Community Forums

OffroadGirl · 05-12-2022, 02:16 PM

Hi all, I was hoping someone could tell me which electrical things should work on each power source, to do some troubleshooting. We have a 2019 Dutch Star 4369, Freightliner chassis.

Of the three power sources (shore power, generator, engine), which things should and should not work? For example, heat, air conditioning, microwave, dishwasher, washer/dryer.

Also, it should be possible to run the coach air conditioner(s) while driving, correct? Do you have to run the generator to do so? We've been unable to find a combination that allows us to do this (we get an E7 error on the 10-key thermostat).

Thanks!

bentjm · 05-12-2022, 02:21 PM

The full answer is - it depends.

The short answer is that everything should run on shore power or generator.

Skip426 · 05-12-2022, 02:34 PM

Your coach air conditioning system won't operate on the highway without the genset running .

Please say whether or not you tried this .

Do you have a manual for the t'stat that says what the error code means ?

Also , many options in these coaches , can you tell us if your coach has multiple roof mounted A/C units , or basement air , and is your coach all electric ( no propane systems )?

jerry davis · 05-12-2022, 02:38 PM

Your engine alternator will only run chassis related items, ie, dash air fan, headlights, dash lights, charge batteries etc. If you wish to run your roof coach a/c’s you must run the generator going down the road. If the generator is running as you travel you can run anything you would normally run as if you were plugged into shore power.

Country Road · 05-12-2022, 02:53 PM

All E7 means is that you don’t have or lost 110v electricity. It should reset once restored.

alank · 05-12-2022, 03:25 PM

Keep this in mind, the statements made above about running everything on the generator that you run on the plug-in isn’t quite true.
When you ere plugged in to a 50A plug, your coach has 12,000 watts of power at your disposal. When you are running the generator, if you have an 8,000 watt generator, you have only 2/3 of the power to use as compared to the plug power. Each 120V item will run the same, but you can only run 2/3s of your items at one time. If you have a 10,000 watt generator, then you’ll have some additional power to use.

GW4607 · 05-12-2022, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OffroadGirl

Hi all, I was hoping someone could tell me which electrical things should work on each power source, to do some troubleshooting. We have a 2019 Dutch Star 4369, Freightliner chassis.

Of the three power sources (shore power, generator, engine), which things should and should not work? For example, heat, air conditioning, microwave, dishwasher, washer/dryer.

Also, it should be possible to run the coach air conditioner(s) while driving, correct? Do you have to run the generator to do so? We've been unable to find a combination that allows us to do this (we get an E7 error on the 10-key thermostat).

Thanks!

Basically in layman terms;

Shore power - everything

Generator - everything

Engine - With the inverter turn on. Refrigerator will operate, most of your electrical outlets will operate and you should be able to run the microwave. On the microwave I would limit use to short time period functions. You can not run roof AC’s, dryer.

Your 4369 model should have a 10KW generator.

Going down the highway you should absolutely be able to run all roof AC’s with the generator running.

Bobby Dowdle · 05-12-2022, 05:15 PM

E-7 is no ac voltage. Like it has been said, everything will run on genset or shore power. You can run the generator while driving and all of your air conditioners to keep cool. When you have the inverter on, it runs the TVs, fridge, microwave and some outlets in the Coach. No air conditioner.

Dutch Star Don · 05-12-2022, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OffroadGirl

Hi all, I was hoping someone could tell me which electrical things should work on each power source, to do some troubleshooting. We have a 2019 Dutch Star 4369, Freightliner chassis.

Of the three power sources (shore power, generator, engine), which things should and should not work? For example, heat, air conditioning, microwave, dishwasher, washer/dryer.

Also, it should be possible to run the coach air conditioner(s) while driving, correct? Do you have to run the generator to do so? We've been unable to find a combination that allows us to do this (we get an E7 error on the 10-key thermostat).

Thanks!

Heat....your Oasis system heats two ways. One is by using the two 110 volt electrical elements, which you should be using when plugged into shore power to save diesel fuel unless it's really cold. Your Oasis also heats using the diesel burner which operates off of 12 volts and can be used when boondocking and there is no shore power. You wouldn't want to use the electric elements with the generator (which you can) because it would be inefficient.

You also have heat pumps built into your roof A/C units. They require 110 volts to operate, so either your shore power or generator.

Air conditioning will only run off of shore power or generator. Many will start their generator while driving to run the roof A/C to help with cooling while driving on hot days.

Microwave...your microwave runs on 110 volt power. It will run off shore power, generator or your Inverter. Your inverter converts battery power to 110 volts A/C. It can drain you batteries quickly as the microwave draws a lot of power. I try not to run my microwave off of the inverter, unless I'm just heating something for 30-60 seconds.

Your dishwasher requires 110 volt power, either the shore power or generator. It DOES NOT work off of the inverter and the dishwasher door/drawer will NOT unlock unless you're on shore or generator power.

Your washer/dryer only runs on shore power or generator.

Lastly, when you try to operate the roof A/C with no shore or generator power, the thermostat will show an E7 error, no power.

bentjm · 05-13-2022, 08:28 AM

Are yiu getting any power inside your coach when running the generator - does anything work on generator?

Dutch Star Don · 05-13-2022, 01:48 PM

I missed the troubleshooting part of the OP's statement. If you're having issues getting power from the generator, make sure the circuit breaker on the front of the generator is not tripped/off.

Any other specific issues, you need to tell us what's NOT working to help you identify an issue.

OffroadGirl · 05-13-2022, 04:23 PM

Thank you, everyone, this is amazingly helpful! We have three AC units. The AC will not start up with the generator only -- it just has an hourglass for a while and then the E7 error. We haven't checked the circuit breaker on the generator, duh, I'll check that next!

bentjm · 05-13-2022, 07:14 PM

Does anything else run while on the generator?

twinboat · 05-13-2022, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alank

Keep this in mind, the statements made above about running everything on the generator that you run on the plug-in isn’t quite true.
When you ere plugged in to a 50A plug, your coach has 12,000 watts of power at your disposal. When you are running the generator, if you have an 8,000 watt generator, you have only 2/3 of the power to use as compared to the plug power. Each 120V item will run the same, but you can only run 2/3s of your items at one time. If you have a 10,000 watt generator, then you’ll have some additional power to use.

That would be true if the RV actually used the full capabilities of the 12,000 watt shore power. 50 amp service is just what they decided to move up to, once 30 amp wasn't enough.

I think you would be hard pressed to use that much power in normal circumstances.