Handbasket
Asheville, NC
Senior Member
Joined: 01/17/2003
View Profile
|
You're not likely to have a 'manual transfer switch'. That'd be the arrangement like my Tiger, with a simple plug-in that has to be made for the using the generator. If you've got that, there'll be a 30 amp female outlet somewhere near where the shore power cord enter the van. You plug the shore power cable into it for Onan power.
The automatic transfer switch would be totally transparent to you. Just unplug the shore power, start the Onan, and seconds later, there's a 'click' (maybe not audible) and you should have 120 V in the van.
I'm still not clear on whether or not you have 120V AC current in the van when on the generator. Does the microwave work on the Onan, and are the 120V outlets supplying power?
I'm also not sure the breaker you checked was the right one, since it has nothing to do with the shore power circuit. I'm talking about the breaker inside the green Onan box, probably under the van.
Jim, "I don't skinny dip. I chunky dunk."
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison ('Loafer's Glory'); '07 Forester 2.5 ( the 'HANDBSKT'); '95 Toyota SR5 V-6 4x4 pickup, ARB locker, Bilsteins, Warn hubs & M8000, etc;
'94 968, M030 swaybars ('DOPPLER')
|
stringmann
atlanta GA USA
New Member
Joined: 04/17/2004
View Profile
|
Closer, but no firecracker yet. Thanks to the help of this group, I have continued to progress, methinks. Jim above is right: my little coach manual (thinner than a small church bulletin) says "For your safety, all generator units are equipped with an automatic transer switch that will allow your coach to receive power from either shore pwr or your generator". I then found the Onan manual and it said there is a circuit breaker on the generator. It is painful to get there and reach it, but I did, and it made no difference.(ie, gen still ran w/ it flipped either way, but AC didn't) But I did find out that it isn't an AC problem. Jim and others are right, the 110 is not working, nor is the microwave, off of the generator. (But they work fine off of shore pwr). So my gen is running great, but apparently not sending its power, The circuit breaker on the gen can't be seen (under coach and under lip of housing); but gen works fine either way I switch it, and AC doesn't work either way. The circuit breaker in the coach (on a panel w/ frig and other circuit breakers) is on, and switching it off/on makes no difference. Is it possible a fuse is bad? I found those, but Napa is closed today of course. Would the gen run if the fuses are bad? (I feel ignorant asking that question but I'm desperate). Thanks again.
|
1donald
Springfield, IL
Full Member
Joined: 11/13/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
 Offline
|
We had similar problem with our 2007 RT 210P - Worked fine on Shore Power, but Generator did not generate any electricity. Generator ran fine. Had it checked at the dealer, and the problem was fixed with a new Transfer Switch. Dealer told me that it is rare that a Transfer Switch goes out, but it does happen. Was under warranty, so no cost to us.
Don & Jean
2007 Roadtrek 210 Popular
|
VernM
Marion County, AR
Senior Member
Joined: 06/21/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Do you have any idea at the rated power consumption (Watts) of the air conditioner unit? Do you have any idea of the rated power output of the generator? They just might be fine and know better than try to run when undersupplied.
VernM
GMC Conversion van/Wells Cargo MiniWagon trailer
Sent via HughesNet/SatMex5 Internet Portal
.jpg)
|
Handbasket
Asheville, NC
Senior Member
Joined: 01/17/2003
View Profile
|
String, to avoid confusion, please note that it's pretty standard to use 'AC' to indicate alternating current (110 - 120 VAC), and 'A/C' to indicate air conditioning.
If tripping and resetting the generator breaker doesn't change anything, and you're getting AC in the van on shore power, it sounds like you've got transfer switch or maybe wiring problems, or a defective breaker. I don't think there are any fuses that would make a difference. If the generator is running, it's making AC current; has to be, since this is the ignition source for the engine.
Since we're talking about potentially lethal voltages, I think it's time to take it to a professional shop. May be just a loose wire, may be more serious.
Jim, "Meter maids eat their young."
|
|
|
ckpway
Florida
New Member
Joined: 07/15/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
In the PW there should be a re-settable breaker (not the 110 volt breakers near the rear) but in the kitchen area where the coach battery disconnect is. The main charge line has tripped. That is why you are not getting 110v while on Gen. to the AC unit. Check on the side of the little posts and there is a small button to press which will reset the main charge line.
|
stringmann
atlanta GA USA
New Member
Joined: 04/17/2004
View Profile
|
CK: I thought I would run right out and find what you were describing, but no luck. The Elec shut off is below and West of the frig: what you were describing is just south of the frig, and has 2 sets of connectors/poles. One says 15 amp frig and the other says 30 amp power converter, but I found no switch. This is in the kitchen area, not the circuit breakers under the couch/bed.
Also, I appreciate the distinction of A/C and AC and will use it (or stop abbreviating); I don't need more confusion on this!
I do think I'll have to take it to a shop, but I live far far away. I believe I'll try emailing PW tomorrow morning. thanks again.
|
ckpway
Florida
New Member
Joined: 07/15/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
On the side of each of the poles you found there are small buttons that can be reset. Go take another look. They are very small and one od them has tripped.
|
stringmann
atlanta GA USA
New Member
Joined: 04/17/2004
View Profile
|
ck, I ran right out and I think I found what you are talking about. Again tho, no cigar. There were 2 small black buttons on the north end of the plastic case holding the 2 poles; they would be the size of a pen tip or a little bigger. They did seem to depress, and I tried both settings, to no avail. Still no microwave or air cond. Any other ideas? thanks so much.
|
stringmann
atlanta GA USA
New Member
Joined: 04/17/2004
View Profile
|
Eureka! I wrote to cust svc at PW and they reinforced some of the diagnosis. It was in fact the circuit brkr on the gen (under the panel, very hard to see or touch even). I had tried it before, but didn't wait a minute for the gen to build up a bit; this time I waited just to see, all of a sudden microwave and air cond work! Thanks so much! (important to us boondockers in July)
|
|
|
