Generator Issue

[Alpine06]

Originally Posted by twinboat

If you plug into 50 amp shore power, it is delivering 240 volts, thru all of your equipment up to your main, 50 amp, double circuit breaker. If you measure between each breaker, you will read 240 volts.

50 amp shore power has 2 hot legs, a single neutral and a safety ground. You can't send double the current thru a single neutral.
https://www.rvtechmag.com/electrical/chapter3.php

Thats how it works.

Your generator may be supplying 120 volts on each leg but that's carried thru 2 hots and 2 neutral wires to the generator connection of the auto transfer switch.

Naturally yes because the both phases from shore power are 180 degree offset. My point is none of the onboard equipment of the alpine coach is using 240V. Everything we have is 120V.

[Alpine06]

Originally Posted by twinboat

If you plug into 50 amp shore power, it is delivering 240 volts, thru all of your equipment up to your main, 50 amp, double circuit breaker. If you measure between each breaker, you will read 240 volts.

50 amp shore power has 2 hot legs, a single neutral and a safety ground. You can't send double the current thru a single neutral.
https://www.rvtechmag.com/electrical/chapter3.php

Thats how it works.

Your generator may be supplying 120 volts on each leg but that's carried thru 2 hots and 2 neutral wires to the generator connection of the auto transfer switch.

Twinboat,
This is one of the best write up’s I have seen on split phase power. Very nice !

[Alpine06]

Originally Posted by twinboat

If you plug into 50 amp shore power, it is delivering 240 volts, thru all of your equipment up to your main, 50 amp, double circuit breaker. If you measure between each breaker, you will read 240 volts.

50 amp shore power has 2 hot legs, a single neutral and a safety ground. You can't send double the current thru a single neutral.
https://www.rvtechmag.com/electrical/chapter3.php

Thats how it works.

Your generator may be supplying 120 volts on each leg but that's carried thru 2 hots and 2 neutral wires to the generator connection of the auto transfer switch.

The Title says Generator issue and the post from Okcnewbie suggests or askes that the Onan is a 220V model hence my explanation to the 120V in phase. And here the spec sheet from Onan. If they would deliver a 120V model to the market and one can string a wire from one phase to the other and get 220V they would have a serious liability issue... I would think.

[whalepirot]

Originally Posted by bcruzen

Sometimes if you have had the coach's power disconnect switches off for a while or the batteries have drained, the inverter will will need to be reset on the inverter unit itself, hit the reset and power is restored to the rest of the unit.

Just 'got this tee shirt' and that reset did not work nor did reset or other functions on the inside control panel help.


After not finding an answer in the manuals, I spoke with Richard at Xantrex. He suggested:
1) Plug in a fan or such, then power up inverter in the SYS menu. As mentioned, the Micro clock doesn't draw enough power.

2) Choose "advanced" (NOT BASIC)menus.
Inside select device disable >load sense -off.


3) For 'hard reset" disconnect BAT feed to inverter for 30 minutes. He said the spark upon reconnect (I pulled the BAT feed to the RS2000 fuse, rear BAT compartment wall) is normal.


After some issues with the GEN staying running, contining inverter output cycling of voltage and 60Hz/0Hz, accompanied by On/OFF cycling of the Micro and the fan I plugged in, digfging through the Xantrax menus finally revealed the Load Sense option as ON. Changed to OFF, normal ops finally returned.


The coach sat at a Cummins Rocky Mtn. (don't ask me for a referral) for weeks, then at Stan's Auto in Loveland (++ referral). I found the disconnect switches all ON, which is abnormal for the EMER start (center) switch).


I'm just glad no new inverter is needed and for the help here at from Xantrax.

[happycamper1]

O, this is what happened. About 5 days after I first posted my problem, I drove the rig out of town to fuel up. When I returned home, I again started looking at the problem. I fired up the generator, and everything worked perfectly. Hooked into shore power (50 amp) and everything worked as it should. I disconnected from shore power and checked the auto transfer box for loose wire nuts. I took the wire nuts off and checked for corrosion, finding none, I installed new wire nuts. I saw no evidence of electrical arcing, so I buttoned it up. We left for a two week tip to Oregon (from Southern Calif) and the issue never reappeared.
I hate intermittent problems. Without the problem surfacing again, I don't know what caused it. Heck it may never happen again.
I want to thank everyone for offering possible solutions or suggestions. I'm hoping it doesn't happen again. Again thanks