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Old 06-28-2019, 06:28 AM   #1
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Generator Question / Support 17FQS & Honda 3000i

First, I have read through many of the forum posts, and based on all this, I shouldn't be having issues, but I am.


We have a 2018 Coachman 17fqs with a 13.5 BTU Coleman Mach AC Unit. Based on recommendations, we bought a Honda EU3000i Generator (not the ES Unit). It's supposed to put out 3000Max Watts and 2600 continuous.


I hooked everything up yesterday, started the generator, waited a few minutes, then turned on the AC low at first, then high. After a couple of minutes started to smell something burning, alarm went off inside RV, so I shut everything down.


Hooked back up to house power through an extension cord, AC and all worked OK. Disconnected everything, pulled the inverter from inside the RV, and could not see any melted/burned wires, so that was a relief.


Bottom line, is there something I am doing wrong here ? Is there something I should be looking at or checking out ? The RV dealer wasn't much support, nor was a call directly to Coleman (Maxair)



We have been popup campers for 20 years, and this is the first TT we have owned with AC, and my first experience with generators. Any suggestions of what to check, look for, how to operate etc would be greatly appreciated.... I just don't want to fry anything.


Thanks in advance
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Old 06-28-2019, 07:22 AM   #2
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this is a wild guess, nothing more.

did you have the water heater on electric without water in it? is it possible that the smell was the electric water heater element frying?


this is nothing more than a guess!
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Old 06-28-2019, 07:26 AM   #3
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What were you using for an adapter between the RV plug and the twist lock socket on the genny?
Were you using the twist lock or the 20A outlet?
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Old 06-28-2019, 02:02 PM   #4
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Thanks for the guess but all I did was switch from house power to generator. No more. If this were the case then the water heater would have perhaps done the same on house power.
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Old 06-28-2019, 02:03 PM   #5
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30 amp twist lock adapter if that helps
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Old 06-28-2019, 02:13 PM   #6
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Interesting. Everything should have worked.

Can you post a photo of the twist lock adapter you are using.

Also I assume you meant you pulled the CONverter and not the INverter to look for burned wires. Two different things.
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Old 06-28-2019, 02:22 PM   #7
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Could the smell inside the trailer be from the exhaust of the generator and that would be reason why smoke alarm operated?
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Old 06-28-2019, 02:55 PM   #8
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Sorry yes converter vs inverter this is all new to me. I will post a pic later but it was a 3 prong lock to 30amp rv made by champion which also make generators here in canada.
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Old 06-28-2019, 02:59 PM   #9
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Thanks but the exhaust was pointed away from the camper and the smell was definitely electrical or plastic like. Also some alarm went off inside the camper. It didn't smell like gasoline
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Old 06-28-2019, 03:06 PM   #10
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I am not familiar with that generator but does it have a 120V/240V switch?

Could you have sent 240V to the camper?

do you have a voltmeter? Are you comfortably working around live power. If yes to both then measure the voltage after the adapter. If no then seek help
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Old 06-28-2019, 03:57 PM   #11
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sounds like the culprit here is the one thing that you introduced into the equation: the generator. Did the generator run faster/louder when the Air Conditioner load was turned on, and when you turned it on high? Have you run the generator BEFORE you tried this with the RV?
'WHAT' lights/alerts/alarms were going off in the RV? Was the door to the rv open while the generator was running? Where was the generator?

Did you use your same Shore Power cord from the RV to plug into the Generator?

Have you run the generator SINCE this happened?
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Old 06-28-2019, 04:15 PM   #12
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Please tell us what alarm in the RV went off and what did you need to do to stop it.
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Old 06-28-2019, 09:13 PM   #13
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Thanks but that is a bit above my comfort level, and equipment on hand. I'll see if I can get someone to do this.
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Old 06-28-2019, 09:24 PM   #14
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Thanks so much to you all for the support. I will answer the questions best I can.


Did the generator run faster/louder when the Air Conditioner load was turned on, and when you turned it on high? -> YES


Have you run the generator BEFORE you tried this with the RV? -> Yes, but stand alone, not connected. Then did connect it, checked out the lights, powered out the slider, and that was all good. Generator did get a bit louder while this happened. After this, was when I turned on the AC


'WHAT' lights/alerts/alarms were going off in the RV? -> I don't know for sure. I was outside when I started to smell burning and the alarm inside went off, so I shut down everything immediately.


Was the door to the rv open while the generator was running? -> YES


Where was the generator? -> Around 3 feet to the rear of the door, but you bring up a good point, exhaust may have entered the RV.. possibly, but not sure that would cause the burning smell

Did you use your same Shore Power cord from the RV to plug into the Generator? ->YES

Have you run the generator SINCE this happened? -> YES, initially it was hard to get started, but once started, it appeared OK again in stand alone mode with no load plugged in. I'm going to check it out further tomorrow.
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Old 06-29-2019, 01:43 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen17FQS View Post
Thanks for the guess but all I did was switch from house power to generator. No more. If this were the case then the water heater would have perhaps done the same on house power.
Is it an electric water heater? If it is the smell will only happen once, real quick. I don't think you should run an electric water heater with the AC on. Too much load on the genny. If the water heater is electric and not propane and you didn't have water in it and purged that is where the smell came from.
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Old 06-29-2019, 02:19 PM   #16
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Make sure that the generator is broken in by running it with a medium load (1500 to 2000 watts) for a few hours before using it with the camper. It takes some time to burn off solvents, etc. used in manufacture before smells go away.

I use a hair dryer as my load device.
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Old 06-29-2019, 02:26 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fonzie View Post
Could the smell inside the trailer be from the exhaust of the generator and that would be reason why smoke alarm operated?
... or the "burn off" smell of a new engine? It does not have to smell like gasoline, but will likely resemble hot metal and burned paint & oil.

Maybe the odor remains such that now it can be isolated.

Also, the generator will likely need a Ground-Neutral plug, or the EMS/surge device may go nuts.
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Old 06-29-2019, 02:32 PM   #18
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"Burning Smell" can come from various sources. When a generator starts to run and goes under load it's often a source of this smell as any oil that may have leaked or been spilled when servicing burns off (or just gets real hot).

Exhaust can also give off this smell until engine and it's exhaust system gets hot and burns off the products of incomplete combustion that's common when an engine first starts.

Burning electrical items have a very acrid smell all their own.
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Old 06-29-2019, 03:12 PM   #19
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Try plugging in something from home, elec theater, drill, power saw what ever and see if that works to be sure generator is working ok.
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Old 06-29-2019, 03:23 PM   #20
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The eu3000i handi is a great generator. Did you have low idle switch engaged? You may need hard start capacitor on ac. 2600 w running 3000 w peak. Check current draw spec on ac. V x A = running w. Does not take into account power factor of maybe 2 for starting w. Inverter takes time to ramp up if idle down sw is engaged. How do you know? Engaged it runs slower, disengaged runs faster
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