[Richard and Rhonda]

Yes the house batteries are charged by the alternator when the engine is running. The ignition closes the merge switch.

The generator is cranked by the house batteries.

Your merge switch is bad. It's a common failure. Newell recommends yearly replacement.

To make it through the night. Take some heavy wire and jump around the merge switch. Crank your main engine. You should have enough juice to crank the genny. Charge the batteries using the gennie.

Be careful trying to charge low batteries with the engine. It will cook the alternator.

Replace the merge switch as soon as you can obviously.

Let us know how you make out.