Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: joeszeidel on February 18, 2018, 12:50:23 pm

Title: Salesman switch
Post by: joeszeidel on February 18, 2018, 12:50:23 pm
With my coach plugged in the switch works fine. However when the coach is not plugged in the switch doesn't turn on 12 volts which wont let me start the generator. Any Ideas? 
Title: Re: Salesman switch
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on February 18, 2018, 01:22:48 pm
On our coach (wiring diagram) the power to generator start circuit comes off the "input" side of the salesman switch.  In other words, according to our diagram it should not matter if the switch is open or closed - the generator should still start.  I have never tested this theory, because our salesman switch is always left "ON".  Your coach may be wired differently.

You could try tracing the power from the battery to the salesman switch.  With inverter "OFF", check for good voltage at coach (house) batteries.  Then check at the 175A fuse on your main 12V panel, and at the 90A auto-reset circuit breaker.  If the voltage is good there, it is a straight shot to the salesman switch.  See your wiring diagram for details.
Title: Re: Salesman switch
Post by: Roland Begin on February 18, 2018, 02:33:48 pm
It sounds like your twelve volt system is being powered by AC, through a converter rather then the batteries. Have you checked the batteries?

Roland
Title: Re: Salesman switch
Post by: joeszeidel on February 18, 2018, 02:41:10 pm
Roland would I check house or engine batteries?
Title: Re: Salesman switch
Post by: P. Wyatt Sabourin on February 18, 2018, 03:43:04 pm
Joe, you said " when the coach is not plugged in the (salesman) switch doesn't turn on 12 volts which wont let me start the generator."

On my 96 U320, the starter for the generator gets 12v power via an 0000 cable which is connected to the positive post on the house battery bank, so has no connection to the salesman switch. So, generator will start with salesman switch "on" or "off". 

The salesman switch gets 12v power from the 90 amp fuse on the driver side rear wall of the 6 foot wide basement storage bay.

Title: Re: Salesman switch
Post by: joeszeidel on February 18, 2018, 03:53:08 pm
Wyatt, I will first look for the fuse for the salesmen sw. Then will look for a loose battery connection. My charging voltage is high which maybe from a loose connection which intern might keep the generator from starting.
Title: Re: Salesman switch
Post by: Roland Begin on February 18, 2018, 08:51:55 pm
Roland would I check house or engine batteries?
Answered by Wyatt.

Roland
Title: Re: Salesman switch
Post by: joeszeidel on February 19, 2018, 03:27:57 pm
Wyatt, found the 90amp fuse for the salesman sw. It will not let me reset it. The button is in the utility bay. I t appears that I need to access from the larger bay. Do I need to remove all that electrical to access the fuse. Also my house batteries have only app. 7 volts and wont charge. So they appear to be toast. They are only 3-4 years old.
that's why the generator wont start.
Title: Re: Salesman switch
Post by: Barry & Cindy on February 19, 2018, 05:23:41 pm
Of the three 90-amp breakers on top of bay wall, only one has a manual reset, with button available from other side wall in a drilled hole.  Other two breaker are auto reset and do not have a back-side reset button.
Title: Re: Salesman switch
Post by: joeszeidel on February 19, 2018, 05:54:03 pm
Barry, based on what you said then I believe the one in question is the center one. which I will try to remove and replace. 
Title: Re: Salesman switch
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on February 19, 2018, 06:03:15 pm
...I believe the one in question is the center one. which I will try to remove and replace.
On our coach the center (manual reset) breaker is a Klixon CDLM-90.  The other two (auto reset) breakers are Klixon CDLA-90.

Klixon CDLM Series Circuit Breakers (http://www.carbonbrush.com/klixonCDLM.htm)

Klixon CDLA Series Circuit Breakers (http://www.carbonbrush.com/klixonCDLA.htm)
Title: Re: Salesman switch
Post by: joeszeidel on February 19, 2018, 06:19:38 pm
Chuck thank you very much for that info. You saved me hours of time. Will go to Alliance coach in wildwood fl to see if they have it. And will install at lazydays resort this weekend.
Title: Re: Salesman switch
Post by: Barry & Cindy on February 19, 2018, 06:33:25 pm
Joe, I may have missed earlier discussion, but why do you think the 90-amp breaker is broken.  Do you get continunity between the posts, with cables removed?
Title: Re: Salesman switch
Post by: joeszeidel on February 19, 2018, 06:43:06 pm
Have not tried that but I will. The button itself is out. When I push it it barely  moves. Shouldn't it go in like a GFI.
Title: Re: Salesman switch
Post by: Barry & Cindy on February 19, 2018, 08:14:45 pm
Don't compare button to anything else.  It is possible the breaker is ok and will not reset because it has not 'popped' out.  Breakers are a switch and will show continuity/closed if not-tripped and will show open if tripped.  But meter may respond to the circuit connected.
You could also test voltage on both sides of breaker with probe to ground.  They should be the same voltage on both sides if breaker is closed.
Title: Re: Salesman switch
Post by: joeszeidel on February 20, 2018, 05:50:46 pm
Thanks Barry, I will check voltage on each side. That's easier than disconnecting and doing continuity with wires disconnected.