jlis
NH
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I have 2000 Coachmen Leprechaun 314SS which has 3 batteries (1 for the Coach and 2 for the House). In looking at the two House batteries I noticed one was a Marine/RV battery and one was a normal car battery. This doesn’t seem right to me as I expected both to be RV batteries. The only explanation I could come up with is that the “normal” car battery is used to crank over the generator. Does anyone know if the generator is tied into the Coach battery or House batteries for starting? I would suspect the coach battery since the two house batteries are chained together to provide power.
I appreciate your help/assistance.
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donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
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I would suspect somewhere in the MH's life someone replaced a dead battery with the wrong one. You really need identical batteries for the house. And they should be the same age too. Otherwise you have the weak battery drawing down the good one. Making your available power less than normal.
Donn,Lorri,Max (rescued Lab)
Saigon International Airport 1966/67
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ScottMack
Oklahoma
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Our Onan is started from the two deep cycle house batteries. Our chassis battery is the starter battery and powers the hydraulic levelers.
2010 Winnebago Outlook 29B
2010 Ford Escape (1 blown tranny at 4876 towing miles)
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
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I would have the genset tied to the house batteries. The house batteries are tied in parallel maintaining 12 volt output.
The genset in many rigs does not charge the chassis battery.
Depending on how you camp, you could be better served with two 6 volt golf cart batteries wired in series to produce the 12 volt output. If you use hook ups the majority of the time you could get by with one 12 volt RV battery maybe a larger group 27 as many RV batteries are group 24. Personnally I would go with two 6 volters available at Costco for around $80 each.
Bud
USAF Retired
Suzuki XL7 pushing Pace Arrow
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ksg5000
Oregon
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Most rigs the generator is tied to the house batteries. I agree with Donn0128 and suspect someone replaced a dead battery with the wrong one. If it were my rig I would replace both coach (house) batteries and have the chassis battery tested.
Kevin
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Normk
Canada's Wet Coast
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Check to see how much endurance you have with the existing batteries before replacing. If they are satisfactory wait until you need to replace.
It would be unusual for an RV to use a separate generator battery although my tool truck used this system in order to prevent a dead battery(s) from preventing the generator from starting. I converted to using the generator battery (mounted into the engine compartment) in parallel with the engine battery for starting. The generator started from this pair but that system's operation problems were different from an RV.
In your case I would crank the generator from the closest battery in order to reduce cable length unless this required extensive modifications to the existing system as there is unlikely to be much benefit.
If the generator delivers a "12 volt" charge current to its starting battery, this may be useful in order to recharge the house batteries if you have an old style converter charger with only 5 amps. battery charging capacity.
My tool truck used the converter to charge the house batteries so starting off the engine batteries directed the generator's "12 volt" charge to the engine batteries which was useful during a lot of short trips.
Lots of variables depending on your existing system (converter charger, etc.), battery capacity, useage and other charging options.
If you were to provide more details of the system and useage, someone will have extensive experience with the best way to operate. Always an interesting discussion even if you know it all, to educate those of us who don't. 
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jlis
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I appreciate all the feedback, and responses. I think when I 'wake' it up from its winter slumber that I will replace the coach batteries. They don't get a ton of use, but while we are driving and the kids are watching a show I noticed they were draining quicker then I had expected. Additionally looking at the date codes it appears they were made in 2006.
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
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I would suggest that you verify that the alternator is charging or at least getting powwer to the house batteries. A TV and vcr should not run down the batteries while driving. The alternator should keep up with them.
It is possible that the charge relay or diode based isolator is not working properly.
Easy test is to put voltmeter on house batteries. Take reading, thenstart vehicle, voltage should increase to a little over 13 volts.
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jlis
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Good point (enblethen). I will add this to the early to do list to ensure everything is operating correctly.
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ksg5000
Oregon
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Lastly -- a 92 rig is likely to have old fashion single stage converter which are known to be battery eaters. You can upgrade your power distribution center with a "smart converter" which doesn't eat batteries - last I looked a PD9245 ran about $115 and there are plenty of "how to" instructions on line to simplify installation --- worth a look.
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