Calss C motorhome - On board ONAN generator

Several people have asked why, I am not a mind reader but, you should "exercise" the gen set at least once a month! However, to the OP in order to properly exercise your gen set, you should put it under load. You need to determine if you have a transfer switch, or you must plug your power cord into the gen set. Then run it until it gets up to operating temperature for at least 15 minuets. Turn on something that draws enough amps to ensure that the coils dry out, I used to operate the A/C even in winter.

I do mine every month, without a problem, summer time, (if not actually camping) I turn the AC on, microwave a bag of popcorn, & watch a dvd, to put a load on the genny,(with a cold amber beverage).
NEVER had a problem.
WHY, too lazy to unplug, besides, never found a reason to.

Coach-man wrote:
Several people have asked why, I am not a mind reader but, you should "exercise" the gen set at least once a month!

Well yes but that doesn't have to be exactly a month.

I haven't done a LOT of trips yet but have yet to go out when I didn't need to run the gen at least once during the trip.

I would say most C's past about 2000 have a transfer switch if a Gen was installed. But you could be the plug and play. I turn off the breakers at the service pole just in case. Turn off all loads, start Gen, after Gen stablizes add load. Doesn't matter why, he the OP asked a question, he does not need to justify.

LEN

Hi Olylen

Nope, my 2005 doesn't have a transfer switch.

Sam Spade wrote:
The most common arrangement for a C is like the last picture......and the power cord feeding the RV can get it's power from only ONE place at a time.

Of all the Motorhome owners I know personally, only 1 has to unplug from shore power and plug into the generator. That seems like a silly setup. The whole point of the Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) is so you don't have to plug the shore power cord into the generator.

-Michael

pianotuna wrote:

Nope, my 2005 doesn't have a transfer switch.

Nor does my 2007.

And asking "why" is not necessarily a criticism.
Some of us might actually learn something from the answer.

Sam Spade wrote:
And asking "why" is not necessarily a criticism.
Some of us might actually learn something from the answer.

sorry if my "why?" was inferred as criticism, it was meant to be a troubleshooting tool

often in many life situations people ask a question that could be better answered
if you knew the real question behind the question, so "what are you trying to accomplish?"
is often at the beginning of any troubleshooting session.


.

Sam Spade wrote:

pianotuna wrote:

Nope, my 2005 doesn't have a transfer switch.

Nor does my 2007.

My 2006 doesn't have one and all of the ones I looked at while looking for mine,more than a dozen,from 2002 thru 2007 didn't have one,all had what was pictured in my previous post.

My '07 has an ATS, & glad of it, I just don't like the idea of that "plug & play" system. Just seems like an unnecessary PITA.