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© Erwin Hymer Group North America, Inc
There is no required maintenance for the added alternator. Note, however, that your vehicle's serpentine belt (the belt which drives the vehicle's alternator,
water pump, power steering, etc.) will be different than the one for similar vehicles without the added alternator, so carrying a spare belt may be prudent in case
you have a serpentine belt failure while traveling.
Your OEM engine alternator charges your OEM battery and is completely separated from the added alternator that charges the coach battery. The systems are
separate so that when using electricity in your coach you will never run down your OEM battery. This is important so that your OEM battery is always fully
charged and ready to start the vehicle engine
.
Engine Generator
Your vehicle is equipped with an engine generator. The engine generator is mounted on the vehicle engine and is operated by idling the vehicle engine. If your
coach batteries are low, start the vehicle engine and let it idle until the batteries are sufficiently charged. Usually 30 minutes of idling are enough to restore
moderately depleted coach batteries to a useful level of charge.
Always close the rear windows of the vehicle and turn off the roof ventilation fan when the engine generator is charging the batteries to avoid exhaust entering
the vehicle's interior.
The engine generator is charging the coach batteries whenever the vehicle's engine is in operation, which means you are also charging them as you drive. You
will arrive at your camping destination with fully charged coach batteries.
There is no required maintenance for the engine generator. Note, however, that your vehicle's serpentine belt (the belt which drives the vehicle's alternator,
water pump, power steering, etc.) will be different than the one for similar vehicles without the engine generator, so carrying a spare belt may be prudent in
case you have a serpentine belt failure while traveling.
2000 Watt Inverter
The inverter provides 110VAC (household current) for the outlets in your Aktiv, primarily the ones running the tv. It will also power the microwave and will
run the A/C. The inverter is configured at the factory for the batteries and power sources in your Aktiv. Please do not change any settings without consulting
the factory.
Shore Power
Shore power is the name for power supplied by a utility company that you plug into to provide power
to your Aktiv.
See ‘HOWTO: Shore Power’ in
this manual for a concise guide to plugging in and unplugging from
shore power.
The shore power cord is stored in the bed cabinet (underneath of bed) when not in use. Take the
cord to the outside of the vehicle and plug into the receptacle on the
driver’s side of the van and the other end into the campground/power receptacle.
See the
‘Outside your Aktiv’ section
of this manual for location. The switchover from shore power to inverter is automatic.