No Power to Coach From Genset - Page 2

KarenS144 · 07-06-2011, 05:02 PM

WOW! We experienced this as well last weekend. We cranked on the gen for the coach air and all was good till we stopped for gas. We turned off the gen, got gas, pulled around to park so DH could get us lunch and I flipped on the dash thingy for the radio to be on so you don't have to have the key on.

It got hot, I cranked on the gen and NUFFIN! NADA. GRRR. Never did figure it out till we got home and I remembered about the radio. I clicked it off, gen cranked up and A/C worked. I don't know if that's what the problem was for sure but that's the only thing I can think of.

brianneal · 07-07-2011, 07:11 PM

So you think it was the radio switch on the dash?? I just took mine to the RV dealer in which I bought it and they said it was a Generac issue and I had to take it to a dealer. I think they're taking the easy way out personally. Any other thoughts or ideas??

brianneal · 07-07-2011, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jd-ford-hd

Would be nice to know what brand genset everyone posting here has. Mine is a Generac Guardian 6500. Lets see if this problem is brand related.

Same model for me.

KarenS144 · 07-07-2011, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianneal

So you think it was the radio switch on the dash?? I just took mine to the RV dealer in which I bought it and they said it was a Generac issue and I had to take it to a dealer. I think they're taking the easy way out personally. Any other thoughts or ideas??

I haven't tried it since but I'll test it tomorrow if I get time. The radio switch is the only thing that changed. The A/C worked fine and we had power to the microwave when we first started the gen. Once it had been turned off and the radio switch on, we didn't get power to the A/C or the microwave when we started the gen again. I turned the switch off and then we got power to the A/C & wave.... Dunno!

I guess you could make sure the switch is off and see what happens.

brianneal · 07-10-2011, 01:54 PM

The procedure "Chasracer" outlined worked fine. I took my RV back to my dealer, they took the easy way out and said that they couldn't find the problem and that I needed to consult my local Generac dealer (100+ miles away). I emailed them the procedure here and when I picked up they said it worked. So.....kudos to "chasracer" for posting a solution. Thanks.

dashonthedash · 07-22-2011, 10:26 PM

I had no voltage output intermittently from my Generac until recently, when the "intermittent" problem became permanent. Dealer found a broken tab on the circuit breaker, but bypassing the breaker did not solve the problem. The local Generac dealer had a 3-week backup (says wonders for the brand, doesn't it), so my dealer sent the generator to another specialist, who found a loose circuit board connection. They fixed the connection and replaced the breaker, and the generator was producing voltage until it was replaced in the coach. As soon as the panel was closed, no voltage. When I last talked to the dealer, they were looking for a replacement circuit board, but they had no idea whether it would resolve the problem.

I frankly think that the generator is a piece of **** and have asked the dealer to quote me the cost of swapping it out for an Onan.

jd-ford-hd · 07-23-2011, 07:51 AM

Back when I was pulling a 30' fifth wheel, I used a Generac 4500 portable on a hitch haul mounted on the rear of the trailer. Has given years of trouble free service and still is a dependable stand-by for the house. I was tickled to see a Generac in our new Georgetown. Now the tickle has turned in to an irritation..!

brianneal · 08-14-2011, 06:54 AM

I just returned from a long trip up in Maine with our Georgetown. After going through the sequence (reset) suggested to me earlier, the gen worked fine. On the return trip (and when I needed the AC the most) the genset would start right up but produce no power. So, even though the 'factory reset' sequence I was tried before worked, it doesn't seem to be a long term solution. The closest Generac dealer is not so close, so I think I may need to tap my Good Sam Extended Warranty at this point. Very frustrating, Generac has been useless, my dealer has been useless and I can't seem to find a lasting solution. I'll let you know the outcome to this drama.

sparks1032 · 08-15-2011, 06:33 AM

I have the same genset as mentioned and had the problem all last year, until the switch for the radio went out (the one mentioned that plays radio when coach is off) and has not been fixed. Although difficult to believe this has anything to do with it but no problems this year.

KarenS144 · 08-15-2011, 07:56 AM

I've been afraid to turn that radio switch on & try the genny. I don't know if that was our problem or not but don't want to screw anything up by testing it. We did run the gen & A/C last week on the way home but the radio switch was off. A/C worked fine!

Chasracer · 09-06-2011, 07:26 PM

I know that some of you have tried the reset procedure without much luck and unfortunately the reset deal quit working for me too. It wasn't intended as bad information and in some cases it does work.

Having said that here is what I have found with my genset so far, it is also a Generac 6500 unit. The main cause of my problem appears to be not using it enough. After chasing through every procedure I could find, wearing out the batteries in my Fluke - I finally decided to try something a little different. I was checking voltage at the outlet and decided to see what happens when you rev the engine up. My issue and probably the same for a lot of you is related to the brushes. Now getting the brushes out to check them on my genset appears to be a deal of pulling the genset out of the coach, not something I really wanted to do but looking over it I think I can actually cut an access in the cover panel and then make up something to cover the hole I create. But I am getting ahead of myself here, while I was checking that voltage I started revving the engine higher and higher, to the point where I was seeing about 130-135 volts on the leg I was checking. It wouldn't last long as the VR kicks in and does its job of lowering the voltage. After I did this a couple of times, it apparently cleaned off the brushes and commutator to the point that I no longer have any issues with it. The genset fires right up, power is output and now every 3 weeks or so, I put a load on the set and let it run for 30-45 minutes. After doing a lot of reading, letting these gensets sit is the worse thing you can be doing with them. They need to be run and often. I know that is a problem if you are off-site storing, but you need to make it part of your routine.

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