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Another Auto Start Question/Issue
This is about my Auto Start system. By the time my generator tries to start, it seem there’s not enough juice in the batteries to do the job. Happily the last few times this has happened, I’ve been in the coach and have been able to start the DDEC which in turn gave me enough voltage for the generator to finally fire. Previous to this, I wasn’t around and wound up replacing the starter, a relay and some wiring. $$$. Did not fully understand the cause but I do now.
My question is how can I change the starting voltage OR are my batteries just too weak? Marathon generator settings can’t be changed apparently…..I think I have to change out the batteries….. -
10 Replies
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Are you saying that the generator start gets it’s power from the house batteries?
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Ron, with all due respect your 2008 Marathon is built with a separate generator starting battery.
Marathon mounts them in places which are not always easy to find. Most are boxed in cabinets missed when searching. Your 2008 would have a AGM battery small in size somewhere near your generator.
Maybe someone with a like coach year can suggest where to look. Leon, at Marathon – Coberg is another source for location.
Marathon also mounts a small solar panel on roof to trickle charge while your parked outdoors.
Changing the generator battery is usually suggested at same time replacing your house AGM battery bank.
Source for this Lifeline battery replacement could be purchased from Trans Specialist aka Truk.
AL
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My battery is in the same compartment as the the generator in a laminate enclosure. The solar panel on the roof is effectively useless so I added a trickle charger mounted in the adjacent bay where there is a convenience outlet next to the MDP. Seems like I have replaced this battery about every 3-4 years.
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Ditto on the battery, just replaced mine with a GPL 2400T and it’s located with the house batteries above the curb side drives. Buddy did his as well, his is a 2007 Marathon H and also located with house batteries behind rear fender. Mine had a 1600T and I up sized it to a group 24.
As to your autostart, that is programmable with your Trace 4024 inverters. I use 24 volts as my start point. You do have to understand the inverter settings to do this and Marathon will suggest you leave as is. They put a chip in the inverters for their specific parameters.
If you need a new Lifeline, contact me. Lifeline Batteries
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I am not familiar with the how or why Marathon has set up the generator start batteries but I have an observation about a way to maintain one for the life of the battery.
Liberty has its generator start battery connected to the house batteries but with an isolator between them. The advantage of that is as long as the inveters are maintaining the house batteries, the generator battery is also being maintained.
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Jon,
What year did Liberty start doing that ?
TIA
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Ron
The only way your generator will not start is if both gen and house batteries are down. You have an isolater between the gen battery and house batteries.
The Gen battery on yours should be in a box in the bay across from the Generator.
Later
bv
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I don’t know what year Rocky. Apparently Bernie is aware Marathon does the same thing so what I said is not news.
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On my 2007 (#1080) the battery is over the drive axel on the curb side along with the house batteries.
You should have a generator jumper switch in the drivers panel next to the drivers seat.
Before I replaced the battery I would have to use the jump start button on that panel with the coach engine running.
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Just received the following in response to my question to Leon:
“Gen battery is located in the bay opposite the generator, there should be a carpeted wall that you will need to remove and find the battery, we have an isolator that goes between house and gen battery, and if that unit
Fails, then the gen battery goes down the same time as the house does.”So tomorrow, I’ll pull the battery, charge and test it, then look at the isolator I guess. Although I have no idea how to check it. Maybe if the battery is good, I’ll just replace it.
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