EDIT - I realize I used the wrong terms for the batteries which made it extra confusing. It was 2AM and there was no coffee. Updated my post.
On a recent trip I have managed to encounter all of these conditions and in none of them did the emergency start button on my dashboard do anything.
- dead vehicle (chassis) battery, fully charged house battery
- somewhat dead vehicle battery (headlights shine but not enough to crank over), fully charged house battery
- fully charged vehicle battery, dead house battery - possibly not ENTIRELY drained but too low for lights or steps. A fan seemed to run weakly.
In each case I held down the emergency start button (it's a spring-loaded rocker switch) and either pressed the button for generator start or turned the key in the ignition. I hear clicking.
First off - which emergency is the switch for - dead vehicle battery or dead house battery?
How do I begin troubleshooting? It's supposed to get me out of one of those conditions, right?
For dead vehicle battery, I got a jump from a really nice couple from Tennessee and driving around charged the battery.
My house battery did not charge while I was driving. I couldn't start my generator to see if running it would charge the house battery. Is shore power the only way to recharge the house battery? (I also have solar panels but they only trickle charge and they were suuuuuppppper dirty so basically no help with dead/extremely low house battery.)
Any recommendations on neat upgrades that might save me from myself?
On a recent trip I have managed to encounter all of these conditions and in none of them did the emergency start button on my dashboard do anything.
- dead vehicle (chassis) battery, fully charged house battery
- somewhat dead vehicle battery (headlights shine but not enough to crank over), fully charged house battery
- fully charged vehicle battery, dead house battery - possibly not ENTIRELY drained but too low for lights or steps. A fan seemed to run weakly.
In each case I held down the emergency start button (it's a spring-loaded rocker switch) and either pressed the button for generator start or turned the key in the ignition. I hear clicking.
First off - which emergency is the switch for - dead vehicle battery or dead house battery?
How do I begin troubleshooting? It's supposed to get me out of one of those conditions, right?
For dead vehicle battery, I got a jump from a really nice couple from Tennessee and driving around charged the battery.
My house battery did not charge while I was driving. I couldn't start my generator to see if running it would charge the house battery. Is shore power the only way to recharge the house battery? (I also have solar panels but they only trickle charge and they were suuuuuppppper dirty so basically no help with dead/extremely low house battery.)
Any recommendations on neat upgrades that might save me from myself?