Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > RV SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES FORUMS > RV Systems & Appliances
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 02-04-2023, 05:26 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 21
Generator runs but no power output

I have a 2015 Winnebago Brave 27B. It has an Cummins/Onan, 4000 W gas generator. The generator runs fine and indicates 74 hours of use. The circuit breaker on the generator itself is in the on position, the coach power cord is plugged into the generator outlet, however, there is no amperage or power being delivered by the generator.

A friend of mine who is an electrician helped me look at the system. When the generator is running there is 110 V on the generator outlet box, but no amperage.

All of the circuits and circuit breakers in the coach are on and no blown fuses. Measuring at the generator outlet box, takes all of the rest of the coach out of the equation.

The fact that I am able to detect 110 V at the generator outlet box makes me think that the generator circuit breaker is working.

Any ideas of where I can start to figure out why this is not putting out power even though it starts and runs well?
Brave Dave is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 02-04-2023, 05:53 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Old-Biscuit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 26,689
Gen Outlet goes to transfer switch

No AC to RV....gen side of transfer switch not engaging
__________________
I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
Old-Biscuit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2023, 06:07 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 846
Probably totally unrelated BUT, my generator or transfer switch sometimes fails to output voltage unless I have some kind of load connected. It never fails if I switch my AC fans (only) on before I start the generator.

I’ve never worried enough to track back and diagnose that because it never fails when I do start it with a slight load waiting for voltage.
__________________
Marvin (and Eileen) - 1997 34’ Gas Bounder / 1996 F53 Chassis | Towing 1996 Ford Ranger on Acme Dolly
MarvinG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2023, 06:14 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,349
Quote:
Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit View Post
Gen Outlet goes to transfer switch

No AC to RV....gen side of transfer switch not engaging
Generator outlet means no transfer switch.
twinboat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2023, 06:15 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,349
Open the generator outlet box and check the wire connections.
twinboat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-05-2023, 08:13 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Posts: 5,085
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brave Dave View Post
I have a 2015 Winnebago Brave 27B. It has an Cummins/Onan, 4000 W gas generator. The generator runs fine and indicates 74 hours of use. The circuit breaker on the generator itself is in the on position, the coach power cord is plugged into the generator outlet, however, there is no amperage or power being delivered by the generator.

A friend of mine who is an electrician helped me look at the system. When the generator is running there is 110 V on the generator outlet box, but no amperage.

All of the circuits and circuit breakers in the coach are on and no blown fuses. Measuring at the generator outlet box, takes all of the rest of the coach out of the equation.

The fact that I am able to detect 110 V at the generator outlet box makes me think that the generator circuit breaker is working.

Any ideas of where I can start to figure out why this is not putting out power even though it starts and runs well?
Please post model number of generator for better advice. Usually generators of that size are connected to a transfer switch. Transfer switch may be defective or have a blown fuse.

Plugging the shore power cord into a generator outlet typically means there is no transfer switch. In that case the outlet may be defective. Are all pins making good connection to the plug. Can you measure 120 volts in the socket?

Some RV's have a large, maybe 30 amp socket, for external accessories. It may be powered from the RV main circuit breaker panel. It will have no power if the transfer switch is not connecting. Can you post pictures?

120 volts at the generator outlet means generator is working.
No current means there is an open circuit down stream.

Possible plug not connecting in the socket.
Possible socket does not have 120 volts out.
__________________
Paul Bristol
Kodiak Cub 176RD
Nissan Pathfinder 2015
Persistent is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-05-2023, 09:10 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Old-Biscuit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 26,689
Quote:
Originally Posted by twinboat View Post
Generator outlet means no transfer switch.
YEP..........manually has to plug in shore cord into gen outlet




As you suggested.......need to open Gen Receptacle and check wiring connections
__________________
I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
Old-Biscuit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-05-2023, 09:13 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 7,870
The on-generator breaker can appear in the on position but be tripped.


Turn it OFF and back ON.


Then pull out your voltmeter and check the outlet you plug your shore power cord into.


Let us know what you find.
__________________
Brett Wolfe
Ex: 2003 Alpine 38FDDS. Ex: 1997 Safari Sahara. Ex: 1993 Foretravel U240
wolfe10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-05-2023, 09:26 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
tap4154's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,951
You probably have an open circuit somewhere. Maybe a wire is loose in your 30 amp outlet box, or it's a bad receptacle. I would start there, then check wire connections at your internal outlets and breaker panel. Have you replaced any 110 outlets recently? As Wolfe10 said, turn the generator breaker on and off. May not have fully engaged, or may be failing. Mine has the same setup, with no transfer switch.
tap4154 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-05-2023, 01:10 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Payson, AZ
Posts: 1,273
i've been thinking bout this also. you have voltage but say no amperage (current flow). how are you determining no current flow? you need a load to have current flowing. if you are just plugging an amp meter into the receptacle there is no load and no current flow. are you using the current flow show on a surge protector / ems display? they will show no current flow if there is no load downstream.

do the 120 volt devices work if you plug into shore power?

do you have a 30 amp to 15 amp adapter? if you do what happens if you plug it into the generator receptacle and put a load like a light or radio on the 15 amp output side?

i'm thinking you have an open circuit after the generator receptacle. this could be the shore power cord, where the shore power plugs into the rv, or at the main breakers in you electrical panel.

do you have an EMS installed in the incoming shore power path? if so, it is showing an error and interrupting incoming power.

time to get the meter out and start tracking the power path. just measure the voltage and each and every connection point. don't worry about the amperage. the open circuit is causing the lack of current flow (no load, no current flow). find where the voltage disappears and correct the connection.

i'm kind of surprised that your electrical friend couldn't figure this out.
bigchick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-05-2023, 10:20 PM   #11
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 21
I am checking voltage and power right at the receptacle box from the generator. I would think that the rest of the recreational vehicle would be out of the equation as the only thing I am checking is the generator and the plug that the vehicle cable plugs into since I have no transfer switch.

I am checking the voltage with a fluke 77 V meter and I am checking the current with a clamp on amp meter. If I plug the coach power cord into the generator receptacle, no 110 outlets or appliances like the microwave have power.

I will try the breaker switch again tomorrow morning, however, I think I have tripped it and reset it two or three times.

Thank you for all the suggestions, let me know if the information I have provided stirs any additional thought.
Brave Dave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-05-2023, 10:27 PM   #12
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 21
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarvinG View Post
Probably totally unrelated BUT, my generator or transfer switch sometimes fails to output voltage unless I have some kind of load connected. It never fails if I switch my AC fans (only) on before I start the generator.

I’ve never worried enough to track back and diagnose that because it never fails when I do start it with a slight load waiting for voltage.
I'll apply a load and try again. Thanks for the idea! Ill update tomorrow.
Brave Dave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2023, 10:03 AM   #13
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 21
So I did not follow my engineering training of changing one variable at a time.....but the generator is now producing power.

A point of clarification of my system. I do not have a transfer switch, but have a manual transfer system. The generator has a 30A outlet in a basement compartment. The coach has a 25' 30A power cord. The cord can either be plugged into shore power or the generator outlet.

I tried all/most of the suggestions all at once. I tripped the generator breaker 3 or four times (generator not running) and then left it in the latched closed position. I opened up the generator outlet box and tightened the ground wire nut, and the 3 screws on the back of the generator 30A receptacle (black wire allowed 1/2 turn, others were very tight). I plugged the coach 30A cable into the generator 30A receptacle and turned on my Victron inverter to charge only. I turned on the heater fan only and started the generator. I was bummed when nothing happened. Seemed like 10 seconds later......the fan started and Microwave clock turned on. I let it run for about 15 minutes and shut it off. I restarted the generator 2 additional times with the fan on and it worked each time....after about 10 seconds.

Is the 10 second delay normal?

Thanks to all for the tips. Fingers crossed.
Brave Dave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2023, 06:52 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 846
Yes it is for mine.
__________________
Marvin (and Eileen) - 1997 34’ Gas Bounder / 1996 F53 Chassis | Towing 1996 Ford Ranger on Acme Dolly
MarvinG is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
generator, no power, power



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Coachmen Galleria 2500W LP Generator runs but no power output i Stephen Yuh Class B Motorhome Discussions 13 04-21-2018 05:12 PM
Onan generator runs but no output - FIXED! Nick-B MH-General Discussions & Problems 3 08-05-2014 12:54 AM
Generator runs but has no output to MH duracell11 MH-General Discussions & Problems 7 09-05-2011 07:25 AM
NO AC Power output from Generac generator, still runs but ... talock RV Systems & Appliances 10 12-27-2010 09:21 PM
onan 5500 generator runs but no power output Jim RV Systems & Appliances 4 09-13-2007 04:41 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:35 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.