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Sluggish Generator AC Output

Yahoo Message Number: 19773
During the past 6 months we have noticed the time between starting the generator and production of AC current on our '98 Intrigue is increasing. It has recently grown from approx. a minute to more than 10 minutes. Once the AC kicks in everything is fine for as long as we use the generator but after shut down the next time we fire it up it is again an abnormally long wait for AC after the generator starts.

Finally, today after sitting only 5 days since the last generator useage the generator is running fine but will not kick in the AC output. I have checked the fuses and circuit breakers but everything appears okay.

I have always run the generator, under load, at least monthly and have never experienced any problems other than in the last six months wherein the time between generator start and electrical output has been increasing.

Any ideas would be appreciated?

Joey and Debi Campbell
'98 Intrigue #10540

Re: Sluggish Generator AC Output

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19775
I will defer to Fred Kovol for the straight facts, but my guess is the transfer switch. It is the electrical duframis (that is the technical term) that detects the power source and selects it. It determines whether your source of power is the Inverter, Generator or Shore Power.

What think ye Fred?

Check your wiring schematic to see where it is located on your coach.

Larry
Intrigue
10762

Re: Sluggish Generator AC Output

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19778
JOEY

The best place to start is the transfer box however, you're dealing with 240 volts when you open the box. Be sure both shore power and the generator is off when you open the box. It is very likely you will find a burned wire or relay. If the problem is not obvious be sure you understand the common and the (2) hot wires before power on trouble shooting.

Ken

2000 Magna #5811

Re: Sluggish Generator AC Output

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19785
-Before you check the transfer switch you may want to see if you have any power to the circuit breakers on the genset. I have a PT7000 on my coach and experienced the sme thing you are. I determined that if I didn't have power to the breakers the genset wasn't making power. I removed the brushes and found dust was causing them to hang up. After cleaning my problem was gone. Caution must be used on reinstalling the brush holder to avoid breaking. Use one screw to loosely hold one side of brush holder and holding other end up to keep brushes up off the rings until you can snug the screw to bring the brush holder flat to the housing before lowering the brushes on to the rings and installing the other screw. As you can tell I learned this the hard way. I hope this helps you avoid my mistakes.

Harvey Magna #5377

Re: Sluggish Generator AC Output

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20031
Thanks Harvey (and Larry and Ken). My generator is also a PT7000 so, as you suggested, I checked the circuit breaker and there is no power there. I then trugged through the 8" of snow to open the generator hatch and looked from the outside to determine where the brush holder's are located. Sitting in the snow, looking in from the outside, the location is not apparent. What is very apparent is that I have to move away from the snow belt as soon as I can. This weather is ridiculous.

Back to the generator, do I have to remove the generator from the coach to get to the brushes? Could you give me a little more direction on how to get to them? I have a pretty good mechanical and electrical background and feel confident in checking this out once I find the location.

Thanks

Joey

1998 Intrigue w/Wrangler toad

Quote from: harvey_grooms
-Before you check the transfer switch you may want to see if you

have

Quote
any power to the circuit breakers on the genset. I have a PT7000

on

Quote
my coach and experienced the sme thing you are. I determined that

if

Quote
I didn't have power to the breakers the genset wasn't making

power. I

Quote
removed the brushes and found dust was causing them to hang up.

After

Quote
cleaning my problem was gone. Caution must be used on reinstalling > the brush holder to avoid breaking. Use one screw to loosely hold

one

Quote
side of brush holder and holding other end up to keep brushes up

off

Quote
the rings until you can snug the screw to bring the brush holder

flat

Quote
to the housing before lowering the brushes on to the rings and > installing the other screw. As you can tell I learned this the

hard

Quote
way. I hope this helps you avoid my mistakes.

Harvey Magna #5377 >

>

Re: Sluggish Generator AC Output

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20062
My genset is not a quiet box so it is easy to see the generator. The brush access is on the end of the generator case and is the only access panel on it. If you have a quiet box it may be more difficult to see and reach. A call to Powertech may be in order.

Harvey 97 Magna #5377 -

Re: Sluggish Generator AC Output

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20063
My genset is not a quiet box so it is easy to see the generator. The brush access is on the end of the generator case and is the only access panel on it. If you have a quiet box it may be more difficult to see and reach. A call to Powertech may be in order.

Harvey 97 Magna #5377 -