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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: squeezer on February 09, 2016, 02:48:07 pm

Title: Generator trouble shooting.
Post by: squeezer on February 09, 2016, 02:48:07 pm
Happy New Year Everybody!


OK I have what I hope is a quick question.

What does the startup sequence look like on the led indicators of the Dynagen ES52 controller?


Backing up a bit...
We took a quick trip out to the beach the other day and the generator wouldn't start.  Cranks fine with white smoke suggesting no glow plug action. I put a meter on the glow plug bus bar and got almost zero volts during cranking. Figured this was one of the relays so I opened up the box and replaced all three for testing...  No change, I then put the meter on terminal 12 of the ES52 and did not see any voltage... I also noticed that the pre-heat light does not light up.

All these things indicate the ES52 is bad but I am wondering if there is an output protection feature which kicks in if the glow plugs are bad?  Not a huge deal to replace glow plugs as a routine maintenance item but I don't want to replace the ES52 if its not bad.

Thoughts and comments are welcoms.

Cheers

Chris 
Title: Re: Generator trouble shooting.
Post by: Mike Leary (RIP) on February 09, 2016, 03:06:59 pm
Link to your Dynagen ? I have no clue what's happened, but our Onans started every time in cold weather without  glow plugs. A good piece of advice is to start the big engine first and then hit the gen-set just in case the starting battery system is low. Let us know. M
Title: Re: Generator trouble shooting.
Post by: joeszeidel on February 09, 2016, 03:15:05 pm
I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer but did you hit the pre-heat button prior to the start button.
Title: Re: Generator trouble shooting.
Post by: Mike Leary (RIP) on February 09, 2016, 03:21:32 pm
I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer but did you hit the pre-heat button prior to the start button.
So, do the newer gen-sets have glow plugs and is THAT what the pre-heat button is for?
Title: Re: Generator trouble shooting.
Post by: joeszeidel on February 09, 2016, 03:37:51 pm
Mike mine is a 95 and all I can tell you is I push my pre-heat for a few seconds and then hit the gen start button and away we go. She starts easily.
Title: Re: Generator trouble shooting.
Post by: Dave M (RIP) on February 09, 2016, 03:39:50 pm
The manual for the DynaGen ES52:

http://www.dynagen.ca/sites/default/files/Support%20Files/ES52%20User%20Manual.pdf
Title: Re: Generator trouble shooting.
Post by: craneman on February 09, 2016, 04:06:22 pm
Happy New Year Everybody!


OK I have what I hope is a quick question.

What does the start up sequence look like on the led indicators of the Dynagen ES52 controller?


Backing up a bit...
We took a quick trip out to the beach the other day and the generator wouldn't start.  Cranks fine with white smoke suggesting no glow plug action. I put a meter on the glow plug bus bar and got almost zero volts during cranking. Figured this was one of the relays so I opened up the box and replaced all three for testing...  No change, I then put the meter on terminal 12 of the ES52 and did not see any voltage... I also noticed that the pre-heat light does not light up.

All these things indicate the ES52 is bad but I am wondering if there is an output protection feature which kicks in if the glow plugs are bad?  Not a huge deal to replace glow plugs as a routine maintenance item but I don't want to replace the ES52 if its not bad.

Thoughts and comments are welcoms.

Cheers

Chris
When you activate the start switch the relay connects the fuel pump and the glow plugs. after a delay it activates the starter. the glow plugs don't stay on with the engine running. When you were checking voltage with the starter motor turning the glow plug voltage would be low. Use the volt meter on a glow plug after you start the sequence before the starter kicks in. I had a similar problem and it was the fuel line sucking air.
Title: Re: Generator trouble shooting.
Post by: squeezer on February 10, 2016, 12:26:25 pm
Thanks for the replies guys...

I might not have been clear enough however.

On the ES52 there are 6 led indicators.  Upon the startup sequence my "preheat" light is not turning on...  I am trying to determine if this means I have a bad ES52, bad glow plugs, or a wiring fault of some kind.

Title: Re: Generator trouble shooting.
Post by: Dave M (RIP) on February 10, 2016, 01:02:27 pm
You should have 12VDC on terminal #12 when the glow plug timer is active, if not think of replacement of the ES52. If there is voltage, then the ES52 would appear good.
Title: Re: Generator trouble shooting.
Post by: squeezer on May 31, 2016, 11:45:02 am
A quick update on this old post.

I replaced the ES52 and all is well.