Basic Generator question

deuce

it’s a cold morning in Moab in my 320 - circa 9 degrees F.

1.  Shouldn’t my generator drive the DC outlets?

2. when I turn my carried battery off, internal lights don’t find in with generator on.

3. monitor panel reflects carried battery level, abd not 13.6 that it normally show when connected to shore station or generator.

do I have a fuse problem?

AirBoss

Converter turned on? Don't own a 320 but on the 400 when connected to shore (or genset I'd presume...don't own one), the converter has to be on to power the DC receptacles. 

Battery switch to "On?

No doubt others on here with knowledge of 320's will chime in with more specifics. 

What year, style, etc. is your rig. That's helpful when troubleshooting from afar. 

On a side note, I'd be interested in what steps you've taken to keep your rig "winterized" against those kind of temps? Brrrr.... 

deuce

Fuses good, reset button on master DC pushed.

Generator quite “tetchy” on what it’s being asked to do.  Was trying to recharge a chromebook in the cabin via a DC outlet.  No go.

When I plugged in directly to the generator and turned everything else off in the cabin, the charging began to proceed.

@AirBoss - I did the standard winterization with a compressed air blowout and adding good old pink anti-freeze to the drains.  I’ll make a picture report of the very INEXPENSIVE compressor set-up I figured out.

i just winter camp where there are vault toilets, and use a small plastic bin that fits inside the CS-S clamshell sink and can be lifted and dumped for kitchen cleanup.

I’ll make a further report on the DC situation from a shore station hook up - a friend’s garage in Albuquerque - as I suspect it is simply the cold weather! This is my first time firing it up in cold weather since I sorted out the double 6 Volt battery modification that I got so much help on from you and others.

perhaps the community would like to see pictures as it was quite easily accomplished in very very tight spaces of the original bin.

N7SHG_Ham

The generator is plugged to your shore power, the shore power goes to converter and charges battery and provides 12v. I believe the battery switch on camper needs to be on to have a working system.

rh5555

Do you have an internal power protection system like the Progressive Industries EMS-HW30C installed?  They will block power from a generator unless the ground and neutral lines are joined together.

Bayliss

@deuce, as referenced by @rh5555, you probably need a "Ground-Neutral Bonded" plug.  I have attached some info on it for you (see the last four or five pages.)  I made one, because I have a hard-wired Progressive Industries EMS, and use it on my Honda 2000i generator.  They are easy to make, but you can also purchase them online.

Example (Amazon):

https://www.amazon.com/Southwire-Company-LLC-44400-Generator/dp/B07F4R7BDL/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1D46JPIQMSNNS&dchild=1&keywords=ground+neutral+bond+plug&qid=1609627003&sprefix=ground+neutra,aps,221&sr=8-3

or, Micro-Air:

https://www.microair.net/collections/easystart-soft-starters/products/generator-bonding-plug?variant=12272654155860

deuce

a friend says its likely a fuse on the generator.  Been traveling all day, will check in AM.  (Don't need it tonight!)