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Topic: Powertech 10kw won't generate electricity... (Read 734 times) previous topic - next topic

Powertech 10kw won't generate electricity...

The 10kw Powertech in our 99 U320 stopped generating juice at the Albany OR NW area FMCA rally in June and overheated because the cooling fan runs on 110.... so I took it in to a very good shop in Prineville OR (High Desert RV) and they found a problem with the voltage regulator and diode plate and replaced them... After that it ran at the Good Sam rally in Redmond for 2 hours last week just fine... then quit generating juice again.... so it's back in the Prineville shop....

The owner of that shop has had REAL problems getting diagnostic help from Powertech but will try again tomorrow morning (7/20)... I found a post in this forum that indicated a loose exciter rotor was a problem for someone else and will pass that on...

Any other suggestions/ideas?

Thanks, Orren Brownson, 99 U320 DGFE
99 U320 40ft DGFE

Re: Powertech 10kw won't generate electricity...

Reply #1 –
Sorry to hear about the issue.

1-What gave  up, regulator, rotor, stator, diodes or breaker ?

2-Once the above is found, it should be apparent what is gong on.

3-Factory help should be super good if you can talk their language, if you do not know the  terminology, they generally know they are killing time tryhing to educate non tech people.

4-Keep it simple, what happened, what is required to solve the issue.

5-There are very few "Good" RV shops that know generators beyond throwing parts at it.

6-Proper trouble shooting will include such info as  Amps drawn & volts required to excite it, from no load, up to 100% load, with out that info your guessing as to condition of all the above.

7-When the "Good" shop has fixed the issue, normal would be to run under 80% load for 1 hour, to make sure the amps and volts required are in line with the specs required.  And eliminate another come back failure.  May also involve checking your actual loading in the RV.

Keep it simple.
Good luck

Re: Powertech 10kw won't generate electricity...

Reply #2 –
1.  Like I said, the regulator and the diode plate (2 of the diodes were bad) were found to be bad and were replaced. 

3.  I didn't talk to the factory but the owner of the shop I took it to is very knowledgeable and he was the one trying to get help from the factory techs... with very poor results...
99 U320 40ft DGFE

Re: Powertech 10kw won't generate electricity...

Reply #3 –
A couple of years back I had a similar problem with my Powertech 10KW.  I took it to an authorized Power tech (generator only) shop, and they found a blown winding in the rotor.  They rewound it, and it worked just fine until I drove of.  It took lots of trips back before they solved the problem(s).

Various sensors were shutting it down.  Oil pressure (they even changed the oil to make sure it was the right viscosity), temperature, and coolant level (which they didn't know about until I showed it to them in the FT documentation). 
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Powertech 10kw won't generate electricity...

Reply #4 –
One little part of being a "Good" repair shop, you always ask your self why did these parts fail, and Like I mentioned, some shops keep throwing parts at it until either YOU give up or they stumble onto the problem by accideent.  Have to mention the generator ends used by Power Tech in the past were the Pancake model, they are great generators. Today the generator is from off shore.

Re: Powertech 10kw won't generate electricity...

Reply #5 –
Oren:

My Powertech 10KW kept kicking off and it was the fan motor.  Replaced it , squirrel cage, capacitor at a Powertech authorized dealer, then went off for a 500 mile trip- generator ran great- all night too as we stopped at a rest area.  It is still working good now in this heat- hope this helps.

Maybe we will see you at MOT again sometime.

Ted & Karen
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing
 

Re: Powertech 10kw won't generate electricity...

Reply #6 –
Ted and Karen....
Thanks for your input... but after I got it back from the shop and it ran for 2 hours before quitting again the fan was running just fine.... and of course since the fan runs on 110V it won't run if the generator isn't generating that power.....

Powertech in Florida would not return the shop's calls today and so the shop is using another of their dealers for support..
99 U320 40ft DGFE