10 K Powertech will not start

Topic: 10 K Powertech will not start (Read 1229 times) previous topic - next topic

10 K Powertech will not start

August 02, 2014, 10:07:01 pm

Generator has worked fine till 1 week ago. I was leaving for Red River NM and remote start button on dash would not start Gen. Nothing happened at all. I went to start panel near cooling fan below driver compartment. I used the start button and it started and ran for 12-14 hours no problems. It was then shut off since I did not have need for A/C. 10 days later (yesterday) I leave Red River and while in Dumas TX I wanted to start Gen and none of the remote start buttons or the start button in the lower bay do nothing. No fuel pump running, no activity of any sort from any button. The ON switch on the side of the control box near the start switch is on. The system is completely dead. I drove home with dash air in the cool night air. I have read the forum posts, but none describe this issue. Any suggestions? This is a 3 cylinder Kubota 10 kW Gen in a 97 U320.

Re: 10 K Powertech will not start

Reply #1 – August 02, 2014, 10:19:19 pm

Do you have a wiring diagram for your generator? You need to trace the voltage through the entire circuit. I don't have my diagram in front of me but I can look tomorrow. Since nothing is happening you should find out pretty quickly where the voltage stops.

Re: 10 K Powertech will not start

Reply #2 – August 02, 2014, 10:32:37 pm

There are two selector switches on the genset control panel, have another try at it. Both have to be selected.

Re: 10 K Powertech will not start

Reply #3 – August 04, 2014, 10:18:34 am

How about the re-set button? pc

Re: 10 K Powertech will not start

Reply #4 – August 04, 2014, 05:51:26 pm

If its like my 95 u320 I think there are two circuit breakers in the generator compartment. Try resetting each of those. And check if you a voltage coming to them. Its been a while since I looked at mine

Re: 10 K Powertech will not start

Reply #5 – August 05, 2014, 07:45:54 pm

The gen lives again!! I spent some time with a volt meter and traced the power or lack thereof to my control box below the driver (front left bay) the attached picture shows the Finder brand latching relay with brown heat spots on both sides. This relay was still able to engage inside when any of the 3 start switches were pushed, but the relay was not making proper contact inside to begin the start sequence. After I spoke with Mike Rash, I called Powertech and Jeremy in tech support at FOT. Both FOT and Powertech said this relay was the problem. I tried to locate one locally and after several hours of calling, even with the part number, this relay is very scarce as none on any shelf in DFW area. I ordered one from FOT along with other needed supplies and received it overnight. I installed it in the lower control box in 10 minutes. Everything now works as it should. One big lesson I learned from this is that the ON switch located on the lower control box below the driver on my Coach, sends 12 volts to this latching relay at all times when the switch is on. Even when your coach is parked for weeks or months , if the switch is on , this latching relay is warm to touch and will eventually destroy itself. I will be turning this switch off while The Coach is in storage or when there is no foreseeable use for the gen. The Finder part number is on the box in the picture and can also be ordered online from Finder. If your coach has the auto start function on it, while you are resting it may be a good idea to locate this relay in the control box and visually inspect to check for brown heat spots as they will indicate the beginning of the end for a working relay! I do not know what the applicable years are , but beginning in the mid nineties with the auto start function the above facts should apply. Hope this helps!

Re: 10 K Powertech will not start

Reply #6 – August 05, 2014, 07:51:18 pm

Sorry, I had to attach the second picture again for it to show up. This one has the part number on it.

Re: 10 K Powertech will not start

Reply #7 – August 06, 2014, 09:42:15 am

Quote from: gkerbs56 – August 05, 2014, 07:45:54 pm

The gen lives again!! I spent some time with a volt meter and traced the power or lack thereof to my control box below the driver (front left bay) the attached picture shows the Finder brand latching relay with brown heat spots on both sides. This relay was still able to engage inside when any of the 3 start switches were pushed, but the relay was not making proper contact inside to begin the start sequence. After I spoke with Mike Rash, I called Powertech and Jeremy in tech support at FOT. Both FOT and Powertech said this relay was the problem. I tried to locate one locally and after several hours of calling, even with the part number, this relay is very scarce as none on any shelf in DFW area. I ordered one from FOT along with other needed supplies and received it overnight.

I found one for $23.80 at 2 Step Impulse/Latching Relay, SPST-NO 16A, 12V DC coil, AgSn...
I had to replace a similar one for our water pump #20.21.9.012.4000

Re: 10 K Powertech will not start

Reply #8 – August 06, 2014, 01:15:39 pm

John, I had to replace mine on my generator a few years ago too. That is a good tip on shutting the main switch off to the control box in storage. I never thought of that. Thanks

Mark

Re: 10 K Powertech will not start

Reply #9 – August 06, 2014, 06:27:42 pm

Quote from: gkerbs56 – August 05, 2014, 07:51:18 pm

Sorry, I had to attach the second picture again for it to show up. This one has the part number on it.

Exactly where is this located again?

Re: 10 K Powertech will not start

Reply #10 – August 07, 2014, 08:09:42 am

On my 97 the control box pictured is located in the left forward bay just below the drivers seat. The latching relay is inside this control box. I do know that some other 97 models and earlier models have only one control box located on top of the gen. My 97 has 2 control boxes. My box located on top of gen has 3 breakers located in it for reset or just to disconect.

Re: 10 K Powertech will not start

Reply #11 – August 07, 2014, 01:51:07 pm

Very disappointed to find the use of a latching relay that consumes energy when at rest, there are latching relays that simply flip-flop and zero load at rest. See the need to dig them back up, used then on my MCI, worked beautiful.

Re: 10 K Powertech will not start

Reply #12 – August 07, 2014, 02:14:21 pm

The pictures show a different configuration than on our 1997 U295 with PT-10K (Kubota). The only control box on our system is on top of the generator. Front panel includes Start/Stop(Preheat) switch, 45A circuit breaker switch, toggle switch for radiator fan breaker, a reset button for generator (?), and the hour meter. Generator currently shows 3895 hours.

Re: 10 K Powertech will not start

Reply #13 – August 07, 2014, 02:59:28 pm

Pardon my ignorance, but I saw a reference above to "auto start". Do you mean: the coach has a feature that automatically starts the generator in the absence of other power? And, if so: does this discussion only apply to those of us with that feature?

Our generator has the same configuration as J.D. Stevens describes above. We do not have any automatic start function. So, I'm thinking maybe we don't have the same relay that caused the OP a problem?

Re: 10 K Powertech will not start

Reply #14 – August 07, 2014, 07:16:38 pm

If your coach has a button on the dash that you push for preheat before you start the gen, then this discussion regarding the relay does not apply to you.

Re: 10 K Powertech will not start

Reply #15 – August 07, 2014, 07:34:05 pm

"If your coach has a button on the dash that you push for preheat before you start the gen, then this discussion regarding the relay does not apply to you."

So how do you start the gen from inside the FT?

best, paul

Re: 10 K Powertech will not start

Reply #16 – August 07, 2014, 09:34:00 pm

Quote from: Dave M – August 07, 2014, 01:51:07 pm

Very disappointed to find the use of a latching relay that consumes energy when at rest, there are latching relays that simply flip-flop and zero load at rest.

Dave since you said this I thought about how my relay is configured and I think mine works as you mentioned. I dont see how it could use any power. It is just a momentary flip flop switch like you mentioned. It is either open or closed depending on the last cycle.

Mark

Re: 10 K Powertech will not start

Reply #17 – August 07, 2014, 10:48:23 pm

Our 2000 295 has only the panel on top/side of Gen set. The only box in front lower bay is a 4x4 for connecting wires, no relay
JohnH

Re: 10 K Powertech will not start

Reply #18 – August 08, 2014, 05:09:15 am

Mark,
Guess I got the idea from the following that I copied, along with the picture of the hot spots on the latching relay, or are the burn marks are due to being over loaded, either way there has to be a better way, maybe using the latching relay as a pilot for a relay that is up to the job.?

"One big lesson I learned from this is that the ON switch located on the lower control box below the driver on my Coach, sends 12 volts to this latching relay at all times when the switch is on. Even when your coach is parked for weeks or months , if the switch is on , this latching relay is warm to touch and will eventually destroy itself."

Its just a simple control thing.

And I have no idea where on my coach that latching relay is mounted, figure it has to be inside the generator mounted control box. Never noticed it in the drawing I have gone over. Have a clue the location for the same relay for the light in bath area. No end to the game of figuring out the total wiring mystery.

Re: 10 K Powertech will not start

Reply #19 – August 08, 2014, 11:31:47 am

Quote from: gkerbs56 – August 07, 2014, 07:16:38 pm

If your coach has a button on the dash that you push for preheat before you start the gen, then this discussion regarding the relay does not apply to you.

Ok, thanks John. Yes, we have a "PREHEAT" switch on the dash that I press for a few seconds before hitting the "GEN" switch and starting her up.

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