hello,i have a 28 foot toy hauler that has an onan generator from the factory. when i bought the trailer and the salesman was showing me how everything worked he used the generator to show me that the a/c unit worked fine with generator power. however the trailer has been sitting all winter and decidied to check the ac unit before the summer heat. i did this with no shore power just the generator. the fan blows fine and after the ac unit running 15 minutes the air was barely cold. any suggestions?

What is the ambient temperature?

Does the A/C work correctly on shore power? If yes, then it is a generator or switch problem. If no, then it is an A/C problem.I suspect an A/C problem.

Did you set the thermostat to the coldest setting?Did you hear the compressor kick on?How big is the generator?It is certainly easy to hear the compressor over just the fan. If you have access to shore-power, I would check out the air-conditioner there first to rule out problems with the unit. If the compressor does not start, check for a tripped circuit breaker.Now start up the generator and first check for 120v,ac, power. If the microwave will run you have 120v, ac, from the generator. No 120v,ac? check generator circuit breaker. Does your RV shore-power cord need to be plugged into generator outlet? My Fleetwood MH does. Made that mistake last spring, and took a while before I remembered that stupid mistake.

Ok, well I guess it's warm enough to feel any cold air. I think I'd have to figure out first if the compressor is running, not just the fan. Do you have a way to measure the unit's amp draw? Or notice if the generator seems to be working very hard?

a/c unit hardly working on generator power | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

MNtundraRet
Navigator
May 04, 2013
Did you set the thermostat to the coldest setting?

Did you hear the compressor kick on?

How big is the generator?

It is certainly easy to hear the compressor over just the fan. If you have access to shore-power, I would check out the air-conditioner there first to rule out problems with the unit. If the compressor does not start, check for a tripped circuit breaker.

Now start up the generator and first check for 120v,ac, power. If the microwave will run you have 120v, ac, from the generator. No 120v,ac? check generator circuit breaker. Does your RV shore-power cord need to be plugged into generator outlet? My Fleetwood MH does. Made that mistake last spring, and took a while before I remembered that stupid mistake.
I_am_still_wayn
Explorer
May 04, 2013
Does the A/C work correctly on shore power? If yes, then it is a generator or switch problem. If no, then it is an A/C problem.

I suspect an A/C problem.
mudrat025
Explorer
May 04, 2013
about 75 degrees
2oldman
Explorer II
May 04, 2013
What is the ambient temperature?

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a/c unit hardly working on generator power

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