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Topic: gen set quit making juice (Read 524 times) previous topic - next topic

gen set quit making juice

My PowerTech 8K decided to quit making electricity. Starts great and sound fine. No bearing squeal from the gen end, but no juice. I am praying it is a loose connection but have no idea where to start looking.
If you are kind enough to reply, please bear in mind that I am really new to this and not the sharpest pencil in the box, so please be  specific.
Thans in advance,
Len and Deb
Len and Deb Speiser
1999 U270 36'
2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
You're either on the bus, or you're off the bus!--Ken Kesey
If you're lucky enough to live in a bus, you're lucky enough!

Re: gen set quit making juice

Reply #1 –
I assume you looked at the circuit breakers on generator control panel? If ok and you have and know how to use a VOM you can check input to the transfer switch under the bed to see if your getting power out of generator.
Also , you don't have coach plugged into shore power for some reason do you?
Does the shore power run the coach ok?
Regards, Irwin
Irwin

Re: gen set quit making juice

Reply #2 –
Len,If your not comfortable  working on live electric wires ,please don't , get some help.
Regards,Irwin
Irwin

Re: gen set quit making juice

Reply #3 –
Irwin,
Thanks for the reply. The shore power is not plugged in (or wasn't when I gave it a try) I don't have any problem with working on wiring, I just needed some info on where to start looking. I will attack this tomorrow evening after work and let you know what I find.
Thanks and have a great evening.
Len
Len and Deb Speiser
1999 U270 36'
2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
You're either on the bus, or you're off the bus!--Ken Kesey
If you're lucky enough to live in a bus, you're lucky enough!

Re: gen set quit making juice

Reply #4 –
Generator Topics Recap
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: gen set quit making juice

Reply #5 –
Alright, finally back where I can deal with this problem some more. I looked for breakers that were tripped and could not find any. In the back of the coach on the bottom of the bed there are three boxes. One is a twelve volt box with fuses, the other is a larger 120v box that says "main" and has breakers for AC, micro, etc, and the third is a smaller version of the first that has the same designations as the larger one. I am assuming one is shore power and one is gen set power. On the gen itself there are two breakers marked 35W and both are off. there is a fuse on that panel that looks to be in good shape. Where should I start looking for two legs of 120V? Also the power transfer box seems to take quite a while to kick over when I hook into shore power. Could it be possible that I have a problem there that the gen set is just not connecting to the coach system?
Thanks again
Len and Deb Speiser
1999 U270 36'
2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
You're either on the bus, or you're off the bus!--Ken Kesey
If you're lucky enough to live in a bus, you're lucky enough!

Re: gen set quit making juice

Reply #6 –
The breakers on the genset should be on....did you have it serviced recently. They usually turn them off and sometimes forget to turn them back on.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: gen set quit making juice

Reply #7 –
In general, the larger 120V box is shore power smaller 120V Box is fed via batteries/invertor

when on shore power or generator, main power panel is connected via transfer switches under base of bed
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: gen set quit making juice

Reply #8 –
John and Tim,
Thanks for the replies. The gen set has been serviced recently but has worked since, so I am thinking that they must have left it in the correct position. The problem occurred as we were traveling down the highway and attempted to turn on the gen to fire up the house AC. If the two small breakers on the gen set face should be in the "on" position I will put those up and fire up the gen to see what happens. May be stupid question, but both the breakers are marked 35A. Do they split the output of the gen into two thirty five amp circuits and then split the load to where each of the sides of the output will take care of one of the two AC's?
THX
Len and Deb Speiser
1999 U270 36'
2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
You're either on the bus, or you're off the bus!--Ken Kesey
If you're lucky enough to live in a bus, you're lucky enough!

Re: gen set quit making juice

Reply #9 –
Turn them on and see what happens.  Why they both are off is odd.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: gen set quit making juice

Reply #10 –
Quote from: lenspeiser –
If the two small breakers on the gen set face should be in the "on" position I will put those up and fire up the gen to see what happens. May be stupid question, but both the breakers are marked 35A. Do they split the output of the gen into two thirty five amp circuits and then split the load to where each of the sides of the output will take care of one of the two AC's?


Those should be the generator output breakers, one for each leg of your 120 VAC power, if they are not "On", the output of the generator is not going anywhere (except maybe to its own fan).  The output/feed from these goes to your transfer switch and from there to the AC breaker panel.  Your AC breaker panel will have some circuits wired to one leg (L1) and some to the other (L2).  You will see this in your schematics.  One roof air will have a breaker powered by L1 and the other will have a breaker powered by L2.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: gen set quit making juice

Reply #11 –
Michelle,
Thanks for the input- You are confirming what I had thought. Electrical schematics are unfortunately outside my area of expertise. I am fairly good at tracking electrical problems, but have to understand the fundamentals of how the system's "logic" works. The most complicated systems I have had the opportunity to work with were film processors, They were a hybrid of mechanical, chemical, and electrical systems. I had a good handle on the mechanical, a fair grasp of the chemical (thanks to Kodak training), and a passing grasp on the electrical. So if I am asking things that most would just look at a schematic and know where to find, I hope you will bear with me on the lack of that talent.
Again, I really do appreciate the input!
Len and Deb Speiser
1999 U270 36'
2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
You're either on the bus, or you're off the bus!--Ken Kesey
If you're lucky enough to live in a bus, you're lucky enough!

Re: gen set quit making juice

Reply #12 –
John S and Michelle,

Success! It was the breakers on the front of the gen set. I had looked thru the forum archives and had the Power Tech folks send me what they said was a manual for the gen set and none of that touched on what the problem was. When I was told to look for breakers in the back of the coach, it just was not the case for my particular generator.

I have to admit that I was a bit shy about just throwing those two breakers, because I did not want to watch our "retirement home" burn down in our driveway. But thanks again for the replies and the input. It may not seem like you did much, but it meant a lot to me.

All our best and happy trails!
Len and Deb Speiser
1999 U270 36'
2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
You're either on the bus, or you're off the bus!--Ken Kesey
If you're lucky enough to live in a bus, you're lucky enough!

Re: gen set quit making juice

Reply #13 –
Glad you got it fixed. The issue is why they both tripped though.  Both of them usually tells me that service did it when they changed the oil and fuel filter.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon
 

Re: gen set quit making juice

Reply #14 –
still has me flummoxed too. The only thing out of the ordinary on that trip was running over a HUGE buckle in the road in Sherman TX that was so large the belly of the coach scraped. We took that at a very slow pace (while grimmacing!) and continued on. It was shortly after that we tried to turn on the gen for the house AC, and nothing happened.
May have been God's way of telling me not to get too comfortable!

Thanks again to everyone.
Len and Deb Speiser
1999 U270 36'
2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
You're either on the bus, or you're off the bus!--Ken Kesey
If you're lucky enough to live in a bus, you're lucky enough!