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Topic: Electrical issues and now genny tripping breaker  (Read 879 times) previous topic - next topic

Electrical issues and now genny tripping breaker

So it's a long story but I had been hooked up to my 50 amp pedestal here in Corpus Christi at the RV Park. Some guys came in the cut trees and I realized that my power was out. Checking at the pedestal with my voltmeter I found it everything seemed to be okay at that point and the breaker hadn't tripped. However I was not able to get power across to the Hughes
 power watchdog. Power was getting through my manual transfer switch but not going through or lighting up the power watchdog. I disconnected the power Watchdog and connected the wires together with big wire nuts and still wasn't getting any power I checked again and now found that no power was getting through the transfer switch. Scratching my head and not having a whole lot of time to deal with it due to some other personal issues I ordered a new Blue Sea Systems 65 amp 240 volt transfer switch which came in two days by FedEx. I installed it noting that the six gauge wire had difficulty staying in even with the bolts torque down. So I can ordered some Furell's. I also called Hughes for technical support and never got a call back which didn't surprise me. I wasn't pulling a lot of amps and I had the victron Multiplex control set at 30 amps I believe. Noticed a burning smell and saw that the neutral wires that I had wire another together had melted some of the wire caps. I replace the cap and made sure that everything was tight and secure. After that I had no issues I was able to run everything no problem except for now the display that shows if you have an open ground or open neutral or how many volts did not work.
At that point mainly I was just storing my coach at the RV Park. I then drove the coach up to text hubs place in Uvalde to store it for a month thanks Mark! And on the drive up was running the air conditioners and the generator. Stopping at a rest area I noticed that the rear AC was no longer running and while the generator was still running I didn't have any power going to the transfer switch. Not having time to deal with it and having plenty of solar I was able to use the front air conditioner off of my lithium battery setup. Arriving at Mark's house open the generator compartment to find that the 45 amp breaker had tripped. I reset it. Everything was running fine again I went in to have dinner and when I came out was enjoying the cold air when again the breaker must have tripped because my batteries were down to 70%. The generator was continuing to run. I shut the generator off and didn't mess with that went to sleep and the next morning had to drive back to Corpus Christi a 3 and 1/2 to 4 hour drive. So now my coaches 4 hours away and I will not be able to get back to it until I'm not sure when.
But pretty soon I will be driving up to Oklahoma City where my ex-wife Julie will be moving to and she'll be driving up with me and it will be in June and as we all know Texas and Oklahoma in June and July is no place to be without air conditioning. I don't plan on pushing the miles but I would like to be able to run the air conditioner off the generator. So the question is could it just be that the breaker is old and needs to be replaced? If so does anybody have a part number for the 10000 watt power Tech generator? I didn't really have time to mess with it as I had to get back to Corpus as fast as I could. Yeah I know I could call Powertech but with the coach not right in front of me I can't really answer any questions other than the fact that it's an Isuzu engine. What else could cause the breaker to trip? I had it set to pull no more than 40 amps via the victron muliplus but I did have the electric heater in the Aqua Hot on and that doesn't go through that circuit I believe so it could have been pulling more but I wasn't using the induction cookers just the air conditioners and they don't pull that much.
Thanks,
Bob
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: Electrical issues and now gunny tripping breaker

Reply #1 –
Unfortunately Powertech no longer seems to have a phone number on their website that you can call for assistance you have to go through email. So I'm waiting on a response back. The only breaker that I see on their parts page is a 50 amp breaker, no 45 amp.
$156 bucks...
50 AMP Small 2 Pole Breaker.
Anyone else have to replace theirs,  and if so, with what?
Edit... found this on on ebay
Carling Technologies Ca2-B0-34-650-121-D 50 A A Magnetic Panel Mount Circuit.... Only 36.40$

Thanks.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: Electrical issues and now genny tripping breaker

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Journey, Roam, Explore –
...does anybody have a part number for the 10kW PowerTech generator? I didn't really have time to mess with it as I had to get back to Corpus as fast as I could. Yeah I know I could call Powertech but with the coach not right in front of me I can't really answer any questions other than the fact that it's an Isuzu engine.
Bob,

Sorry 'bout your troubles.  Electrical (AC) is above my pay grade.  The only thing I can perhaps help with is possibly a model number for your generator: PTS IDL10EFT.  See Reply #3 in the thread below:

Generator Failure
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: Electrical issues and now genny tripping breaker

Reply #3 –
Odd combination/coincidence of things to have happened - first no shore power, then no power to "power watchdog", then generator breaker tripping.

What were the voltage readings (using a multi-meter) at various locations (shore connection, transfer switch inputs and output, etc.) during each of these events?  Any anomalies?

FYI, I recall from 2010 (when we had to have our generator end replaced) that PowerTech no longer made the 10kW end, only an 8 and a 12.  That may be why they no longer stock a 45 amp breaker.  We had to have our 10kW end replaced with a 12kW unit.
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: Electrical issues and now genny tripping breaker

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Michelle –
Odd combination/coincidence of things to have happened - first no shore power, then no power to "power watchdog", then generator breaker tripping.

What were the voltage readings (using a multi-meter) at various locations (shore connection, transfer switch inputs and output, etc.) during each of these events?  Any anomalies?

FYI, I recall from 2010 (when we had to have our generator end replaced) that PowerTech no longer made the 10kW end, only an 8 and a 12.  That may be why they no longer stock a 45 amp breaker.  We had to have our 10kW end replaced with a 12kW unit.

Agreed.  Very strange. If I remember correctly voltages all were around 120v.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: Electrical issues and now genny tripping breaker

Reply #5 –
Sorry Bob, wish I could help you out, but not my expertise either!  Does sound strange that all this took place with one after the other.  Wish you the best!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Electrical issues and now genny tripping breaker

Reply #6 –
When I had to replace the breaker on a Powertec generator I took it out and using the name and numbers on the side of the breaker was able to find it on the internet. You probably need to first need to find the cause of the breaker tripping.
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: Electrical issues and now genny tripping breaker

Reply #7 –
Red tractor I suspect it's due to being 21 years old but will troubleshoot it soon. I think it's a Carling breaker but will call powertec tomorrow. For some reason I missed the phone number in the website. But it's right there...
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: Electrical issues and now genny tripping breaker

Reply #8 –
Ordered a new 50 amp breaker, a new voltage regulator and end bearing from powertec. Sourcing new Lord engine mounts from Astro Rec. Time to rebuild the generator compartment.
When my steering box was replaced in Mexico by the guys there they remove the wires to get the squirrel cage fan out I'm wondering if they didn't reconnect them well so I'm going to look at that. Power tech things there is a issue with the wiring somewhere and that's why the breaker was tripping, but they also said that every time the breaker trips it loses a little of course and as a 21 year old breaker I'm sure it's lost a lot over the years. So hopefully that will take care of the issue.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: Electrical issues and now genny tripping breaker

Reply #9 –
Soooo... Package arrived from FedEx a minute ago from powertech usually I would just put package away until I was getting ready to use it but I opened it up and so glad I did. They sent the wrong breaker. And they're closed for lunch. SO waiting for a call back I really needed it by Monday but I don't see how they're going to get it to me by then unless they do an overnight and I doubt that they will do that. So lesson learned and note to self and anybody else that may be ordering stuff from anybody.. open the package immediately and check it against what you ordered.
By the way the second picture is the bearing for the 10, 000 Watt generator head. Be interesting to see what the price difference is if I look up that part number if it's available online somewhere else.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired
 

Re: Electrical issues and now genny tripping breaker

Reply #10 –
It's a really common bearing that can be got from any bearing store. When I changed mine I used an American made bearing.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport