Community Forums

Journey cat · 08-18-2019, 03:16 PM

I’m on the road in MO. Couple days ago after being on shore power . I had no AC from the Onan diesel 7500. I flipped breakers both at gen and the main under bed in an 05 wine journey Everything worked fine for the next several days. Again no AC power. Gen runs fine and don’t stop I checked for current at the gen and at transfer box. 120 at both places. Cleaned contacts at circuit breaker under bed Still no luck. Bang on transfer box with high hopes . Still no luck I have plans to continue north to Forest City then on to the mall of America where is cooler Although I still have a long hot ride back to Fla. Any ideas on what I may check next ? Or a good place to have it repaired ! Along the way ? My wife can’t sleep in the heat ! Nor can I 😖

Journey cat · 08-18-2019, 03:29 PM

A few picture of where I checked

okie mopar · 08-18-2019, 05:57 PM

Be sure and check all the wires are good and tight. Had similar problem and a loose wire had caused the transfer switch to burn up. Got a new all was good for a couple trips started having problems again. Where we bought it the place had put a new plug on the power cord and it had loose wires in it that would short when moved. Good Luck

Journey cat · 08-18-2019, 07:49 PM

Before leaving on this trip I checked all connections were tight in the transfer box . Today I checked ac and dc connections at the generator. And I repeat I had 120 at both the generator and the transfer box . But no ac power on the control center inside the coach. Oddly enough . Once again I’m operational and running the A/C . Next stop will be Kansas City. Then on to Forest City . With all the heat out here I should have stayed in Fl. I’ve been reading all I can on this . Bottom line is I more than likely can fix it myself . But I’m willing to pay the price to have it repaired proper As I have plans to attend the Balloon fest in NM before heading home .

Fugitive861 · 08-25-2019, 07:26 AM

Where is the FIRST junction downstream of the generator? My motorhome has a 5 foot pigtail and goes into a metal junction box where it connect to romex feeding the breaker panel. I'd check at the FIRST junction when its acting up. This will tell you if the problem is in the generator assembly (no power at first junction) or in the breaker panel (downstream of the first junction). Good luck and tell us what you find.

We attended the hot air balloon fiesta and found it terrific. Hope you make it and weather permits good flights.

Oversoul · 08-25-2019, 08:02 AM

Sounds like an intermittent open between the transfer switch & the coach panel box.
Do you experience this issue when on shore power?
I'd suspect an issue somewhere between the output side of the transfer box and the main house breaker at the control center.
Do you have a surge protector after the transfer switch (between the transfer switch & the main power center)?
I can tell you that on my coach, I can have plenty of shore power or generator power but if the surge protector/line conditioner senses any issue at all, it will not allow power to flow through it to the main power center. I'll get great voltage right up to the surge/conditioner input, but nothing after that. I sometimes have to turn my generator or shore power off & then back on multiple times to satisfy the protector.
The best work-around I've found for this is to turn the main breaker OFF at the load center, start the generator, & then to turn on my main breaker. SurgeGuard tech support tells me it's probably dirty power along with high in-rush currents that's triggering the protection. They say it's normal. Good luck.

Stay well.

Journey cat · 08-25-2019, 11:23 AM

Oversold You May be on to something there As I’m having similar issues. Turning of and on several times and it will connect yesterday I removed the ATS and inspected it Did not find any obvious issues Although I’m not having problems on shore power. And do not know anything about a surge protector in an 05 Journey. But will investigate. That

Oversoul · 08-25-2019, 12:44 PM

I know this is a long shot & quite frankly, I'd be surprised if this was your issue, but I've found that leaving no stone unturned is oftentimes the key to discovering vague problems.
That said, have you checked the contactors in your transfer switch for pitting or inconsistent triggering or for a non-latching state due to a failing magnet or insufficient spring tension?
It wouldn't hurt to clean the contactors & then actually watch the contactor in operation..... if you have someone who can switch the power on & off.

Of course you know to turn the power off before touching the components.

Good luck and

Stay well.

Sbrownstein · 08-25-2019, 02:31 PM

have you measured 120 volt output from the transfer switch, either with generator or shore power input?

Journey cat · 08-25-2019, 02:41 PM

I did check the relay contacts. They were fine no pitting etc. and cleaned with emery paper. I’ve read somewhere of a fuse. I believe it’s the white plastic part and I squeeze the retainers and it won’t separate. Below that I believe is the bridge rectifier correct me if I’m wrong I did have my wife start the gen while I had my head in there and did not hear anything I’m curious what’s in this or behind this plastic cover. Once again it’s an 05 Journey 34H

Sbrownstein · 08-25-2019, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Journey cat

I did check the relay contacts. They were fine no pitting etc. and cleaned with emery paper. I’ve read somewhere of a fuse. I believe it’s the white plastic part and I squeeze the retainers and it won’t separate. Below that I believe is the bridge rectifier correct me if I’m wrong I did have my wife start the gen while I had my head in there and did not hear anything I’m curious what’s in this or behind this plastic cover. Once again it’s an 05 Journey 34H

That is a FW rectifier. The ATS will not fire if there is not 120 volts on L1, that is where it gets its sense from.

Schematic attached.

Journey cat · 08-25-2019, 06:15 PM

What I called bridge rectifiers. Is that what you call FW ? If so can I confirm it’s condition with a multi meter ? I’ll check again on L1 , but which L1 Generator ?

Journey cat · 08-25-2019, 06:19 PM

https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/diode/diode_6.html

Sbrownstein · 08-25-2019, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Journey cat

What I called bridge rectifiers. Is that what you call FW ? If so can I confirm it’s condition with a multi meter ? I’ll check again on L1 , but which L1 Generator ?

Generator L1. It goes to the full wave (FW) rectifier.