Forum Discussion

Chool_Adventure's avatar
Oct 21, 2022

Loss of power

Hello, I have a 1993 cobra passport.ford e350
Yesterday power just shut off.
Generator works, if I connect external power from my house everything works but when I try to work off the generator no power.
I checked the fuses and breakers but couldn't find anything.
Any advice before paying to have a professional look at it?
  • Did you check circuit breaker on genset?
    Make and model of genset?
    Do you have an automatic transfer switch or do you have to plug shore power cord into genset receptacle?
  • Yes it is likely the breaker on the generator itself. It is a common issue. Usually looks like a toggle switch.

    Also, many RVs do not have an automatic transfer switch and you switch power sources (ie. Generator vs home outlet) by physically plugging in your RV power cord to either the generator outlet (usually in the same compartment as the cord itself) or another power source (ie. a home outlet, or the campsite power stand). When running your RV off the generator, that cord must be plugged into the generator outlet.

    Hope that helps.
    Chris
  • Thank you for the replies.
    I will check the generator breakers again.
    The cable is connected to the rv, not directly to the generator but ill take another look. I bought it a week ago so still figuring it out.
  • In the hatch where the shore power cord is stored is where the genset receptacle is located in your vintage of rigs.
  • enblethen wrote:
    In the hatch where the shore power cord is stored is where the genset receptacle is located in your vintage of rigs.

    The older style motor homes (which yours is) usually had a plug (female receptacle) in one of the storage bays. Probably the bay where the power cord enters the motor home. When you plug into shore power, the plug goes to the receptacle on the pedestal. When you need the generator, the plug goes into the receptacle in the storage bay. If you don't plug the cord into the receptacle, the generator will run but will not connect (power up) to the motor home.


    Look in your electric bay or one of the others see if you can find something like this


    Plug your shore cord into it to power the RV from the generator
  • Chool Adventures wrote:

    I will check the generator breakers again.

    Don't just look at the breakers. Cycle them off and back on.
  • I just had a similar issue. I had wiring from my generator go to a junction box, then from junction box to the shore cord/plug area. In this junction the stranded wires were joined to the solid wire going to rear of rv. Had some wires in there burned up. Trace the wiring from generator to where the shore cord is.