Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Discussions => Topic started by: Paully on July 30, 2017, 10:12:39 pm

Title: Generators
Post by: Paully on July 30, 2017, 10:12:39 pm
There seems to be more variety with generators in Foretravels than in the engines..

What's better? Diesel or LP? How big a generator do folks like? I've seen everything from 6k to 10k. If it's LP, can you still run it while driving? I've heard a lot of people shut the gas off for driving for safety reasons.
Title: Re: Generators
Post by: craneman on July 30, 2017, 10:22:44 pm
It is more of a date issue. The newer ones are all diesel. The size of the motorhome determines the size of the generator. It's a personal matter on leaving the propane on. On my earlier coaches I left it on. The refrigerator needed it to stay cold back then, the electric elements were not as good as they are now.
Title: Re: Generators
Post by: larry reed on July 31, 2017, 09:43:52 am
We have a 10 kw, gen set in our 2002 U 270.  It will run all day sitting still, but stops as soon as you move ( can't drive with it running )
I just changed the low oil pressure sw ., and new oil, and filter.
 It still stops as soon as you start to move
has anyone else had this happen? 
it shuts down with a low oil fault even, when it is full of oil. when you move.
Title: Re: Generators
Post by: craneman on July 31, 2017, 05:10:02 pm
I don't know why you're having this problem. In the summer ours is always on for the roof air. Many posts of members driving with it on for the same reason. Have you called Powertech and talked to Jeff about it?
Title: Re: Generators
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on July 31, 2017, 05:23:01 pm
We frequently drive with the generator running and both ACs on. Good idea to make sure both the temperature and fuel pressure are stable and where they should be. Wonder if either one of them could be responsible for the shutdown?

Pierce
Title: Re: Generators
Post by: George on July 31, 2017, 05:32:09 pm
I had that happen on a new demo way back in 1991. The factory added a deflector air flap under the body in front of the hot air exhaust so it could flow better. Helped temps.
Title: Re: Generators
Post by: John44 on July 31, 2017, 06:02:36 pm
If it shuts down on low oil level,unplug that shutdown and try and run,if it runs good it's the shutdown end device,try that with the
pressure and all the ones that you think are shutting you down.
Title: Re: Generators
Post by: Paully on July 31, 2017, 06:54:25 pm
Can you run an LP generator while driving?
Title: Re: Generators
Post by: Tom Lang on July 31, 2017, 07:04:42 pm
A few years ago, I had my generator worked on, and it had the same problem when I drove off.  Quit running within a block of the driveway.  They thought it was oil viscosity, so did an oil change, no change.  They also tried changing the oil pressure sensor and again no change.  Tried the temp sensor too for good measure, no change. They also tried burping the coolant, same result.

And these guys were generator pros.

Finally I got the FT book out and found it had a coolant level sensor wired to another sensor.  I had them swap out the float switch, and the problem went away.
Title: Re: Generators
Post by: wolfe10 on July 31, 2017, 07:34:07 pm
Can you run an LP generator while driving?

Sure.