Community Forums

Sang Froid · 12-29-2020, 02:55 PM

I have a 2003 30' Thor Hurricane. yesterday morning my generator started up just like usual. In the evening I pressed the start for the generator and nothing happened. I had no power for anything. I started up my external generator and everything worked as usual. When I shut it off, again the internal generator would not start.
I spent most of today checking the brand new house batteries (two one week old 6-volt AGM's), they were fully charged. Then I checked all fuses that I could find, they were all good except I couldn't find the fuse between the positive battery terminal and the converter. I checked the converter as per a video I watched. With the external generator on everything I checked re the video checked OK except for the voltage between the unconnected negative wire and the positive terminal which the video said should be equal to the battery voltage. It was zero. So they said to look for a fuse on the positive wire between the converter and the battery. I couldn't find one but then that wire is buried in a maze of covered wires.
Any clues as to where it may be? Is that the most logical conclusion? It seems to be to me. It is an Intel Power 9130 converter and there is also a Light Automatic transfer switch which seems to be ok.
Any quick help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Mike

twinboat · 12-29-2020, 04:01 PM

2 things, the battery disconnect must be on for your testing and the generator will have a circuit breaker near the battery.

Follow the pos. Cable from the house battery about a foot or so.

Sang Froid · 12-30-2020, 08:03 AM

The house batteries are just forward of the entry steps on a slide-out tray. Both cables go out the back through a hole to the underside of the RV exposed to the elements. I doubt they would put a breaker there. The Negative wire is attached to the RV frame and the Red cable looks like it is heading back to the Converter or maybe to the internal generator (an Onan 4000W) on the other side of the RV. I haven't been able to trace the red cable very easily as it is wrapped up with other electrical cables in those black tubings - I forget the name of them.

All the circuit breakers are in the distribution control panel on the side near the floor next to the bed and only a couple of feet from the converter which only a contortionist could get at easily. The converter has a 15 amp breaker which appears to be OK. I am currently running a eu2000i Honda generator plugged into the shore power port and everything is working so the converter must be doing its job so I guess it has to be a fuse somewhere along the red cable route. Any ideas where?

Skip426 · 12-30-2020, 06:08 PM

The circuit breakers ( 12 volt coach power, 12 volt chassis power , 12 volt grid heater power ) in my coach are all mounted to the frame 3 feet from the batteries ; exposed to the elements and road spray from the dual rear wheels ; only visible while crawling under the coach and contorting around the muffler.

Thinking that an RV or chassis manufacturer wouldn't do something; could prove to be your downfall . Keep following the power cable.

ernest917 · 12-31-2020, 01:07 AM

External internal generators????

Not sure what that means....

I have one generator on a slide out front....

twinboat · 12-31-2020, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ernest917

External internal generators????

Not sure what that means....

I have one generator on a slide out front....

Generator that's installed in RV from factory = internal.

Portable generator that you buy and carry around with you = external.

ernest917 · 12-31-2020, 10:27 PM

Oh.....

Of course that causes me to ask “Why???”

Don’t know many class A owners that carry an external generator.....

twinboat · 01-01-2021, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ernest917

Oh.....

Of course that causes me to ask “Why???”

Don’t know many class A owners that carry an external generator.....

You wouldn't think that many class A owners carry portables but they do.

Backup power, quieter power, conserve fuel, gas instead of propane, poor running on-board, and any number of reasons.

All class As have bathrooms but many don't even use that.

Sang Froid · 01-01-2021, 11:53 AM

Thanks for all the responses. I figured out the problem and it was me! The Battery Storage Control sits just inside the door on the left next to the floor and is virtually invisible unless you are actually looking at it. One of the two switches on it was off and I don't know how that happened but once switched on everything was working again. Sorry to have bothered all of you.

To answer the question of why an external generator, the internal generator works great but is loud inside to the point of not being able to listen to music or the tv. I got a great deal on a Honda eu2000i for only $475 and it works great. I'm going to be selling the Onan Cummins 4000W generator as I will be converting to solar and the compartment the Onan is in is ideal for putting in the batteries.

Again, thanks to all.

Skip426 · 01-01-2021, 11:57 AM

Yours is a fairly common problem for coaches with the disconnect in that location .
Other members have bypassed the relay to avoid the problem , one member fabricated a cover for the switch to avoid casual contact.

shootist · 01-01-2021, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip426

Yours is a fairly common problem for coaches with the disconnect in that location .
Other members have bypassed the relay to avoid the problem , one member fabricated a cover for the switch to avoid casual contact.

Monaco used a switch with a thumb slide unlock on it. Rev group might still sell them.