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06-16-2018, 11:45 AM
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#1
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Member
National RV Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 53
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Loss of power
Today I started up the generator. Had both air conditioning units running on the generator. And I started the television and was watching that. Trying to cycle the generator to see if it was going to be okay. At one point both the air conditioners in the television shut off so I went out and check the breakers on the generator and they were both still okay. I came back in and check the heart interface for the Power share and I had 20 amps coming in. But I still cannot get my air conditioners nor my television to operate. This is on a 2003 38ft National Tradewinds with the Generac generator. I cannot seem to locate another breaker in the coach for the electrical. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.
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06-16-2018, 12:44 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 137
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Unfortunately I can't offer any solutions at this point, but I've been dealing with a similar issue on my Generac generator (2001 Dolphin). My problem is intermittent. It appears to be heat related but I'm not positive because sometimes it fails on the first start.
Suggestions I can offer.
Try turning generator off and restarting. May take 2 or three times. This has worked for me on occasion.
Try letting it cool off if everything is hot.
Take the plastic cover off that surrounds the start switch and breakers on the generator. You can see the voltage regulator which has a red light is on when is is putting out power but off if not.
I'm still trying to diagnosis my problem. I suspect either a failing excitation Circuit breaker (you cannot manually reset it) or a failing voltage regulator. Out side possibility of a slipping belt.
Good luck. If I get any more details I will update this, but I probably won't for a couple of weeks or more.
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06-17-2018, 05:55 AM
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#3
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Member
National RV Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 53
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I spoke with my brother yesterday about the problem. He is a Master Electrician and an RVer as well. He has me doing some testing on the power switch today, and see if that is the problem. The relay in the power switch could be the issue. I will follow up with anything that may be of use to anyone else.
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06-17-2018, 06:33 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,405
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There has to be a distribution panel in the RV with circuit breakers.
The incoming power, whether from the generator or shore power, goes to that.
That is the next place to look for a tripped breaker.
Your Xantrex power share 20 amps is a setting you choose, not whats coming in to it. It is a setting of how many amps the charger can draw off the AC circuit to charge your house batteries. It can be set at 20 amps so you can use the remaining incoming power for other things.
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06-18-2018, 12:04 PM
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#5
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Member
National RV Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 53
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Response
Twin Boat, I did locate the panel and check all of the breakers in there as well. I guess that part of the post did not make it. I have checked all of the breakers that could have been part of the issue if there were a tripped breaker. On that note, if there were a tripped breaker, I would have stopped at that and looked for the reason for the tripped breaker. But to no avail, there is not a tripped breaker to be found.
I guess I need to understand the heart interface a lot better. I read the owners manual and just don't get it. I am not a stupid person, but I am struggling with the control panel in this unit.
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06-18-2018, 12:26 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,804
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Good morning Sober Ryder; I just have been reading your post. I am not sure I understand the part of your post where you mention, cycle the generator. I know you said you had the A/C's running along with the TV. I am going to assume that you shut down all of your electrical loads before shutting down the gen. I have read that on my Windsor that you need to shut down all electrical loads before shutting down the gen. or you risk burning or pitting the electrical contacts in you transfer switch. Do not know what transfer switch you have on your Tradewinds, but I am going to guess you have a transfer switch for moving the loads from the gen. to shore power etc. Not sure if this is the problem you are describing. If you go to shore power only, does all your other 120V appliances and etc. work? Just asking.
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06-19-2018, 08:58 AM
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#7
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Member
National RV Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 53
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By cycling the generator I am meaning that I operate it under a load to ensure it is operating proper. I have the Power Switch transfer switch. When I plugged in the shore power last night at the house I did have 120 volt power for the coach, so I am thinking along the line of what you are describing, possible contact issues in the switch.
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06-21-2018, 02:56 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: SC
Posts: 117
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sober Rider
By cycling the generator I am meaning that I operate it under a load to ensure it is operating proper. I have the Power Switch transfer switch. When I plugged in the shore power last night at the house I did have 120 volt power for the coach, so I am thinking along the line of what you are describing, possible contact issues in the switch.
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I have a 98 Tradewinds and sometimes I would have to take an screwdriver
and tap the transfer switch(insulated screwdriver handle end or rubber hamer)
__________________
2004 42' Monaco Dynasty
pushed by a 2011 Lincoln MKX
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06-21-2018, 07:51 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lac Du Bonnet, Manitoba
Posts: 685
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Some thing to check could be the generator brushes. This happened to me but my generator is an Onan 7000 watt, so it may not be the same. The brushes are spring loaded and should slide in the brush holder and press against the commutator. When I removed the brush assembly(easy, maybe 5 minutes on my unit) one of the 2 brushes was "fused" or stuck( maybe from high current & heat from the high load then sudden stopping) and would not slide like the other one. I pushed it till it let go and was free to move again, installed, and generator worked OK again.
Good luck finding the problem with yours.
__________________
Ellen & Greg
08 National Dolphin DL-35Ci, RoadMaster Rear Sway Bar, Rear Trac Bar, Koni Shocks Front,
Workhorse W22, Kelderman Air Ride, Towing 2016 Smart Car
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06-21-2018, 08:06 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 118
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike9999
Unfortunately I can't offer any solutions at this point, but I've been dealing with a similar issue on my Generac generator (2001 Dolphin). My problem is intermittent. It appears to be heat related but I'm not positive because sometimes it fails on the first start.
Suggestions I can offer.
Try turning generator off and restarting. May take 2 or three times. This has worked for me on occasion.
Try letting it cool off if everything is hot.
Take the plastic cover off that surrounds the start switch and breakers on the generator. You can see the voltage regulator which has a red light is on when is is putting out power but off if not.
I'm still trying to diagnosis my problem. I suspect either a failing excitation Circuit breaker (you cannot manually reset it) or a failing voltage regulator. Out side possibility of a slipping belt.
Good luck. If I get any more details I will update this, but I probably won't for a couple of weeks or more.
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On my 02 dolphin, when starting found if holding start switch for 10 - 15 seconds after engine starts field excitation will flash.
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07-22-2018, 03:59 PM
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#11
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Member
National RV Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 53
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Problem solved
Found the issue for the generator. We tested at the breakers on the genny, and found power coming off of both. Tested at the power switch and no power. I knew at that point I had a break in the line somewhere (but where). Just as I was thinking I would not find it, I followed the line coming out of the genny to a junction box. Took the cover off and low and behold there was a burnt line in there. The connection must have been bad becuase it burnt the wire nut off and shorted out to the junction box, melted the insulation off the wire, and burnt the wire out. I don't know why the breaker did not kick out. I cut back the lines, new wire nuts, and ample tape to ensure it was all covered up and secure. Fired up the genny, and all is well in the world of electricity. I am no electrician, but my older brother is, and he guided me through all of this process to ensure it was done proper and safe.
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07-23-2018, 09:52 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Sparks/reno
Posts: 19
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Great info. Glad you figured it out
__________________
jim and Mary
2000 sea breeze 1310
F53 v10 19.5 tires
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