Community Forums

drdonny · 06-19-2022, 11:32 AM

Generator is starting when plugged in to 50 amp service. just burned 500 dollars of diesel. Any ideas where to look for the cause? 2020 London Aire

dizcom · 06-19-2022, 11:36 AM

AGS Automatic Generator Start on your control panel. You may have it set to come on if the temperature inside your coach gets to a certain point or something similar like automatic exercise. Just shut AGS off.

Old-Biscuit · 06-19-2022, 11:37 AM

How is the DC System Voltage before plugging in to 50A?

What DC Voltage is the Gen Auto Start set for?

drdonny · 06-19-2022, 11:47 AM

I am not there to know what is before hand Set to start at 11.8 V top off 13V run time 60 minutes AC was running with generator running

Dutch Star Don · 06-19-2022, 05:27 PM

It sounds like you're saying you were not there when this happened. If you lost shore power, it would have come on.

drdonny · 06-19-2022, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

It sounds like you're saying you were not there when this happened. If you lost shore power, it would have come on.

I left it at NIRVC for service. When I got there last night the generator had been running for a while evidently. I only had enough fuel to drive 60miles. The surge protector at the pole showed everything was good there at that end. Battery voltage on chassis and house looked normal. If the power did go off would the generator not shut down when power was restored?

flyboy013 · 06-19-2022, 09:11 PM

Check the power history on Silverleaf. It shows the date/time when you lost shore power and when the generator turned on and off. With this you should be able to determine when the generator turned on because Silverleaf determined you had lost shore power.

saddlesore · 06-19-2022, 09:32 PM

Hmmm... Also check the battery connections and check each battery..You may have one or more that are failing..

RVStitchy · 06-20-2022, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drdonny

I left it at NIRVC for service. When I got there last night the generator had been running for a while evidently. I only had enough fuel to drive 60miles. The surge protector at the pole showed everything was good there at that end. Battery voltage on chassis and house looked normal. If the power did go off would the generator not shut down when power was restored?

Do you know how many hours the generator ran evidently? The generator should shut off when you get to a quarter tank of fuel. On a London Air that would be 25 to 35 gallons remaining which would get you a lot further than 60 miles. Also surprised someone at NIRVC didn't notice a generator running for an extended period of time.

drdonny · 06-20-2022, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVStitchy

Do you know how many hours the generator ran evidently? The generator should shut off when you get to a quarter tank of fuel. On a London Air that would be 25 to 35 gallons remaining which would get you a lot further than 60 miles. Also surprised someone at NIRVC didn't notice a generator running for an extended period of time.

That was what I have always heard, but the fuel gauge was red and said low fuel. I put 141 gallons in a 150 gallon tank.

RVStitchy · 06-20-2022, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drdonny

That was what I have always heard, but the fuel gauge was red and said low fuel. I put 141 gallons in a 150 gallon tank.

My subtle point is - are you sure the generator was running since you said "evidently". Or did the diesel disappear some other way? 141 gallons of diesel at a 1/2 gallon per hour is 282 hours of generator run time or 11.75 days. How many hours do you have on the generator now?

drdonny · 06-20-2022, 12:02 PM

Generator was running when I arrived to pick up Saturday night after leaving for service. After looking at Silverleaf history it came on around 11 Thursday morning. I used wrong word when I said evidently and also did not say coach was on full. Apologize for not making that clear. Anyway it had been running a long time. Added the amount of diesel added indicated generator did not shut down when got below quarter of tank as you would expect

Rev. Roy · 06-20-2022, 12:30 PM

Sorry! The generator cannot run below 1/4 of the tank because manufacturers put the fuel feed for the generator at that level. They do that so it can't drain the tank. So it would be impossible for a generator to drain it that much.

drdonny · 06-20-2022, 12:57 PM

I have been taught that my whole life. I have owned over 5 motorhomes in 20years (Bluebirds and Newmars) I respectfully disagree. Fuel gauge on Spartan dash said low fuel and bottom quarter of gauge was bright red. Spartan estimated distance to travel is what I stated. My gallons of fuel match up with my facts. Things do not always work in real life as designed.