We have a real issue! Triple digits, ready to leave for our trip in one day and the generator won't run the a/c. We had unplugged shore power to cool the 2008 Itasca down for some pre-trip honeydo's, Went outside to see if it was cool enough and someone had plugged the #@%$ thing into shore power with the generator running! We've had some issues with things being touched in the past - but nothing this bad. Now, I've turned everything off and left the mh sit for 20 minutes. Returned and generator turned over and all seemed to be working till I added the a/c. It would not run it! Anyone have any ideas what may have occurred, or better yet what do I need to do to fix this???

Check circuit breaker in the panel.

Reset and set the CBs. Check the voltage at the ATS to determine if you have gen power on the input and output.

Didn’t see that the gen was running.

CA Traveler wrote:Reset and set the CBs. Check the voltage at the ATS to determine if you have gen power on the input and output.Not sure what that is?

Not sure where to find the generator reset?

Triple digit heat! Generator won't run | Good Sam Community

27 Replies

doxiemom11
Explorer II
Jun 16, 2019
We have a switch inside our motorhome on the dash that allows us to start the generator from inside. We don't have to go outside and unplug from electric - we can run generator while plugged in and there is some kind of automatic switch that allows that. You should have that too.
mikestock
Explorer
Jun 16, 2019
bobkatmsu wrote:
CA Traveler wrote:
Reset and set the CBs. Check the voltage at the ATS to determine if you have gen power on the input and output.

Really appreciate you knowledge and willingness to help. As someone that is not nearly as proficient as you, your abbreviations sometimes leaving me scratching my head. My problem not yours I know, but if you could maybe spell it out for those of us mechanically challenged it would be much appreciated. Again thanks for all your help over the years.

Very polite way of saying what needed saying.
dkreuzen
Explorer
Jun 16, 2019
viajante wrote:
I suspect that the problem was triple digit heat. I went out this morning and the generator started right up. I turned on the a/c and let everything run for a while, with no problems.
Thanks to everyone for your advice, which I did pay heed to and tried.

I doubt it was the heat. The generators in all my Motorhomes for the last 15 years run more when the temp is over 90 than below. When traveling I usually start the generator when the outside temp is above 90 and leave it running with the A/C on until we arrive at our destination. I have run the generators in 115+ heat many times and never had any issues.
wolfe10
Explorer
Jun 15, 2019
bobkatmsu wrote:
CA Traveler wrote:
Reset and set the CBs. Check the voltage at the ATS to determine if you have gen power on the input and output.

Really appreciate you knowledge and willingness to help. As someone that is not nearly as proficient as you, your abbreviations sometimes leaving me scratching my head. My problem not yours I know, but if you could maybe spell it out for those of us mechanically challenged it would be much appreciated. Again thanks for all your help over the years.

CB= Circuit Breaker

ATS= Automatic Transfer Switch
bobkatmsu
Explorer
Jun 15, 2019
CA Traveler wrote:
Reset and set the CBs. Check the voltage at the ATS to determine if you have gen power on the input and output.

Really appreciate you knowledge and willingness to help. As someone that is not nearly as proficient as you, your abbreviations sometimes leaving me scratching my head. My problem not yours I know, but if you could maybe spell it out for those of us mechanically challenged it would be much appreciated. Again thanks for all your help over the years.
tropical36
Explorer
Jun 13, 2019
MrWizard wrote:
it should be no problem to have the shore cord plugged in with the generator running. The transfer switch keeps it isolated.

i disagree with statement, and this has been discussed many times

not designed to switch heavy running loads, like the A/C

not designed to be a 'fail over'

it is simply an automatic choice device

which ever one of the (2) power choices you choose , gets selected
but only one is supposed to be 'HOT', not generator running and plugged in to shore power

We've plugged into shore power before shutting down the genset plenty of times. I mean it's not like you can parallel these two sources.
Also the transfer switch relay contactors use the NC contacts for the shore power, so when genset is running the contacts close and essence have priority, so plugging in to shore, should have no effect.
One thing we always do though, is to shut off the ac, so that they don't ride down with the genset and even though, our unit shuts down pretty abruptly. Considering that there is a control sw. beside the bed as well, this thought of mine really doesn't have much merit, either.
MrWizard
Moderator
Jun 13, 2019
it should be no problem to have the shore cord plugged in with the generator running. The transfer switch keeps it isolated.

i disagree with statement, and this has been discussed many times

not designed to switch heavy running loads, like the A/C

not designed to be a 'fail over'

it is simply an automatic choice device

which ever one of the (2) power choices you choose , gets selected
but only one is supposed to be 'HOT', not generator running and plugged in to shore power
KD4UPL
Explorer II
Jun 13, 2019
Glad you got if fixed. Unless someone did some kind of crazy hack-job on your electrical work it should be no problem to have the shore cord plugged in with the generator running. The transfer switch keeps it isolated.
way2roll
Trailblazer
Jun 13, 2019
viajante wrote:
I suspect that the problem was triple digit heat. I went out this morning and the generator started right up. I turned on the a/c and let everything run for a while, with no problems.
Thanks to everyone for your advice, which I did pay heed to and tried.

Good news and thanks for letting us know.

I always found it ironic - and irritating - that when we needed the genset and AC the most was when it the hottest and would shut down due to overheat. I fixed the problem on that RV and sold it but man what a pain. Nothing like being stuck on the beltway in 100 deg heat with no AC.
MrWizard
Moderator
Jun 13, 2019
one bit of advice

don't wait for the temp to hit 100,
start the genny and then the A/C before it goes over 80
let the genny and A/C ease into the heavy work load by starting early
it was triple digits here Sun, Mon,Tues and 90's Wed
in triple digits, i start early, and i set the 'stat' so the a/c does NOT cycle
it just stays on cold continuously