Another Generator Question

belfert · November 19, 2025, 07:26:08 AM

If using lead acid batteries for house bank you can set them up for 24 volt and directly connect them to the chassis system. Your charge profile may not be perfect, but it works pretty well. You will need to center tap the battery bank for 12 volt, and best to have an equalizer to keep the batteries balanced. (I have a no longer used Vanner Equalizer I would give you, or charge a token price for.) I have done this in the past before I switched my house battery bank to 48 volt with LifePO4 batteries.

In this case you would need an inverter with charging as you would want to replace your 12 volt inverter. You really don't want to run an inverter off a center tap.

luvrbus · November 19, 2025, 07:39:34 AM

If I had to do over I would have bought a Renogy Dc to Dc charger like the higher end Prevost use or the Victron smart charger, Redarc is a good charger you see a lot of those I don't know about the pros and cons of one, I know they are expensive. My Country Coach used the echo charger to keep the chassis battery charged when on the plug I like that feature it took care of all the fathom draws on the chassis, anyways I would not own a RV without a generator all the electronic crap is going to fail in time

belfert · November 19, 2025, 09:05:15 AM

Generators can fail too. My previous generator failed almost every year for four or five years. We started to carry a Honda EU2000 generator as a backup to keep the basics running. I finally got sick of the generator issues and spent a ton of money to purchase and have installed a Wrico generator.

Glennman · November 19, 2025, 09:21:27 PM

I ended up ordering a Renogy 24v/2000 watt inverter. It will be dedicated to the mini split while driving. I suppose I would still need a generator for boondocking when it's hot both night and day. I now have a 24v mini split unit (like for truck tractors) in the bedroom that runs on the bus system while driving. It's set up so that I can connect it to the house batteries when parked. We can run it on low and benefit from it at night, where the Pioneer mini split unit is far away hanging above the windshield while using a lot of power. I have yet to use it as I installed it just as the cold weather started. Thank you everyone for your input!

luvrbus · November 20, 2025, 02:38:51 AM

Quote from: belfert on November 19, 2025, 09:05:15 AM
Generators can fail too. My previous generator failed almost every year for four or five years. We started to carry a Honda EU2000 generator as a backup to keep the basics running. I finally got sick of the generator issues and spent a ton of money to purchase and have installed a Wrico generator.

My Universal marine generator ran many years with me replacing only the shut down solenoid, Powertech had problems I helped Sonnie Gray change the head bearings in his several times, Onan had problems with the magnets coming lose after Cummins bought it, what I like about Dick Wrights generators he didn't use all the electronics on his just plain and simple and run for ever,I am not a big fan of Powertech,Gary's new bus has had the 20kw Powertech removed and replaced with a Wirco generator he got lucky, I like the Martin generators with the Yanmar turbo diesel engines they never give up that is why the entrainer buses use Martin.Onan is most popular RV generator by far due to the service network all Cummins dealers will work on Onan

luvrbus · November 20, 2025, 03:54:17 AM

Quote from: Glennman on November 19, 2025, 09:21:27 PM
I ended up ordering a Renogy 24v/2000 watt inverter. It will be dedicated to the mini split while driving. I suppose I would still need a generator for boondocking when it's hot both night and day. I now have a 24v mini split unit (like for truck tractors) in the bedroom that runs on the bus system while driving. It's set up so that I can connect it to the house batteries when parked. We can run it on low and benefit from it at night, where the Pioneer mini split unit is far away hanging above the windshield while using a lot of power. I have yet to use it as I installed it just as the cold weather started. Thank you everyone for your input!

I like the Renogy stuff they use a lot of it here in valley for solar applications, it is affordable and customer friendly, Renogy has a large warehouse and center not far from us in Chino Ca people here like that

Glennman · November 22, 2025, 09:45:26 PM

Quote from: belfert on November 19, 2025, 07:26:08 AM
If using lead acid batteries for house bank you can set them up for 24 volt and directly connect them to the chassis system. Your charge profile may not be perfect, but it works pretty well. You will need to center tap the battery bank for 12 volt, and best to have an equalizer to keep the batteries balanced. (I have a no longer used Vanner Equalizer I would give you, or charge a token price for.) I have done this in the past before I switched my house battery bank to 48 volt with LifePO4 batteries.

In this case you would need an inverter with charging as you would want to replace your 12 volt inverter. You really don't want to run an inverter off a center tap.

Sorry for not getting back to you belfert! I appreciate the offer, but my house batteries are lithium and the bus batteries are lead acid. Outside of maybe installing a DC to DC charger, I am very paranoid about installing anything that combines the two different systems.