Bumps cause Generator to shut off

[Capt6pak]

my gen-set has been shutting down when we hit big bumps in the road, hit the brakes hard for a quick stop, and when i back up a slight incline of my driveway. any thoughts. would a loose + or - wire cause this?

[fonzie]

Maybe low oil cut off switch....check oil level.

[A32Deuce]

Could also be float level in carb if it has one. Big bumps or stopping hard could be flooding the engine with fuel.

[kfergiez]

Today I learned that you can run generators WHILE driving.

Is this common?

[formerFR]

most likely a loose GROUND wire, in the switch...since the generator is running and typically the only thing that will cut it off then is a switch.

[A32Deuce]

Originally Posted by kfergiez

Today I learned that you can run generators WHILE driving.

Is this common?

Yes. In the summer when really hot, run it to use the AC to cool the unit down.

[kfergiez]

That makes sense.

[formerFR]

yes, many of us 'run' our generator while traveling, either because we want the additional cooling aid of one or more of the coach air conditioners during very hot travel days, or we want to run the microwave or coffee maker for a long while, etc....

Generators themselves don't 'care' when they are run, whether parked or driving. They simple crank up and provide 120v power to the coach.

[rk06382]

Originally Posted by Capt6pak

my gen-set has been shutting down when we hit big bumps in the road, hit the brakes hard for a quick stop, and when i back up a slight incline of my driveway. any thoughts. would a loose + or - wire cause this?

Is your fuel low like less than 1/3?
There is a low fuel generator shut-off. The generator gets its fuel at a higher point on the gas tank than the engine. The design is for an engine gas reserve after the generator runs out. If the generator outlet is in the back of tank, braking or backing up hill will starve the generator as the fuel moves to the front of the tank.

[salwolfe]

Originally Posted by Capt6pak

my gen-set has been shutting down when we hit big bumps in the road, hit the brakes hard for a quick stop, and when i back up a slight incline of my driveway. any thoughts. would a loose + or - wire cause this?

Mine has done this at times and a tech says he found a loose ground wire and for a while it seems that things were fine. Now At times the genset will restart immediately. Other times not. Sometimes one or both of the circuit breakers will move to off. Sometimes the bumps are not so large. I live with it now as oil in genset I’d fine and rig gasoline is adequate.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by rk06382

Is your fuel low like less than 1/3?
There is a low fuel generator shut-off. The generator gets its fuel at a higher point on the gas tank than the engine. The design is for an engine gas reserve after the generator runs out. If the generator outlet is in the back of tank, braking or backing up hill will starve the generator as the fuel moves to the front of the tank.

If the fuel flow is only temporarily interrupted by braking or backing I'd think the unit would continue to run off the fuel in the carb. At least most of a minute or so until supply is restored

If it were mine I'd try to replicate failure by backing up driveway and when it stops I'd put it in park, set brake and grab my multimeter to see if I have 12v power to the generator's ignition. If there's an ignition relay in the circuit check for power in and power out.
The part about it shutting down when going over bumps could indicate something mechanical causing loss of power to ignition.

Low oil shutdown could also be near the top of the list for cause.