Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Rob & Di on September 16, 2018, 11:23:39 am

Title: Auto-start
Post by: Rob & Di on September 16, 2018, 11:23:39 am
Our 2001 U270 has a 10 KW generator and Auto-start. We replaced the old Prosine inverter/charger with a Xantrex system about a year ago (Freedom SW 815-3012). We went on vacation about 4 weeks ago and left the couch connected to our 50-amp RV receptacle with the Auto-start on. I also turned off the 12-volt switch at the door entrance.  When we returned yesterday the generator was running and the volt meter showed 13.5 volts.
I immediately shut generator off and turned Auto-start off.  After a few minutes I turned Auto-start back on and generator did not come on.  I checked the hour meter and surmised that the generator had run for around 90 hours. I know that there was no power failure during the 4 weeks as we have a clock that always blinks when that occurs.  There was no fault light on the inside panel.
Left Auto-start on overnight and generator never turned on again.
We never had this problem with the old Prosine inverter/charger and I'm thinking that the new one might have something to do with this. It's owner's manual mentions that this system has an auto-start function.  Not sure how the Auto-start switch on the dash board interacts with the new Xantrex system.
Suggestions?
Thanks,
Robert
Title: Re: Auto-start
Post by: DavidS on September 16, 2018, 12:04:45 pm
The autostart on mine is a separate box that controls when it comes on at a certain voltage. 12.2 I believe... Maybe when you turned off the 12v switch you turned off the inverter charger? only a guess.
Title: Re: Auto-start
Post by: Rob & Di on September 16, 2018, 12:35:53 pm
Nope ... we always turn off 12 volt switch.  Inverter switch is on the panel.

Robert
Title: Re: Auto-start
Post by: DavidS on September 16, 2018, 12:41:38 pm
Nope ... we always turn off 12 volt switch.  Inverter switch is on the panel.

Robert

Who replaced it? You? are you sure it was connected the exact same way? Is the inverter tied into the generator with its own auto start? Have you left before in the last year and the generator has not come on with auto start (after the inverter change out)?

Could be a gremlin and the auto start is doing what it wants..
Title: Re: Auto-start
Post by: Tim Fiedler on September 16, 2018, 01:11:21 pm
If OE autostart still working, I suspect autostart feature on new inverter/charger not hooked up, unless that was specified or done at install Was going to add quite a few $$$ to my install price at AM solar, so I went with leaving OEM one in place.
Title: Re: Auto-start
Post by: AC7880 on September 16, 2018, 01:59:30 pm
If OE autostart still working, I suspect autostart feature on new inverter/charger not hooked up, unless that was specified or done at install Was going to add quite a few $$$ to my install price at AM solar, so I went with leaving OEM one in place.
We did the same as Tim. OE autostart still in effect, Victron not hooked up.
Title: Re: Auto-start
Post by: Rob & Di on September 16, 2018, 02:12:30 pm
MOT installed the inverter and we have every confidence in them.  To our knowledge the auto-start has not come on since we had the inverter replaced except for this incident. 

Went on a trip to Michigan in June for several weeks and everything seemed to work properly.  We have left for multiple weeks (in July) and had no problem.  It is a real mystery to us.

Thanks for your replies.

Diann

P.S.  We are leaving for a week or so and will check generator hours when we return.
Title: Re: Auto-start
Post by: sedelange on September 16, 2018, 02:13:07 pm
Did you have your coach leveled?  On mine, the level air pump was worn out and running too much. The auto start trigger voltage was too close to the charge set point.  When the air pump would came on, it would trigger the auto start.  Generator would run for 4 hours and shut down. When I replaced air pump, the problem went away n
Title: Re: Auto-start
Post by: hdff on September 16, 2018, 09:29:54 pm
Did you rebuild or replace the pump? If you replaced what did you replace it with?
Title: Re: Auto-start
Post by: Rob & Di on November 04, 2018, 10:06:56 am
I've been checking the hour meter often since the incident. The generator has never come on by itself. I'm still perplexed but don't plan to do anything about it unless the problem recurs. A belated thanks for all your help.
Robert