Safari motor coach 1994 S37

[ApexMaster 35]

Hi guys
My friend is thinking of buying this RV it has 72K with 2600 hours . It is almost in mint condition other then issues I will ask for help on.
The owner connected a battery charger to house batteries and blew out 2 batteries somehow.  The chassis batteries ate good and only 2 years old. I was able to start old Cummins and showed 14.2v on my volt meter at idle.
I noticed the RV has a generator and a plug to connect to outside power.
I was not able to start the generator, does it run on house batteries or chassis?
Also my friends is taking this RV on road test in 1 day and we need to know if we can connect RV to outside power or run generator without any house batterie?
I can't find any schematics and see how the RV is wired up if these house batteries are must or he can stay on generator or plug power?

 

[Henry J Fate]

The generator starter is probably wired to the house batteries. It is generally better to have batteries connected while the converter is running but you should be able to power the house with the converter only. Be sure the battery cables for the house batteries are protected from shorting out.

 

[ApexMaster 35]

thank you for the reply.
So i tried to start the Generator i think it is made by Onan? but I got nothing, again maybe i missed the main on switch. i simply pressed the ON button on the front of generator and nothing happened. again i have the house batteries disconnected. does the generator start from chassis or house batteries?
also what about the house wire to power the RV while parked, can he just plug it inn and live off that with no house batteries?

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

In an older model coach like that, it is rather likely the genset starts from the house batteries, but there is no industry-standard way of wiring them.  In some coaches of that age, the generator even has its own separate battery.


Yes, he can "just plug it in", as long as the cables for the house batteries are not shorted and any auxiliary wires that were connected to the positive post are connected to the positive cable. Frankly, though, it would be better if he installed at least one 12v battery, even an older one.  That ties the system together the way they are designed to work and acts as a buffer to help stabilize the 12v system.

 

[ApexMaster 35]

Will do

 

[ApexMaster 35]

The engine is also coming up for service. I see it's a Cummins and it says Cummins intercooled but I can't see which model Cummins do you know in 94 which Cummins they used