Electrical - Receptacles not working on generator

[PvilleSteve]

First post. Normally lurk. Will try and be clear with details up front. Hope it’s not a repeat but I didn’t see a clear answer.
Second owner of 2016 Georgetown 378TS.

Generator is on. No shore power at the moment.

Lights, A\C / heating system, and refrigerator are all working fine. No power on any receptacle (bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen).

All receptacles work fine when connected to shore power.

Is this “normal” or do I need to go on a breaker/fuse hunt?

Thanks

[cmulvey]

Originally Posted by PvilleSteve

First post. Normally lurk. Will try and be clear with details up front. Hope it’s not a repeat but I didn’t see a clear answer.
Second owner of 2016 Georgetown 378TS.

Generator is on. No shore power at the moment.

Lights, A\C / heating system, and refrigerator are all working fine. No power on any receptacle (bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen).

All receptacles work fine when connected to shore power.

Is this “normal” or do I need to go on a breaker/fuse hunt?

Thanks

Lights, A/C, Heating system and most likely your refrigerator are 12 volt. I'd initally check your CGI recepticle to see if it's tripped. Try resetting. You'r unit should have at least one if not two. Quite often located in the bathroom and outside.

If still no go, I'm sure others will have recommendations.

[CHICKDOE]

Are you 30 amp or 50 amp?

When you say a/c working does that mean the a/c fan runs? I ask this as the a/c fan requires 120 volt power and if it is running we know the generator is providing that 120 volt power.

If you are 30 amp and the a/c fan is running we can eliminate the generator and transfer switch. I would then look at the gfci, probably in the bathroom. See if it will reset.

If 50 amp there is more that needs to be looked at. Go to the generator and trip and reset both circuit breakers on the generator.
Reset the gfci as above. If this doesn’t fix the problem it is probably time to get a meter and check any automatic transfer switch.

[bubbles]

Originally Posted by cmulvey

Lights, A/C, Heating system and most likely your refrigerator are 12 volt. I'd initally check your CGI recepticle to see if it's tripped. Try resetting. You'r unit should have at least one if not two. Quite often located in the bathroom and outside.
If still no go, I'm sure others will have recommendations.

Then why would they work on shore power?

Long shot since you didn't say both A/C's work.... Check that one CB on the generator is not tripped.

[bikendan]

Moved thread from the General Tech and Repair section to the Georgetown sub-forum.

[phil435]

Originally Posted by PvilleSteve

Is this “normal” or do I need to go on a breaker/fuse hunt?

Thanks

It's not going to be a gfci/breaker issue since these items don't self reset and you state that it works on shore power. As others have mentioned, it would be good to know if this is a 30 or 50 amp service?

Clarification: You could have a breaker issue at the generator/transfer but not in the RV.

[bubbles]

Originally Posted by phil435

It's not going to be a gfci/breaker issue since these items don't self reset and you state that it works on shore power. As others have mentioned, it would be good to know if this is a 30 or 50 amp service?

Clarification: You could have a breaker issue at the generator/transfer but not in the RV.

OK, it's a Georgetown motorhome/50Amp service/onboard gen/ATS. Everything is in the RV.

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by cmulvey

Lights, A/C, Heating system and most likely your refrigerator are 12 volt. I'd initally check your CGI recepticle to see if it's tripped. Try resetting. You'r unit should have at least one if not two. Quite often located in the bathroom and outside.

If still no go, I'm sure others will have recommendations.

A/C is not 12v although it needs 12v for its thermostat.

[BehindBars]

Originally Posted by cmulvey

Lights, A/C, Heating system and most likely your refrigerator are 12 volt. I'd initally check your CGI recepticle to see if it's tripped. Try resetting. You'r unit should have at least one if not two. Quite often located in the bathroom and outside.

If still no go, I'm sure others will have recommendations.

For future reference, I believe what you referred to is called a GFCI outlet (not CGI), which stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter.

The air conditioner requires 120 volts AC to operate.

[CHICKDOE]

Originally Posted by bubbles

OK, it's a Georgetown motorhome/50Amp service/onboard gen/ATS. Everything is in the RV.

first thing i would do is check the breakers on the generator!

do you have 2 a/c's? if so, do both of them work?
does the microwave work?
tv is probably 120 volts. does it work?

trying to determine if the generator is outputting power on both electrical legs.

[phil435]

Agree with Chickdoe! Best thing to do is check the output on the generator first. If you don't have a voltmeter you can pick one up on amazon for around 10 dollars. I think this is an item that should be in everyone's "RV toolbox". I've had to get mine out plenty of times at campgrounds to help someone out.

[cmulvey]

Originally Posted by bubbles

Then why would they work on shore power?

Long shot since you didn't say both A/C's work.... Check that one CB on the generator is not tripped.

Good point. I missed that on initial post.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by PvilleSteve

Lights, A\C / heating system, and refrigerator are all working fine. No power on any receptacle (bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen).

Is this “normal” or do I need to go on a breaker/fuse hunt?

Thanks

Not normal. Everything should operate normally with the generator on...

You probably need to go on a breaker/fuse hunt. Check the GFI reset buttos (usually in the bathroom and kitchen plugs) just in case they tripped when you turned on the generator.... and of course, do the above checks.

[Aussieguy]

ONLY TO BE ATTEMPTED BY SOMEONE THAT CAN USE A MULTI METER ON 120V SAFELY.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
using a multi meter it would take only a few minutes to track down the fault

check voltage out on generator

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check Automatic Transfer Switch.
turn ON generator
a) check voltage IN -OUT on the contactors
b) watch /listen if contactor pulling in and not noisy (Hummm)

If contactor PULLS in (you hear a click) then it is getting a signal that generator is connected


NOT pulling in / no click or signal voltage..... the little circuit board on the contactors may be bad.
Replace the board or the WHOLE transfer switch.

If you hear the click and there IS voltage IN... BUT no voltage OUT that contactor needs cleaning OR Replacing...
replacing would be best
cleaning (blow out with air) may be good enough to get you going again for a while...

May not need to replace the WHOLE transfer switch
you could look to buy just the contactor from electrical supply stores (Grainger or similar) they will match one up for you.


IF No voltage INPUT to contactor...
suspect wires from generator look for any bad connection or isolation switches etc

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Main power panel (breaker box)
seeing that everything works on shorepower ... Definitly NOT a fault the main breaker panel ...

the transfer switch ONLY has one set of wires OUT to the main panel.

it sends out power either from generator or pedestal to the main breakers via the same wires

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Please note............ the above suggestions are not specific instructions for any particular model RV or Trailer.

Generally these suggestions will work on 90% of them.

[doanshop]

Originally Posted by PvilleSteve

First post. Normally lurk. Will try and be clear with details up front. Hope it’s not a repeat but I didn’t see a clear answer.
Second owner of 2016 Georgetown 378TS.

Generator is on. No shore power at the moment.

Lights, A\C / heating system, and refrigerator are all working fine. No power on any receptacle (bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen).

All receptacles work fine when connected to shore power.

Is this “normal” or do I need to go on a breaker/fuse hunt?

Thanks

Did they ever work on Gen to begin with?