Your generator produces 4000 watts of power so I don’t think it is correct to say that running the motorhome engine to charge the batteries that provide power to the inverter is the same. I get it that the engine provides enough power to charge the batteries and the AC power ultimately produced is the same. How long that engine alternator will live regularly being asked to charge low batteries may need to be factored. What about high draw components like microwave and roof air? Do they work off your inverter when the engine is running? I suppose if you don’t have those or don’t use them, you really do not need a generator. Lots of folks don’t have a generator and figure out how to manage their power needs. You can ditch the generator reducing weight and gaining storage space. Maybe add a small Honda portable for those times you need more.

You mention taking your RV to Camping World for generator annual or 150 hr maintenance. Is that were your mechanic works?

I have seen topics in other forums with the same symptom you have and as I recall it didn't require dropping the generator or a problem with the wiring. I have not paid that much attention to what fixes this kind of symptom so I'm not much help there. If there aren't knowledgeable replies here you could join the Escapees forum www.escapees.com/ and see what responses you get there.

BTW, have you looked at your generator owners manual? There should be and error code display or a blinking light where the number and sequence of the blinking light gives some good info about where to start looking for what is wrong.

I apologize. I neglected to mention (a) I have 2 solar panels on the roof feeding 5 marine batteries to augment my inverter and (b) both the mechanic and I saw at least some of the rat/mouse chewed wires.  I wonder if that might have changed some of your responses (which I appreciate).

bikerv1369 wrote:

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I apologize. I neglected to mention (a) I have 2 solar panels on the roof feeding 5 marine batteries to augment my inverter and (b) both the mechanic and I saw at least some of the rat/mouse chewed wires.  I wonder if that might have changed some of your responses (which I appreciate).

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 It totally depends on your booddocking style.  We have 600AH and an RV (not residential) fridge. So 600AH is right for us.  We have 720 watts of solar.  720 watts (or 800 watts for that matter)  will not totally recharge the a depleted bank without the generator to give them the initial bulk charge and yes, my system is operating properly. Totally metered.

It depends on how much battery power one uses.  In our case we need and want the generator (5500 watts) and I wouldn't have a rig without at least 4,000 to run at least one AC unit.  Even a 2,000 watt Honda can not fully recharge the batteries if used down to 50% to 60% level which is common - for us.  The charger wants too many amps and one has to throttle the smaller generators down to allow the Honda at 2,000 watts to keep up with the demand.  Seen this over many days.

All of this, again, "depends."  There is no hard and fast rule.  If you don't use hardly any 12 volt power that's one thing.  We do.  So "it depends" and as noted sometimes it gets hot and I want some AC to cool things off.  So that means a generator for us.

BTW, I agree, I'd get a second opinion on the problem.  'Don't have any idea why Camping World would say its wiring based on what you said.  I have zero faith in that evaluation. Sounds like fuel starvation (fuel filter?) to me assuming its gas.  Low LP tank level assuming its LP.  Just my opinion.

YMMV

Bill

I started this thread by asking:

IS AN RV GENERATOR WORTH IT?

The answer seems clear:

YES, IT IS.

Even with my solar/inverter setup, I cannot run the coach a/c or microwave without the generator, and without sunlight I can't run much else without running the engine.  There's also the RV resale value to consider.  So yes, I will be contacting Flight Systems and repairing my generator.

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR INPUT!

bikerv1369 wrote:

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CORRECTION: NO, For me RV "Generators" are NOT worth it.

I previously posted that I would be repairing my Onan Microlite 4000 generator. After reading this article and using an inverter generator, I realize the Onan is a "conventional generator" and old technology. I'm dumping it and here's why:

yamahaef2000is.com/conventional-generators-vs-inverter-generators/

For those of you with hands-on "inverter generator" experience, I welcome your advice as to which make/model I should buy.

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 A couple of things to consider.  First,  the site you link to is an advertisement for the Yamaha Generator, of course it will be better at that site.  The second thing is that they are comparing the Yamaha generator to a non-name brand portable generator.  I don't know what kind of regulation a Onan generator has but I'm pretty sure that it's better than the $500-$1,000 portable models you pick up at the local big box store.  If you go to their web site they claim frequency regulation of better than 5% which is what the Yamaha site claims for their generators. While the Onan does cost about 50% more than the same wattage for the yamaha portable generators the specs are about the same and the Onan has a MUCH longer run time as it draws from the coach fuel tank, likely has autostart and can be controlled from inside the coach.  My point being that you are asking if an RV generator is worth having and is it worth having if you can get the same power from idling his coach motor?  I think that the appropriate answer is it depend on the convenience you want.  The second thing to consider is does the coach produce sufficient amperage to supply the same wattage as the Onan generator.  Most automotive type alternators don't produce enough amperage.  For the coach engine to produce the same 4,000 watts as the Onan it would have to put out 333 or so amps, a pretty tall order for an automotive alternator, but maybe Ford has a really big alternator.  Just my thoughts, but I think you might be heading down a bad road.