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06-23-2010, 08:27 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,581
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Generator started by itself
I purchased a 2004 Journey 39K about three months ago and am very pleased with the unit. Shortly after we purchased it we traveled to our daughters house and plugged into a 15/20 amp circuit. We ran a 1500 floor heater and at 2:30 AM the generator started. I checked with Winnebago and they said the unit did not have autostart as a factory option. This has an Onan 7.5 quiet generator (maybe quiet but I sure heard it at 2:30 AM). I've looked in the generator compartment and the electrical compartment where the inverter is located and do not find anything that looks like the Onan auto start device.
Any thoughts, suggestions, etc? OK we were out in the rural area and there are feral cats. Would/could one of them nestled up in generator area and stepped on or somehow pushed the start button long enough for the generator to start?
__________________
 Bob & Sandi, dogs Tasha a Frenchie and Tiki a Skipperkey
SW OREGON 2005 34 foot DolphinLX
If towing: a bright red 2016 Mini Cooper on a tow dolly.
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06-24-2010, 02:43 AM
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
Country Coach Owners Club Appalachian Campers Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Chattanooga, Tn.
Posts: 12,060
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Quote:
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"OK we were out in the rural area and there are feral cats. Would/could one of them nestled up in generator area and stepped on or somehow pushed the start button long enough for the generator to start?"
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Most likely reason generator started. You could inset a couple of wedges under the blades of the switch and tape into place to prevent animals from starting the generator. There are some other reasons but this has been #1. Do a search if you are interested in reading past posts on this topic.
__________________
Mike, RVIA & RVSA Certified Master RV Technician
Amy, Dr. Assistant - Roxie & Mei Ling, four legs each
2000 Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser 450 hp & 1330# torque
06 Saturn Vue, 06 Chevy Z71 4x4 & 2014 Corvette Z51 M7
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06-24-2010, 05:01 AM
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#3
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Administrator in Memoriam
Newmar Owners Club Retired Fire Service RVer's Spartan Chassis
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Newark, DE
Posts: 25,898
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This is a known problem with this generator.
Moisture gets in the control cable connector at the generator and shorts out causing the generator to start.
As Mike noted, search for many posts on this issue.
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Adios, Dirk - '84 Real Lite Truck Camper, '86 Wilderness Cimarron TT, previously 4 years as a fulltimer in a '07 DSDP
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06-24-2010, 05:09 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,581
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Thank you - I shoud have searched and after your suggestions I found four or five posts with this problem and possible solutions. I thought it was a very rare happening but is it not uncommon with this model generator. Again thanks
__________________
Bob & Sandi, dogs Tasha a Frenchie and Tiki a Skipperkey
SW OREGON 2005 34 foot DolphinLX
If towing: a bright red 2016 Mini Cooper on a tow dolly.
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06-24-2010, 06:28 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Marshfield, WI
Posts: 719
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We have the same generator and had the same problem one evening while watching TV. The next day I took the wire harness connector apart on the left side of the generator, (as viewed through the hood), sprayed it with contact cleaner, let it dry, and filled it with dielectric grease, then put it back together. No problem since then.
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Denny, Connie & Shadow (former barn cat made good)
2006 Tiffin Phaeton, Cat C7, Freightliner Chassis
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06-25-2010, 05:55 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,173
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Same as Martind4. Good advice,
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Pete - Full Timing
2000 Country Coach Magna 40' Indulgence, CAT C10, #5892
2019 Ford Ranger XLT
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06-25-2010, 08:44 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,581
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Thank you I'll pull that harness plug, clean it and use dielectric grease.
__________________
Bob & Sandi, dogs Tasha a Frenchie and Tiki a Skipperkey
SW OREGON 2005 34 foot DolphinLX
If towing: a bright red 2016 Mini Cooper on a tow dolly.
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06-26-2010, 03:08 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 331
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The 4k Onan in our old '92 Winnebago would start itself every time it rained.
BOTH of our houseboat engines started themselves one night during a rain storm. I'd just replaced the flybridge ignition switches, obviously with not very good ones!
Water and electric switches do not mix...
__________________
2000 40' Tiffin Allegro Bus \ 2002 Regal 2860 Commodore
1988 53 x 14 Skipperliner \ 1995 32' Party Cruiser
1984 Goldwing Aspencade \ 1976 Harley Sportster
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