Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 13, 2025 ...

POWER TECH - toggle breaker question

September 18, 2021, 12:42:03 pm

I'm doing some maintenance on my 10KW PowerTech generator (meaning it does not work).
I'm having the common problem of the gen running for about 5-10 min. and then shutting down with a temp warning light coming on. It never gave me problems before.
My first thought was the thermostat, which I ordered. Next my attention went to the remote fan toggle breaker, It seemed sluggish on setting and re-setting so I thought I would replace it. The remote fan does not come on.
I can not read the paper label on the toggle breaker, its too faded. I called Power Tech in FL. and talked with the girl in parts. She said that they do not carry that breaker anymore so I would have to try a electronics store. Not knowing the specs of the breaker make finding a replacement tough. She did mention she had a 2 pole square toggle breaker (mine is a 4 pole, with only two poles used) but told me it was about $80 and non-returnable. Spending $80 for a non-returnable would be a tough pill to swallow but the worse part would be,  with my lack of electronics knowledge any electronic part I replace needs to look and be exactly the same as the part removed or I would never know if it will work correctly.
I have a call into the service tech at PowerTech but don't know when he will ever call back.
Any suggestions?

On a side note, I have read that if the generator is not making power the remote fan will not come on. I changed my inverter to a Victron 3000 a while back, it works fine. When I did the change over I did not reconnect the auto gen start because I was not sure how it reconnected. I start the generator at the generator panel.
Could not having the auto start circuitry wired in prevent the generator from making power?

Quote Selected

Re: POWER TECH - toggle breaker question

Reply #1 – September 18, 2021, 01:29:28 pm

Lon,

Could you post a picture of the fan breaker of both the face and from inside with the cover off. This will help figurer out which breaker they used (they used several different ones) and then we can find the proper replacement.

If the fan isn't running then the timing is about right for temp. shut down. 

While it is running does it make power?  If not then we have more troubleshooting to do.

Mike

Quote Selected

Re: POWER TECH - toggle breaker question

Reply #2 – September 18, 2021, 01:35:04 pm

Lon,

I believe that the remote start not being wired in would have no bearing on the operation of the generator. 

Six or eight years ago I had the same symptoms you describe.  Mine turned out to be the circuit breaker becoming weak and tripping, I believe, simply from the vibration of the engine.  When I replaced the breaker, problem solved.  I later moved the breaker over to the bay where the fan is located. 

Unfortunately I do not remember the specs of the breaker and I am not currently at my coach to check it out. 

Richard

Quote Selected

Re: POWER TECH - toggle breaker question

Reply #3 – September 18, 2021, 03:30:52 pm

Here is some pics

Quote Selected

Re: POWER TECH - toggle breaker question

Reply #4 – September 18, 2021, 03:58:09 pm

Lon,

Now we are doing  some good  just what we needed.  The paper shoes the part number.  They have changed somewhat but here is a link to one.  https://www.onlinecomponents.com/en/airpax-sensata/t212100a0111av-10095554.html#    We need to lookaround for the best price.  Most any 10 amp breaker with a round mounting plate will work.  Allied electronics, Digikey, Amazon, or eBay may have one cheaper.

Mike

On further search at my go to places,
Sensata - Airpax - T21-2-10.0A-01-11A-V - Circuit Breaker HydMag 1 pl...
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/sensata-airpax/T11-2-10-0A-01-11AL-V/2781061

Now I need to find you one with free shipping.

One more thought:
Something like this would even work in a pinch but not sure on the reliability
10 Amp Thermal Circuit Breaker

Quote Selected

Re: POWER TECH - toggle breaker question

Reply #5 – September 18, 2021, 05:38:29 pm

Most auto parts stores should have a breaker that will work. 

Quote Selected

Re: POWER TECH - toggle breaker question

Reply #6 – September 18, 2021, 07:20:03 pm

Auto parts store might not as this needs to be for 120 volts. The push button one should work. I have seen them on some generators.

Quote Selected

Re: POWER TECH - toggle breaker question

Reply #7 – September 18, 2021, 11:43:10 pm

One little note for sudden stops on the Power tech if no trouble lights come on but diesel will not stay running. Jeff at P tech told me that the latching relay may be the cause of it as dust will get in unit and cause the thing to trip, so, pull the 10 amp fuse and manually press in the breaker button (this is the many lined part in the middle) and you will hear it click. Do it many times then blow out the relay  to get contacts clean and replace fuse and it should run. Those 3 Bosch relays may be an issue if it does not start so replace them, and any good auto store should have them or get them for you. After that it might be oil pressure sender, coolant sender, all in this order. I keep 3 relay spares but when mine was acting up it was fixed afrer doing the first latching relay part. I actually just yesterday cleaned out again inside box and relays as a maintenance thing. We hardly ever use our gen set due to having the solar so it does not get the exercise  like most do. Ours only has 950 hrs on it, still new.
John

Quote Selected