Generator Stops

[hwbuck]

If I am cooling down the coach on the gen set and start the motor the gen set quits. Is that normal? It is a 7K QD Onan - 1999 Windsor

[ZephyrKnight]

Not from my experience. Mine keeps working even if i start the coach. You should be able to go down the road with the genset running...we do it all the time to keep the kids (with fur) cool

[toolman06]

The only thing that will shut down your gen set is low fuel, sometime mine will cut out when I start to get 3/8 of tank and take some turns. Just a thought.

[hwbuck]

It is not the fuel tank as it does it with a completely full tank. Imediately will restart and run fine. It will run all day driving - and it continues when the engine is shut down - just on starting it stops ? Anyone else experienced this??

[bullydogs1]

The way I read this is that the generator is running AOK while driving, but will only cut out when in the act of starting the engine...once engine is running, generator will restart and continue running...

1. Starting sets off a couple of relays...by starting what about pre heat cycle, does that shut it off before the actual act of starting?

2. If the answer is no, I wonder if in the act of starting something electrical goes on and the battery gets taken out of the generator circuit and that's why gene dies..once starter release battery is back in and all is normal...

This sounds like something that can be lived with, grant you aggravating, but you can live with it...I wonder if your gene is in the act of charging all batteries, you start the engine and it pulls from a battery and this somehow makes the gene think it has a dead battery and it dies..

Does gene spit a code when this happens? And what does code tell you? Fuel problem? Other problem? That code it flashes is the key to where you chase down next.

[hwbuck]

Bullydogs 1 - thanks for the info - all of your assumptions were correct. I suspect now that the power to the gen set comes off the accessory terminal on the starter solenoid. If that is true it is probably shuts off during the actual cranking of the main motor. That would explain the dying and the instant restartability once the motor is running. I have not checked codes from the gen but will do that. Since does not sound like a "normal" event my gen set must be wired a little different than most. I believe it would be easy to rewire. Do you know where one can get wiring diagrams? thanks buck

[hwbuck]

Talked with Monaco and they were very helpfull - the gen set is powered by the chassis battery. In most cases the starting of the main motor does not drop the voltage low enough to have the gen set cut out but many times it does even with battery etc being good. However could be a chassis battery dying, a starter pulling too many amps , or as they stated "many of the gen sets were much more sensitive to this voltage drop" in that case it could be rewired to the house batteries or temp cross conected during starting. will let you know the final outcome.

[RJay]

The generator runs off the coach batteries. If the battery voltage drops below 9.5 volts the generator will quit. If the coach batteries and chassis batteries are tied together then the battery draw from the engine starter may reduce the voltage below 9.5 volts for a short time.

[hwbuck]

Rjay - guess I need to go back to Monaco and get the wiring drawing and
trace it out. Makes more sence it would be tied to the coach batteries.

I do not believe my two systems are normally tied together unless the crossover swithch is closed.

sounds like I have some work to do to find the answer. thanks for the help