Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Subsilked on October 11, 2018, 07:15:05 pm

Title: 86 GV, generator runs well but NO electricity
Post by: Subsilked on October 11, 2018, 07:15:05 pm
Its been cold here in Boulder, CO.. snow last 2 days.. went out to start up the coach and run the Gen Set for 1/2 hour...

Gen Set started up right away but needed to help a bit with a manual choke ..  running at good RPM.. but about 20 minutes later noticed that the Microwave clock was not blinking.. refrigerator was not connection to AC power and the roof AC would not come on... BUT all lights, water pump and wall plugs are all working.... 

Not sure what this means...      we don't have 30amp or 50 amp power at home to plug into shore power to check the systems away from the Gen Set.

Any ideas ??? 
Title: Re: 86 GV, generator runs well but NO electricity
Post by: lenspeiser on October 11, 2018, 07:20:15 pm
You might check the breakers on your genset. The wall plugs, pump, and lights would all work off whatever 12v you have in your batteries.

Len
Title: Re: 86 GV, generator runs well but NO electricity
Post by: Subsilked on October 11, 2018, 07:22:36 pm
You might check the breakers on your genset. The wall plugs, pump, and lights would all work off whatever 12v you have in your batteries.

Len

OK..  just replaced the fuse on the Gen Set last week when i could not start the generator.. fuse was blown...  i installed a 20V fuse which i think is over sized.  Could this be the issue.  Wrong fuse size ???  Breakers under the bed are all good...

Title: Re: 86 GV, generator runs well but NO electricity
Post by: craneman on October 11, 2018, 07:28:11 pm
The fuse would have nothing to do with you 120 volt circuit.
Title: Re: 86 GV, generator runs well but NO electricity
Post by: lenspeiser on October 11, 2018, 07:29:02 pm
An oversized fuse would tend to not blow as quick as it should. On our genset we have two "breakers" mounted on the unit that I have had to reset once. I am not sure on your model what they have. Sorry, but hopefully someone with more grey cells than I have will jump in here and help.

Len
Title: Re: 86 GV, generator runs well but NO electricity
Post by: Subsilked on October 11, 2018, 09:22:59 pm
An oversized fuse would tend to not blow as quick as it should. On our genset we have two "breakers" mounted on the unit that I have had to reset once. I am not sure on your model what they have. Sorry, but hopefully someone with more grey cells than I have will jump in here and help.

Len

Thanks Len.  Went out and looked at the side of the unit and found (2) " switches" that were not what looked like breakers.  Simply toggle switches like a light switch... they were in the ON position.  I switched both to OFF and back to ON and i will see what this does...  nothing in the original book for trouble shooting for a running Gen Set but no power flowing to coach..
Title: Re: 86 GV, generator runs well but NO electricity
Post by: Old phart phred on October 11, 2018, 09:25:11 pm
The generator circuit breaker is on the right side of the box where your fuse was back behind the wiring connection plug, you can cycle it. Automatic transfer switch could also be weak and cold, and not switching. I ran (3) 300 watt heaters in the coach last winter on a hd 12 ga.115 v cord after draining and winterizing the water and waste systems kept interior above 42 degrees. You may need 4 in Boulder.
Title: Re: 86 GV, generator runs well but NO electricity
Post by: Subsilked on October 11, 2018, 10:07:42 pm
The generator circuit breaker is on the right side of the box where your fuse was back behind the wiring connection plug, you can cycle it. Automatic transfer switch could also be weak and cold, and not switching. I ran (3) 300 watt heaters in the coach last winter on a hd 12 ga.115 v cord after draining and winterizing the water and waste systems kept interior above 42 degrees. You may need 4 in Boulder.

Thanks.... would running the Gen Set warm up the transfer switch to allow power to flow thru the system to appliances ??

Would i need to keep the basement bay " warmer " in order to keep the system in condition to allow power to the coach appliances ?
Title: Re: 86 GV, generator runs well but NO electricity
Post by: Subsilked on October 11, 2018, 10:08:33 pm
Thanks.... would running the Gen Set warm up the transfer switch to allow power to flow thru the system to appliances ??

Would i need to keep the basement bay " warmer " in order to keep the system in condition to allow power to the coach appliances ?

Should i start Gen Set and let it run and than cycle the breaker switches....???
Title: Re: 86 GV, generator runs well but NO electricity
Post by: lenspeiser on October 12, 2018, 06:13:22 am
Sub,
Our coaches are completely different animals, but maybe I can help you guess through this. My transfer switch is located in the engine bay. I don't know if being cold will prevent it from working, but maybe cranking the engine and warming the bay will help if that is the problem ( assuming that yours is located like ours)

You can also search the forum for how to test the transfer switch ( ATS) and maybe that will help.

Hope this is of some help.

Len
Title: Re: 86 GV, generator runs well but NO electricity
Post by: stump on October 12, 2018, 08:21:13 am
How about post a picture of your generator and the model number. Some of us techey fellows might be able to help you if we can actually see what you are dealing with. There should be a circuit breaker on the generator itself. You know they have to be turned all the way off and then back on to reset them.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 86 GV, generator runs well but NO electricity
Post by: nitehawk on October 12, 2018, 08:42:04 am
Reach around the side of the start/stop panel with the little fuse on it and you will feel the circuit breaker behind the front panel. Ours is on the right side as I face the generator.
Title: Re: 86 GV, generator runs well but NO electricity
Post by: 1985 on October 17, 2018, 02:38:03 pm
we have two 1985 models and this yr we have been experiencing loose spade connections and broken terminals. on one the generator stopped producing power and it was just a broken wire in box on generator. get a volt meter and work your way from the generator out