Ghost in the generator

[heybc]

My wife was sitting at the desk when the generator started. Problem is, we don't have auto start. I checked the connector from the start switch and the contacts were clean and no sign of moisture. Anyone else have this happen or have any idea what to look for?

[heybc]

My wife was sitting at the desk when the generator started. Problem is, we don't have auto start. I checked the connector from the start switch and the contacts were clean and no sign of moisture. Anyone else have this happen or have any idea what to look for?

[cwg]

I have had it happen before and from several contributors in the past it is not uncommon. My experience was that we had arrived in a campground and plugged into shore power. Upon returning from dinner, I was shocked to find the generator running. I inquired of my next door neighbor as to whether anyone had messed with my coach ( no lock on the front cap where the generator was housed ). He assured me that had not happened and the Onan diesel had fired up on its own.

It never happened again but I always was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

[Lug_Nut]

In most cases it is the auto start reacting to a power cut. If the power cuts for 5 seconds or so, something most people would not remember, the genset will start and continue until manually stopped if the AC in on.

[cwg]

The only thing about my "phantom starting" is that the Onan did not have auto start provisions just like "heybc"'s.

[Ecker]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by heybc:
My wife was sitting at the desk when the generator started. Problem is, we don't have auto start. I checked the connector from the start switch and the contacts were clean and no sign of moisture. Anyone else have this happen or have any idea what to look for? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

It has been found in years past that moisture dropping from the automotive air conditioning unit on to top of the Onan generator and getting into electronics would cause a false start.