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Topic: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse? (Read 1478 times) previous topic - next topic

ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

We are on the road in west Texas running the Benny and ACs. At some point I notice the ace are off and the gene you may have stopped. The genney restarts after some trouble but acs will not. Also gas light on fridge so I don't think it is getting power either. Reset all breakers already. Any ideas appreciated.
97 U320
Build 5099
Victoria, Tx

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #1
Did you turn OFF and back ON the two breakers on the generator?

Assuming that the generator starts and runs, but no power to coach.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #2
Did you turn OFF and back ON the two breakers on the generator?

Assuming that the generator starts and runs, but no power to coach.
Yes. Several times.
97 U320
Build 5099
Victoria, Tx

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #3
There is a 5 amp circuit breaker on the front panel on mine. When the same thing happened on mine I pushed that breaker in and out several times and the generator started making power again. With out power my engine over heats due to the A/C fan on the generator.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #4
Did you turn OFF and back ON the two breakers on the generator?

Assuming that the generator starts and runs, but no power to coach.
Brett we do not seem to be getting power from the genny for some reason. And it has quit running a couple times though we don't think it is under any load at all.
97 U320
Build 5099
Victoria, Tx

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #5
There is a 5 amp circuit breaker on the front panel on mine. When the same thing happened on mine I pushed that breaker in and out several times and the generator started making power again. With out power my engine over heats due to the A/C fan on the generator.
I reset both the breakers and the button on the front of the genny quite a few times.
97 U320
Build 5099
Victoria, Tx

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #6
Does yours have a circuit breaker on the cooling fan? Not sure if you have an electric cooling fan on your genset radiator. Do you have the radiator for the genset in the first bay under the driver? If so than you should have a cooling fan there. Is it running when the genset runs?

Mark
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Mark and Tanya
Milton , Florida
US Navy Veteran (DV)
1999 U270 Special 40' CAI , 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #7
Have you checked voltage at circuit breaker to see if generator is producing anything?
Steve DeLange
2005 U320T 40'
Pearland, Texas

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #8
If the generator is not running smoothly, check that you do not have a leak in the feed fuel line.  Sometimes fuel will leak out of a break in the line with the generator off. or it may not leak, but allow air into the fuel line when it is running.  A leak in the return line will just waste fuel. but the generator should run ok.
Jerry Whiteaker former owner 96 U270  36' #4831 Austin,TX-Owner Mods LCD TV w/front cabinet rebuild - LCD TV bedroom - Dual Central AC, either can cool coach w 30 amp - Skylights at roof AC openings - Drop ceiling for ducting of AC - Shower skylight white gelcoat/wood/epoxy frame - Air Springs/Shocks replaced - 2014 CRV - 8K Home Solar - Chevy Volt

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #9
Does yours have a circuit breaker on the cooling fan? Not sure if you have an electric cooling fan on your genset radiator. Do you have the radiator for the genset in the first bay under the driver? If so than you should have a cooling fan there. Is it running when the genset runs?

Mark
Mark there is no fan running in D1. But neither could we find a breaker in that compartment. If the Genny is overheating then perhaps this explains why it shut itself down a couple times.
97 U320
Build 5099
Victoria, Tx

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #10
If the generator is not running smoothly, check that you do not have a leak in the feed fuel line.  Sometimes fuel will leak out of a break in the line with the generator off. or it may not leak, but allow air into the fuel line when it is running.  A leak in the return line will just waste fuel. but the generator should run ok.
It runs very well until it cuts off. Doesn't sound like fuel.
97 U320
Build 5099
Victoria, Tx

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #11
Mark there is no fan running in D1. But neither could we find a breaker in that compartment. If the Genny is overheating then perhaps this explains why it shut itself down a couple times.
Maybe someone who has a 10k powertech like yours can chime in and give you the location of the breaker.

Mark
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Mark and Tanya
Milton , Florida
US Navy Veteran (DV)
1999 U270 Special 40' CAI , 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #12
It is on the front panel with the other breakers.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #13
It is on the front panel with the other breakers.
Yeah we found it. It's a button. We tried resetting but no dice. Fan motor will not come on..
97 U320
Build 5099
Victoria, Tx

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #14
Make sure when the generator is running that you have power at the main CB's on the generator. Might not be putting out ac power, thus the genset fan will not run.

Mark
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Mark and Tanya
Milton , Florida
US Navy Veteran (DV)
1999 U270 Special 40' CAI , 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #15
My generator fan will not run if the glycol level is low. Make sure your fluid level is up wheree its supposed to be. If cooling fan wont run then generator will overheat.
1995 U320 40', 2013 chevy sonic toad, my real love are corvettes have owned 30

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #16
I have reread the posts and you are having 2 problems, generator not putting out power and not running long.  How long is it running?  If it doesn't run a full minute, controller likely not connecting power to buss.  When generator stops, can you restart from dash or do you have to reset generator?  If my generator has fuel starvation, it will shut down and give me a overtemp warning that must be reset. If yours does not have fault warning connectors, I would be tempted to replace both fuel filters to ensure you are not getting fuel starvation. What is the quantity of fuel in your fuel tank.  On my 94 U320, I was losing a fuel pump but it first showed up when fuel was below half a tank.  I filled the tank and it let me get to where I could replace pump.
Steve DeLange
2005 U320T 40'
Pearland, Texas

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #17
Make sure when the generator is running that you have power at the main CB's on the generator. Might not be putting out ac power, thus the genset fan will not run.

Mark
Main CB's?
97 U320
Build 5099
Victoria, Tx

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #18
My generator fan will not run if the glycol level is low. Make sure your fluid level is up wheree its supposed to be. If cooling fan wont run then generator will overheat.
That is good to know. We did check that overflow bottle earlier and it was empty, although it wasn't empty a couple days ago when the gene was cold. Nevertheless we filled the overflow bottle, then pulled out the Benny and put some water directly in the thank next to the Benny. Started it and let it run for a few. Fan still not operating. Beginning to wonder,mgentlemen if the fan breaker isn't just old, or dirty, or rusty.
97 U320
Build 5099
Victoria, Tx

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #19
A guy at our last rally had a similar problem with his fan not running and generator kicking off.  Turned out is was a capacitor that was bad, replaced it and it worked great.  I believe he said the capacitor was behind the generator- he slid out the tray and removed it from the back.  Got the capacitor from a local electrical shop.

Simple repair, but hard to diagnose.  Hope you get yours working soon............... ^.^d
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #20
Also, don't forget that the fuel tank level needs to be above 1/4 tank.
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #21
I had a similar problem to yours.  It was the run capacitor on my fan.  My capacitor was mounted near the bottom of the fan in D1.  Replaced it and have not had a problem since.

Capacitor cost less than $10 at a HVAC supply shop.

ETA,  I am not the same guy as referenced in Ted's post above.
1998 U320 40'
2005 GMC Yukon
MC# 17609

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #22
You need to verify that you have power across all three breakers on the front of your control panel with a voltmeter.  If you have power but no fan, check the fan motor capacitor next.  You can see that capacitor if you pull your generator rack out, crawl underneath and look at the back side of the fan.  It is screwed to the fan housing.  If it is blown it will look damaged.  If it looks good, the fan motor may have failed.  You can look up my post of replacing it.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #23
Without removing your start capacitor you can determine if your capacitor is bad.  You can start your generator and CAREFULLY manually spin your cooling fan.  If the fan starts and continues to run, it's your fan start capacitor.
JOHN M
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: ACs quit working. Breaker? Fuse?

Reply #24
My generator actually has a toggle switch for the cooling fan.  Sometimes my switch will trip into the "off" position, and the generator will shut itself off shortly thereafter.  You might look for a black switch somewhere on the generator control panel and see.

Good luck,
Chris
1996 U295 36' WTBI