Generator Tripped

gbaldwin · 07-01-2019, 10:27 AM

Should my water pump kicking ON trip my Generac 2000 generator? Happened a couple of times this weekend while running a 110 isolating fan, a couple of lights, and of course the converter. When we would open shower faucet, genny revs up and then trips the genny. Pump still runs off battery. Thought I was doing right by running generator while showering, but tripped it two different times.

TT - Surveyor 200 MBL -

AquaMan · 07-01-2019, 10:58 AM

Do you have your water heater set to electric?

gbaldwin · 07-01-2019, 11:01 AM

No, water heater on Gas. Fridge was on AUTO, so plugged in to genny, I guess it was pullling off genny as well.

AquaMan · 07-01-2019, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbaldwin

No, water heater on Gas. Fridge was on AUTO, so plugged in to genny, I guess it was pullling off genny as well.

Your converter could draw around 7-9 amps if the batteries are low, and depending on size.

gbaldwin · 07-01-2019, 11:20 AM

So if suggesting that converter and pump combined could be causing the generator to trip, then what do I do? I mean I cant turn converter off while showering or using water, can I? ??? Guess I never thought of pump being big user.

llr · 07-01-2019, 11:31 AM

You could turn off the converter but I wouldn't think you need to.

What is the continuous generator output? I assume the 2000 is peak.

You may wan't to change the fridge to propane while on the generator.

Still sounds like something else is on that you forgot to list or didn't know it is on.

Except for load the water pump would have no impact on the generator and i doubt if it would draw over 100W so you would need to be on the capacity edge for this to be an issue

A32Deuce · 07-01-2019, 12:08 PM

How old is your battery? Does the AC have an effect on genny operation? Something is making/causing too large a draw.

gbaldwin · 07-01-2019, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A32Deuce

How old is your battery? Does the AC have an effect on genny operation? Something is making/causing too large a draw.

Battery is two years old. I have never used a volt meter to check charge. Only use the level indicators built in. (I Know, Not the best!) I just use 1 12 V deep cell but run Genny daily to charge to 100% level and never let it drop below the 50% level without recharging thru the converter/charger.

My battery then seems to hold 75% 10 100% charge for 12-16 hours of using power fairly generously until next AM charge when the level indicator normally reads ~50-75%.

I guess id say the AC has no effect on the genny as I have never tried to run the AC off this 2000 generator. Only use the AC when on pedestal shore power. I am normally boondocking, as I was this weekend. I do generally have a 110V fan ON when my genny is ON. It does not seem to effect my charging rate (per the indicators).

gbaldwin · 07-01-2019, 12:54 PM

Thinking.... Whenever the Geny goes ON we are normally plugging in a phone or BT speaker or something for a charge. This could be another draw item in this situation. ??

5picker · 07-01-2019, 12:57 PM

Interesting.

other than an on demand water heater that could have an electric element, I can think of nothing that running the pump (and showering) would have to do with tripping the generator's breaker.

I'd go back and make sure nothing else was on (bath fan, extra lights) or that someone wasn't using an electrical appliance when you were in the shower.

As A32Deuce is suggesting, if the battery is bad then the converter is doing ALL the work for the 12v side of things.

I wouldn't think just the converter was too much draw but stranger things have happened although you did mention the refrigerator on auto.

Have you ever checked/verified the output of the generator?

A32Deuce · 07-01-2019, 01:00 PM

One battery may not be enough. With all the 12 volt draws and a few 120 volt draws, it could be just enough when you turn on the pump it may cause the converter to go into bulk mode. Reefer and propane water heater use a little 12 volt to run the boards.

gbaldwin · 07-01-2019, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llr

You could turn off the converter but I wouldn't think you need to.

What is the continuous generator output? I assume the 2000 is peak.

You may wan't to change the fridge to propane while on the generator.

Still sounds like something else is on that you forgot to list or didn't know it is on.

Except for load the water pump would have no impact on the generator and i doubt if it would draw over 100W so you would need to be on the capacity edge for this to be an issue

This is what I am thinking and trying to understand.... The Gen revs up when pump turns ON.... It trips its internal breaker.... however the pump does not stop of course.... continues running off BAT and my indicators say we are at 75%.

llr · 07-01-2019, 01:05 PM

Ar the indicators you talk about the 3-5 lights for battery condition? If so the battery is fairly low so the real issues is probably a bad battery or converter.

Do you have a volt meter? if so what is the voltage at the battery, with AC power from the gen or shore and with no external AC power

gbaldwin · 07-01-2019, 01:06 PM

5 Pic.....Have you ever checked/verified the output of the generator?

NO I have never checked. Every time I look at volt meter it looks like chinese to me. I know I need to learn how to use it but never had the patience. ...Yet.... to read instructions.

5picker · 07-01-2019, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbaldwin

5 Pic.....Have you ever checked/verified the output of the generator?

NO I have never checked. Every time I look at volt meter it looks like chinese to me. I know I need to learn how to use it but never had the patience.

Get yourself a FREE one at Harbor Freight. (no purchase required!)

Start playing around with it and you'll soon learn it is one of those things you don't know how you got along without it.

gbaldwin · 07-01-2019, 01:15 PM

LLR......Yep... on the same panel with water level sensors/indicators.

llr · 07-01-2019, 01:22 PM

If you pick up a meter and post a picture we can walk you through usage. At this point there isn't much more that can be done without a meter.

FYI, the 12V side is very safe to work on, you can't get shocked and the only real danger is metal across the 2 battery terminals or other non-fused location.

the 120VAC is a different story and can be deadly if you are not careful

gbaldwin · 07-02-2019, 06:27 AM

ok.. got meter...thanks 5P...

left TT plugged in to Shore power for several hours at home. unplugged and tested battery... reading 12.8.

formerFR · 07-02-2019, 07:00 AM

I think you are experiencing the same results of any of us who are trying to make use of more than the generator is designed to output, no matter the generator size or the 'device' used when it happens - electrical usage is electrical usage...

but, in your case, while using a 12v device, you may be assuming that 'it' should have no bearing on your generator, but you'd be wrong. The CONVERTER is what is causing the generator's issue, not the water pump itself. You'll find that when you use the water pump, the CONVERTER's Battery Charger starts to then ask for more AMPS to recharge the loss from the battery... the battery charger is then creating the 'spike' in the generator's output, and along with the other items you are using in the RV at the same time, is causing it to exceed it's output amps, tripping it's breaker.

The obvious solution, though not one without aggravation, is to limit the OTHER devices and appliances while on the generator and using the water pump. It's the ONLY solution, other than just NOT running the generator while using the water pump, which, of course, is perfectly FINE and your RV is built to do just that!

**Flybob** · 07-02-2019, 07:33 AM

The light panel is not only inaccurate, but it can be very confusing to some people. You can mot use it to determine the state of charge when the converter is running. It will always appear to read 100% ( all the bars/lights). This is not an indication of a fully charged battery, but rather an indication that the charger is charging the battery. To check the battery ( even causally) the converter must be off or disconnected and the battery needs to have rested several hours after being charged. The best way is to use a hydrometer, but they are less convenient and can not be used on sealed batteries.

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