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Power Tech generator issue

August 11, 2020, 12:50:49 am

Hello I am new to the forum and have only owned our 2000 U295 since March. First I would first like to thank everyone that contributes here.  The forum has been a big help.  I have the 10 KW Power Tech with the Isuzu engine and have been chasing air leaks and think I have solved them.  While testing the generator I ran into a problem I can't find referenced anywhere in the forum.  While running the generator I have had it quit three different times and without doing anything, the generator restarted on its own and ran fine after it restarted. I have had some problems restarting it myself with the main switch on and putting the run switch in the run position and nothing happens. After cycling the on/off switch it and pushing up the run switch it will start.  I don't know if the two issues are part of the same problem.  Are the main on/off and the run/stop switches known to fail? Also why would the generator restart without doing anything after a shutdown? Thanks in advance for any help with this.

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Re: Power Tech generator issue

Reply #1 – August 11, 2020, 09:25:37 am

Not sure this relates to your problem but there is a time delay when you press the start switch. It allows th intake heater, aka glow plug, time to warm up. I usually experience about a 10-15 second delay.
If you have the switch next to the gen start switch set to auto the generator will start on its own if the house batteries fall to the set point of usually around 12.2 volts. If the auto function is selected and you are using the inverter and putting a high demand on the house batteries the gen will start and run frequently in order to charge the batteries. Or if your house batteries are weak it will cause this to happen.
Delay is normal and don't use the auto function unless you have no other options.

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Re: Power Tech generator issue

Reply #2 – August 11, 2020, 11:25:31 am

I leave my generator on auto all the time.  That has saved our bacon several times when we didn't realize we had lost shore power.

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Reply #3 – August 11, 2020, 01:30:04 pm

After you cycle the on/off switch how long does the engine run? If it runs for a short period of time. The engine is going into shot down mode. Look for a loose or bad wire........oil, water.
I just had this same issue. I couldn't start the generator. It would only start by cycling the on /off switch. It would only run for a minute and shot down.  I had a loose oil pressure sending wire.  I called Power Tech and they said that was probably the problem.
Good Luck

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Re: Power Tech generator issue

Reply #4 – August 11, 2020, 01:55:19 pm

Check that the latching relay is getting a good connection as well.

Mark

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Reply #5 – August 11, 2020, 09:01:25 pm

Today I started the generator and it ran perfect for 15 minutes, shut off and restarted in about ten seconds without me doing anything. 
Just about enough time for it to have restarted the start sequence.  The batteries are hot and the auto start is off.  It then ran for about 20 minutes and shut down and about ten seconds later restarted again without me doing anything.  This time it ran for another twenty minutes or so until I needed to leave and I shut it down. I will check the connections on the OP and temp sensors but it shouldn't run for more than a few seconds if it is a sensor.  I did not get any red lights by the helm or on the gen either.  I may still have a fuel leak and that would explain why it shuts down but why would it restart on its own?

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Re: Power Tech generator issue

Reply #6 – August 17, 2020, 08:16:13 am

I know if the cooling fan on my power tech doesn't come on it will do this. Or it will lock off until reset. Mine has a reset switch for that fan that is very sensitive.  I also have experienced mine over heating because the muffler is right under the cooling fan. 98 and parked on new sealed ashalt. Open side door and no problem.

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Re: Power Tech generator issue

Reply #7 – August 17, 2020, 08:29:44 am

I had a problem with my generator similar to yours and the solution was to pull the ES-52 controller, relays, latching relay, and move these to the driver side compartment where the radiator is.  In doing so I found a few broken wires that were making intermittent connection.  So my problem was caused by these bad wires either at one of the modular plugs or a wire that was broken inside the insulation.  I ran new wire from the generator control box to the new box in the side compartment.  No problems since then.
Generator not running
Moving Generator control components

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Re: Power Tech generator issue

Reply #8 – August 19, 2020, 09:47:31 pm

Hi guys.  Thanks for your posts.  I looked in the control box this evening and found one ring terminal on a post without a nut and another two wires that were put together with a wire nut.  Fixed that and was hoping that was it but it started and ran for ten minutes and quit.  When the motor quits the latching relay stays activated and often starts the engine again after shutting down with no input.  I ordered the latching relay today and we will see. Thanks again for the responses.

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Re: Power Tech generator issue

Reply #9 – August 25, 2020, 11:23:17 pm

OK I got the generator running correctly.  I found one ring connector on a stud with no nut, two wires held with a crimped wire nut that had separated and after buying a new latching relay found one of four wires was not connected while installing it.  We left our house in front on Laura and drove 6.5 hours with the generator running the whole time without a hiccup.  Thanks for the help.

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Re: Power Tech generator issue

Reply #10 – August 26, 2020, 03:27:15 am

The vibration of the generator diesel is enough to rattle anything loose.  When my control board was located in the box on top of the generator it suffered broken and disconnected wires on three occasions.  After I moved it out of the generator compartment into the forward bay beneath the driver seat eleven years ago, it has not failed me. 

Richard

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