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PowerTech Generator Overheat Problem

Yahoo Message Number: 10973
Having just completed our longest outing and western tour last week, we came to know and appreciate our coach much better. The 3200 mile, three week trip in the blistering Arizona and Nevada heat also exposed a couple of new issues.

The most notable was the generator shutting down if both A/C's were on and the outside temp rose above 90 degrees and we were moving at less than 45 mph. Bummer to say the least, as the dash air was also not cooling as it should.

Having read some old posts regarding inadequate air flow to the generator, I tried opening the bay door when taking a rest or lunch break. this was very effective as no shut downs occured with the bay door open. It was begining to appear I was in need of a ventillation improvement project. Then as the trip progressed it was becoming apparent the shutdown temperature was dropping! The inadequate ventalation theory was getting shakey.
At that point it occurred to me that perhaps the overtemp or maybe the low oil protection circuits were malfunctioning. Since a welcome cold front had pushed the temperatures into the 80's or lower, I deferred this issue untill we arrived back home where I could better deal with it.

After a couple of days of internal clock reset at home in Texas, I started to investigate the generator issue. Upon removing the water temperature switch from the Kubota diesel I tested it in a heated oil bath to determine at what temperature the switch was actually operating. The manual states it should opertate at 235 +-5 Degrees F.
On the first test the switch performed it's duty at 190 degrees. The second test it operated at 209 degrees, and on the third 212 degrees.
There were no more tests as the switch stayed ON forevermore at this point when it slipped into a lifeless state of permanant failure. A trip to the auto parts store put a new switch in hand which I first tested to insure I would not fry that very expensive Kubota diesel. The new switch consistantly operated at 235 degrees in the oil bath!! Happy Day!!

So perhaps I, and perhaps some others with this shutdown problem, do not actually have an inadequate air flow issue after all! If you have experienced this problem I would suggest you have your generator water temperature switch checked or just outright replaced, as the thing is cheap, ($11 I paid) and the labor will cost you more to check it than to replace it.

Another cold front has come through Texas, so I will be waiting for another 100 degree day to verify this thing does not have an inadequate air flow problem. When it gets there, I will post an update.

Happy motoring to All!!
Dave

2000 Allure 36'

#30444 Blt. Sept '99
'04 Honda Pilot Toad

Re: PowerTech Generator Overheat Problem

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10974
I thought the same thing. I am going to figure out the what, where, etc of this thing. I had the ignition relay fail on me recently.
It is under the dash on the passenger side. No biggie to repair.
I'll let you know if I find anything out about this one.

Mike

95 Intrigue 10061

Quote from: Dave Hills\[br\
]
Having just completed our longest outing and western tour last

week, we

Quote
came to know and appreciate our coach much better. The 3200 mile,

three

Quote
week trip in the blistering Arizona and Nevada heat also exposed

a

Quote
couple of new issues.

The most notable was the generator shutting down if both A/C's

were on

Quote
and the outside temp rose above 90 degrees and we were moving at

less

Quote
than 45 mph. Bummer to say the least, as the dash air was also

not

Quote
cooling as it should.

Having read some old posts regarding inadequate air flow to the > generator, I tried opening the bay door when taking a rest or

lunch

Quote
break. this was very effective as no shut downs occured with the

bay

Quote
door open. It was begining to appear I was in need of a

ventillation

Quote
improvement project. Then as the trip progressed it was becoming > apparent the shutdown temperature was dropping! The inadequate > ventalation theory was getting shakey.

At that point it occurred to me that perhaps the overtemp or maybe

the

Quote
low oil protection circuits were malfunctioning. Since a welcome

cold

Quote
front had pushed the temperatures into the 80's or lower, I

deferred

Quote
this issue untill we arrived back home where I could better deal

with it.

Quote
>

After a couple of days of internal clock reset at home in Texas,

I

Quote
started to investigate the generator issue. Upon removing the

water

Quote
temperature switch from the Kubota diesel I tested it in a heated

oil

Quote
bath to determine at what temperature the switch was actually > operating. The manual states it should opertate at 235 +-5

Degrees F.

Quote
On the first test the switch performed it's duty at 190 degrees.

The

Quote
second test it operated at 209 degrees, and on the third 212

degrees.

Quote
There were no more tests as the switch stayed ON forevermore at

this

Quote
point when it slipped into a lifeless state of permanant failure.

A

Quote
trip to the auto parts store put a new switch in hand which I

first

Quote
tested to insure I would not fry that very expensive Kubota

diesel. The

Quote
new switch consistantly operated at 235 degrees in the oil bath!!

Happy

Quote
Day!!

So perhaps I, and perhaps some others with this shutdown problem,

do

Quote
not actually have an inadequate air flow issue after all! If you

have

Quote
experienced this problem I would suggest you have your generator

water

Quote
temperature switch checked or just outright replaced, as the

thing is

Quote
cheap, ($11 I paid) and the labor will cost you more to check it

than to

Quote
replace it.

Another cold front has come through Texas, so I will be waiting

for

Quote
another 100 degree day to verify this thing does not have an

inadequate

Re: PowerTech Generator Overheat Problem

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10976
Hi Dave,

Would you provide the part number for the switch? I did some work on the baffles associated with the two slots under the coach. Opening the door definately helps - I will never run the generator without the door open. Next job is to open the air inlet side which is the front slot. I purchased a high speed rotary cutter from Harbor Freight for $10!! - and does it work! Fred Kovol
 

Re: PowerTech Generator Overheat Problem

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10994
Fred,

The original temperature switch was made by Nason and has a Power Tech P/N "TT-L16A-242R/QCGG2". Nason has a web site with a breakdown of their part numbering system and what the numbers mean, if you are interested. Sorry I don't have the replacement number as the box went out in the trash and the sales invoice is illegible. It was a Borg-Warner brand part and we just picked it from their parts book based on the thread size and switch opening temperature.

Hope this helps.
Dave

2000 Allure 36'

#30444 Blt. Sept. '99

fredkovol wrote: