jpcoll01 Posted November 10, 2017 Report Share Posted November 10, 2017 Just stopped to make some breakfast/lunch and went to start the genny and it spun for a while and then the CarbonMonoxide defector beeped and no lights, no gauge panel, no nothing. My batteries are alive and well as my solar and inverter are still going strong. I checked outside and it appears that there are some big inline “buss” that appear to be like breakers, I pushed those buttons and one sounded like it might have reset but no power. Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpcoll01 Posted November 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2017 Reset those busses and stuff came back on. Tried again to start genny and everything died again. Had to reset again. Sounds like the Genny starting is tripping those “breakers”? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilishjim Posted November 10, 2017 Report Share Posted November 10, 2017 Sounds like it, possibly a loose wire or a shorted out one going to genny 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...
Kirk W Posted November 10, 2017 Report Share Posted November 10, 2017 It could also be a bad starter on 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...
jpcoll01 Posted November 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2017 I’m thinking starter because it only kicked the breaker when trying to start. Sounds like it might be pulling more amps than the circuit is set to provide. Kinda cold outside to guess and YouTube myself through fixing it, might actually have to pay someone to fix it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted November 11, 2017 Report Share Posted November 11, 2017 It is pretty common for starters to fail due to shorts in the windings, even those on auto engines and this one is similar. The first thing an auto shop will do when checking one is to check the current draw. 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...
freestoneangler Posted November 11, 2017 Report Share Posted November 11, 2017 What about starting the generator first then transferring power? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpcoll01 Posted November 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2017 Not sure I follow on starting the gen first and transferring power? It is an on-board gen that pulls it starting cranking amps from my house batteries. Im thinking the original breaker “kick” damaged the breaker as it kicked again while running just lights. Am I wrong to think that these things eventually go bad like GFCI outlets or AC breakers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted November 12, 2017 Report Share Posted November 12, 2017 13 hours ago, jpcoll01 said: Am I wrong to think that these things eventually go bad like GFCI outlets or AC breakers? They do fail. In my years of electrical maintenance work, I have seen many a circuit breaker get weak and need to be replaced. Circuit breakers are designed to slowly trip at lower and lower levels as a safety factor in design. It is done to ensure that the reverse never happens. If those breakers have tripped many times then probably they should be replaced, even if not suspect. The only way to be sure is to use a recording amp meter so that you know what the current draw was when the circuit opened. 13 hours ago, jpcoll01 said: Not sure I follow on starting the gen first and transferring power? I don't get this one either. I suspect he is thinking of the 120V-ac side of things and it is never a good idea to start your generator while shore power is in use because the generator is typically the "preferred" source for the ATS and if you have some heavy loads on shore power when it auto transfers, that will cause damage to many things if done very often. Your issue is on the 12V-dc side of things and in getting the generator engine started. 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...
freestoneangler Posted November 12, 2017 Report Share Posted November 12, 2017 I presumed, perhaps incorrectly, that you were running the RV on gen only and not hooked to shore power. I was also thinking that you could lower any start surge related issue by having the gen disconnected, get it running, then connect to see if that made any difference. I suspect you are correct in thinking the breaker that got tripped is now damaged/weak. But, unless that event was an anomaly, if the culprit is the generator, it will likely repeat. As Kirk mentioned, having a shop check start-up current profile would be a next step. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpcoll01 Posted November 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2017 9 hours ago, freestoneangler said: I presumed, perhaps incorrectly, that you were running the RV on gen only and not hooked to shore power. I was also thinking that you could lower any start surge related issue by having the gen disconnected, get it running, then connect to see if that made any difference. I suspect you are correct in thinking the breaker that got tripped is now damaged/weak. But, unless that event was an anomaly, if the culprit is the generator, it will likely repeat. As Kirk mentioned, having a shop check start-up current profile would be a next step. Got it! I understand what you were saying now. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RV_ Posted November 13, 2017 Report Share Posted November 13, 2017 I think the previous folks were missing one fact or you used DC wrong. When the breaker trips is it only your DC power that goes out, as in the AC outlets work but the DC ones do not? Because if that is the case you may have a convertor or inverter failing that has nothing to do with the generator. Just a thought. If the inverter or convertor is bad that would account for the 12 volt DC starter having issues along with the other DC circuits being out. RV/Derekhttp://www.rvroadie.com Email on the bottom of my website page.Retired AF 1971-1998 When you see a worthy man, endeavor to emulate him. When you see an unworthy man, look inside yourself. - Confucius “Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.” ... Voltaire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kb0zke Posted November 15, 2017 Report Share Posted November 15, 2017 After rereading the original post, it sounds like trying to start the generator is tripping the 12vdc breaker on the starter circuit. Does the starter even begin to turn the generator before the breaker trips, or does it trip as soon as you hit "start"? Diesel, gas, or propane generator? David Lininger, kb0zke 1993 Foretravel U300 40' (sold) 2022 Grand Design Reflection 315RLTS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpcoll01 Posted November 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2017 20 hours ago, kb0zke said: After rereading the original post, it sounds like trying to start the generator is tripping the 12vdc breaker on the starter circuit. Does the starter even begin to turn the generator before the breaker trips, or does it trip as soon as you hit "start"? Diesel, gas, or propane generator? The the first time it turned over a few times then kicked the breaker. After that first trip the breaker would immediately trip upon hitting the “start” button. I got a replacement delivered today (we just got back home and it was waiting from Amazon) my hope is I replace the breaker and the gen starts up like normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted November 16, 2017 Report Share Posted November 16, 2017 14 hours ago, jpcoll01 said: my hope is I replace the breaker and the gen starts up like normal. Let us know..... 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...
jpcoll01 Posted November 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2017 That did it. Replaced the breaker and everything works as expected. Genny is purring like a kitt...err...well, it’s running. Once I got into the system i was impressed with how it was set up. There is a breaker between the alternator and batteries, one between the converter and batteries and one between the batteries and coach, who knows, might keep me from burning up sometime. Appreciate the input. Often find it helpful just to write something out, generally makes me think of something i may have missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpcoll01 Posted May 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2018 This happened again last night. Only this time resetting the breaker wouldn’t do anything. I had no DC to the lights/electric step/monitor panel, etc but had 13.1v from the battery to my inverter so battery had plenty of juice. Went out today and something had reset and had full power. Is there some kind of a time-reset cut off or something on RV’s? I’m really confused at this point. Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesertMiner Posted May 31, 2018 Report Share Posted May 31, 2018 What about an “ auto reset C/B”...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpcoll01 Posted May 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2018 9 hours ago, DesertMiner said: What about an “ auto reset C/B”...? I didn’t even know that was a thing, I guess it would almost have to be something like that. Now to find where it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpcoll01 Posted June 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2018 I am tracking down the power loss with a multimeter. I can pull 13.6v directly from the battery and again from the end of a wire directly from hot terminal attaching to an 80 amp circuit breaker (brand new) when I try to start the gen it kicks something and power to the coach goes out and I read 3.2 v at the hot (in) side of that breaker. It isn’t kicked ans I get 3.2 out the back of it. I can unhook it and re hook it up and get 13.6 again on both sides of the breaker. Any ideas on that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpcoll01 Posted June 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2018 I get 13.6 again immediately after unhooking/rebooking the ground to the batteries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpcoll01 Posted June 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2018 Almost like something downstream of the breaker is kicking and only allowing 3.2 v through the circuit. Ideas on what that might be? Also, whatever it is clears on it’s own if the ground wire is removed from batteries ans re-attached. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpcoll01 Posted June 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2018 Any chance a relay could be the issue? This relay is down near my batteries? Assume may be to control the gen starter? Bosch 0332209150 Mini-Relay https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000XMFWLW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_WaFeBb13W7EWS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted June 2, 2018 Report Share Posted June 2, 2018 Is this only happening when you attempt to start the generator? If so it may be that your generator starter has failed and is pulling too much and tripping an auto reset breaker. 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...
jpcoll01 Posted June 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2018 It was only happening when I tried to start gen but now it is happening even with the electric step and the auto reset is taking longer and longer. I am having a terrible time finding where it would even be. Looks like I’m going to have to pay someone who is smarter than I am (which wouldn’t be a big deal but I am supposed to leave KY for a month on Friday) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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