Sounds like somebody has a new RV to sort out??
Welcome to the group and hope you find it a good place to get some of those small details worked out!
You did a good job on getting us MOST of the info we need to give you the correct answers but for real details when we look at drawings, we also need to know which model of Era 170 as it looks like there are six!
But in looking, I think the answers for those questions are going to be pretty much the same, so I will give you a link to choose which if you want to look at the whole picture but throw out some ideas of what I think is correct on all the models.
This should get you to the correct model if you sort it down to which and then look at the "110 installation diagrams" if you need more more or the whole thing.
https://www.winnebago.com/Files/File...ram/Wiring.htm
It reads something like a road map. If you start at the cord or generator, they both feed to a transfer switch, which will choose which is active and pass the power on to the load center where it then spreads out to all the smaller breakers, feeding each set of wires and items.
So that part is automatic and takes care of which to use! Cord or generator should feed it all but there are some things which will control different items in the different RV when you ask for too much power. For instance there is a load shedding item which will feed power to an AC heater OR the air concitioner but not both at the same time! But that changes with which model!
So you may want to sort that down to which model you have?
But I see no mention of an inverter? Perhaps you have the wrong term? An inverter takes battery and makes AC, while a converter does the opposite and uses AC to make DC to charge your batteries.
Normally the converter will keep you supplied with DC for RV use and at the same time work to keep the coach batteries charged while you are plugged into power or generator running. Think of the batteries as a "pantry" where excess is stored for when you may need it?
Then when you shut off or disconnect from power, the batteries will run the inside DC stuff as long as they last!
When you have used much of the coach battery power, there should be a pretty full chassis battery waiting to start the engine. They are set up to be seperated when camped but connected together when the RV engine is running! MAGIC!
So when you find the coach batteries may be down and you want to start the generator, it may be dragging and they are often kind of slow to start.
But you have that seperate chassis battery that should still be good after driving in to camp.
That makes it pretty good thinking to always start the RV engine first as it starts quicker/better and THEN start the generator to run long enough to get some charge back into the coach batteries!
The engine alternator charges the chassis but as we drive and they are connected together, it is also big enough to put some charge into both chassis and coach! It is a somewhat slow chemical process and if you use the camper for 8 hours it can't fully recharge them in one hour!
The operation is somewhat a two way deal! The RV engine will connect them together while running to charge both. The button on the dash can work the other way and if you have a weak chassis/start battery, pushing the switch can let the coach battery work to "jump start" the engine!
1. AC outlets are hot only when feeding them AC from generator or cord If I am correct and you have no inverter. OR has somebody added an inverter at some point? If added, it may be that you have some oulet fed only when that inverter is on?? But we have no info on added items!
2. Yes, they should charge on either generator or cord!
3. Yes, Start RV, then start generator as best method! The engine normally starts much better than the generator so less chance of running all down before one starts but once started engine will charge both or generator will charge only coach if engine is then turned off!
Enjoy!
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