should be the house batteries. sounds like your house batteries are discharged. they don't have the power to start the generator. when you start the engine the engine alternator is supplying power needed to start the generator. determine why your house batteries are discharged. sounds like they are not getting recharged. this could be for a variety of reasons:
batteries are shot
battery disconnect switch is set to disconnect them
converter is not providing a 12 volt recharge current (blown reverse polarity fuses)
converter is blown
converter is not receiving 120 vac power
you said you are not real familiar with electricity so i will omit the normal comment about taking a voltage measurement at the batteries. try this. turn the generator off and go turn on some 12 volt device such as some lights. if they come in they will be drawing power from the batteries. look at the battery level idiot lights and see what they say. now start the engine and start the generator. then stop the engine so only the generator is running and go back and turn the same lights on and check the idiot lights. are they brighter? are all the idiot lights now on? if the generator is producing power and it is getting through the converter the lights and idiot lights should be at max.
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2015 cardinal model 3825fl
2015 dodge ram 3500 dually
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