maggie blair Posted April 6, 2017 Report Share Posted April 6, 2017 My generator will allow my air conditioner to start but then the air conditioner shuts down. The generator continues to run but no air. Any ideas? Thanks Maggie Blair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Joyce Posted April 6, 2017 Report Share Posted April 6, 2017 I think the air conditioner might be the problem, since on startup they go through multiple steps and have safety shutoffs at each step. 2004 40' Newmar Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid, Fulltimer July 2003 to October 2018, Parttimer now. Travels through much of 2013 - http://www.sacnoth.com - Bill, Diane and Evita (the cat) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steved44 Posted April 6, 2017 Report Share Posted April 6, 2017 You might see if the breaker on the generator is tripped. Sometimes those breakers get weak and they can trip at too low a voltage. The generator will continue to run but it's not putting out any electricity. 2007 Tiffin Allegro Bus 42 QRP"BessyBus ll"ATT hot spotWinegard TravelerM&G Braking systemRoadmaster Sterling tow bar08 Dodge Dakota toadSea Eagle 10.6sr Inflatable 1957 Johnson 5.5SKP 98998 Class of "08" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilishjim Posted April 6, 2017 Report Share Posted April 6, 2017 I'm kinda leaning towards a bad start capicator on AC unit Jim Spence 2000 Dodge 3500 1 ton QC 4x4 dually 5.9 diesel LB BD exhaust brake, 6 spd manual trans 34CKTS Cedar Creek 5er, Trail-Air hitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'mdonewiththis forum Posted April 6, 2017 Report Share Posted April 6, 2017 You say the A/C starts but then shuts down. You mean completely or does the fan keep running? What do you do to get the A/C started again? If the compressor starts then the start capacitor is good. I am leaning towards the generator being the culprit, but want more info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggie blair Posted April 6, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2017 The air-conditioner shuts down completely after a couple of minutes. It runs fine when I'm plugged into electricity. Maggie Blair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSeas Posted April 6, 2017 Report Share Posted April 6, 2017 Did you mention what generator you're using when it happens? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yarome Posted April 6, 2017 Report Share Posted April 6, 2017 I'm not sure which generator or what size you have, or the size of your AirCon, but it sounds as if you've got one of three things going on. 1. Your genny is not capable of sustained output sufficient enough to drive your AC. Ie., depending on the brand a 2000watt generator may produce a surge current (for a limited duration) sufficient to kick your AC over, but the operating current may only be 1600watts and drops too quickly for your AC to complete it's startup. 2. You're having a neutral-to-ground issue. 3. Your generator's breaker is tripping from excess power draw. I agree with Bill. SOUNDS most likely to me like it's your AC failing a check and doing a safety shut-off due to insufficient current. An easy way to tell? Plug in a small 120v device or light, check that your microwave lights are on, etc. If the device/light stays powered when the AC cuts out it's not your genny tripping a breaker and you know it's an AC shut-down. If it's your genny throwing a breaker OR an AC safety shut-down there may be a cheap remedy by installing a hard start capacitor to your AC. SPP6 (NOT SPP6E) capacitor. If it's a neutral-to-ground issue with your generator then you may need to make yourself a plug to address that. Both cheap and easy potential fixes that might get you up and running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 I'm suspicious of the same things previously mentioned. If the generator is still supplying 120v-ac power to things like the microwave or TV but the a/c has shut down completely, that tells me that the cause is not in the generator but in the a/c. If your generator is not capable of supplying enough current without excessive voltage sag, then it could cause the a/c to shut down via one of the safety circuits. We would have to know more about the a/c that you have and also about the generator you are trying to operate it from. What is the "run current" of your a/c and what is the constant load limit of the generator? Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilishjim Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 Maggie you have a motorhome with built in generator correct ? If that is so then the generator should be big enough. What kind of motorhome and name on genny and numbers on genny 4000/ 3500 ? the numbers represent the size. Thats what these guys need to know. Jim Spence 2000 Dodge 3500 1 ton QC 4x4 dually 5.9 diesel LB BD exhaust brake, 6 spd manual trans 34CKTS Cedar Creek 5er, Trail-Air hitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggie blair Posted April 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 25 minutes ago, Devilishjim said: Maggie you have a motorhome with built in generator correct ? If that is so then the generator should be big enough. What kind of motorhome and name on genny and numbers on genny 4000/ 3500 ? the numbers represent the size. Thats what these guys need to know. It is a 5000 Oman in my RV. My RV is a Class C 32 ft. coachman. The air-conditioner shuts down completely after a couple of minutes. It runs fine when I'm plugged into electricity. Maggie Blair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 1 minute ago, maggie blair said: It is a 5000 Oman in my RV. My RV is a Class C 32 ft. coachman. Now that makes it really weird. A 5 Kw generator should be capable of supplying a nominal 40 amps, which is well above what your a/c should ever draw. It should even be able to carry the a/c & microwave at the same time and probably a coffee pot as well. I would try using the generator to operate some other large loads to see what happens. I would try using the microwave first, then if it works OK, I would add in an electric heater, first on low, then if that holds for 10 minutes, change it up to high(draws about 10a) and perhaps even a second one if you have it. It sounds as though your generator is for some reason sagging in voltage, but it occurs to me that it might also be a frequency problem. If your clocks run too fast, that might be a hint about that issue. Onan generators use frequency/voltage combined to control the load acceptance. It may be that both the voltage and the frequency are off. Have you tested the voltage from the generator with a digital meter? I would check that without the a/c, then turn on the a/c while you monitor the voltage. If it falls more than a volt or two, the frequency is also falling off and may be the issue. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yarome Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 Yup.. that certainly changes things. It's still most likely to be a current issue, although you SHOULD have more than enough juice. You want to be sure that, if so equipped, your generators "summer/winter" switch is set properly and your elevation setting is within range of where you currently are. Those can have a similar affect on the issues Kirk mentioned. Hopefully it's not a mechanical issue with your governor or linkage. The fact that your AC runs perfectly fine on shore power further indicates it's an AC shut-down, although it's sounding more like a generator modulation issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronbo Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 I doubt if it is the breaker on the genny. He would have known that as he wouLd have to trip it back on. I think Kirk has it with the voltage/frequency. If you have a kill-o-watt plug it in and see what you have. Ron C. 2013 Dynamax Trilogy 3850 D3 2000 Kenworth T2000 Optimus Prime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggie blair Posted April 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 10 hours ago, Kirk Wood said: Now that makes it really weird. A 5 Kw generator should be capable of supplying a nominal 40 amps, which is well above what your a/c should ever draw. It should even be able to carry the a/c & microwave at the same time and probably a coffee pot as well. I would try using the generator to operate some other large loads to see what happens. I would try using the microwave first, then if it works OK, I would add in an electric heater, first on low, then if that holds for 10 minutes, change it up to high(draws about 10a) and perhaps even a second one if you have it. It sounds as though your generator is for some reason sagging in voltage, but it occurs to me that it might also be a frequency problem. If your clocks run too fast, that might be a hint about that issue. Onan generators use frequency/voltage combined to control the load acceptance. It may be that both the voltage and the frequency are off. Have you tested the voltage from the generator with a digital meter? I would check that without the a/c, then turn on the a/c while you monitor the voltage. If it falls more than a volt or two, the frequency is also falling off and may be the issue. Thanks so much Kirk. I will check into this today. I will have someone look at it and get this resolved. I am on electricity most of the time so it hasn't been a big issue. Thanks again. Maggie Blair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJohns Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 Does the AC work when plugged into shore power? 2002 Beaver Marquis Emerald C-12 Cat 505 HP 2014 Volvo 630 D-13 I Shift SOLD 2017 New Horizons SOLD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 1 hour ago, Dan Johnson said: Does the AC work when plugged into shore power? Answer .... 12 hours ago, maggie blair said: The air-conditioner shuts down completely after a couple of minutes. It runs fine when I'm plugged into electricity. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggie blair Posted April 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 7 hours ago, Dan Johnson said: Does the AC work when plugged into shore power? Yes Maggie Blair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilishjim Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 Maggie are there possibly reset buttons on that generator ? Something tells me you aren't getting full voltage, but thinking about all the cold weather maybe one of those hand flippin fans would work Jim Spence 2000 Dodge 3500 1 ton QC 4x4 dually 5.9 diesel LB BD exhaust brake, 6 spd manual trans 34CKTS Cedar Creek 5er, Trail-Air hitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggie blair Posted April 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2017 On 4/6/2017 at 9:19 PM, Kirk Wood said: Now that makes it really weird. A 5 Kw generator should be capable of supplying a nominal 40 amps, which is well above what your a/c should ever draw. It should even be able to carry the a/c & microwave at the same time and probably a coffee pot as well. I would try using the generator to operate some other large loads to see what happens. I would try using the microwave first, then if it works OK, I would add in an electric heater, first on low, then if that holds for 10 minutes, change it up to high(draws about 10a) and perhaps even a second one if you have it. It sounds as though your generator is for some reason sagging in voltage, but it occurs to me that it might also be a frequency problem. If your clocks run too fast, that might be a hint about that issue. Onan generators use frequency/voltage combined to control the load acceptance. It may be that both the voltage and the frequency are off. Have you tested the voltage from the generator with a digital meter? I would check that without the a/c, then turn on the a/c while you monitor the voltage. If it falls more than a volt or two, the frequency is also falling off and may be the issue. Thanks so much. I got that fixed but now have an issue with the engine. I climbed my first hill here in North Carolina yesterday and when I push the pedal all the way to the floor it makes a grinding noise. When I let off of the pedal the noise stops but I ended up going 40 mph. I am learning so much on this site from you and I appreciate all of your input. Thanks again. Maggie Blair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted April 23, 2017 Report Share Posted April 23, 2017 40 minutes ago, maggie blair said: I climbed my first hill here in North Carolina yesterday and when I push the pedal all the way to the floor it makes a grinding noise. When I let off of the pedal the noise stops but I ended up going 40 mph. You are asking something well beyond my knowledge base but I would get a good mechanic to ride with you as soon as feasible. That sounds like a serious mechanical problem. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggie blair Posted April 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2017 Thanks Kirk. Taking your advice and called Ford in the morning. Maggie Blair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'mdonewiththis forum Posted April 23, 2017 Report Share Posted April 23, 2017 6 hours ago, maggie blair said: I climbed my first hill here in North Carolina yesterday and when I push the pedal all the way to the floor it makes a grinding noise. When I let off of the pedal the noise stops but I ended up going 40 mph. I am learning so much on this site from you and I appreciate all of your input. Thanks again. Maybe the noise is the sound of your toe nails hitting the fan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mscans Posted April 26, 2017 Report Share Posted April 26, 2017 It is possible that the frequency output of the generator (60 Hz,) is out of line. Many items will run fine with incorrect frequency but the A/C may be pulling a high load due to the low frequency, most other appliances don't care. A Kill-O-Watt meter can check the frequency else you have to see an electrical tech. Good luck, let us know what you find. Happy Trails, Florida Mike EXPERTS AREN'T!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggie blair Posted April 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2017 Thanks so much for all the information. Another RV friend figured it out so everything is working good now. Thanks again. Maggie Blair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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