have 2- 2K watt inverters and panels to program this feature with low battery voltages. 2. I have the "timed auto start" panel 3. The Duo-therm comfort control can also turn on the generator during heat pump operation for heat or cooling mode Dave Norton 2006 Travel Supreme Select 2011 CVO Road Glide Ultra/Hydralift New York Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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