Generator - did I mess it up?

If there is actual trouble, Onan's will throw a (sometimes cryptic) code. The start switch inside the RV or the light on the genset itself will blink a number of times after the failure. See your manual.

Low fuel would shut the generator off. I don't think dropping a 80o watt load on the generator that has just started would do anything. I have a full house generator with a V-6 engine that transfers within 10 seconds of the power failure. I realize it is a different setup, but I don't think that the RV generator should not be harmed by having a load dumped on it immediately.

The transfer switch I installed in our trailer transfers the load as soon as it sees 120 volts. The switch normally transfers within 30 seconds of the generator start. Before the transfer switch, I would hook up the cables then start the generator. Walk around and go inside to start the A/C. Generator never missed a beat.

Thanks everyone. We will not be needing the generator, so will try it again after we get parked at our summer campground next week. I think the "lo dc" on the frig was because the generator had not run long enough to be putting out power and when the generator died, it sounded just like it does when you shut it off. Also realized we were getting low on fuel and fuel level may have just happened to have dropped enough to shut the genny down. Will post again once we know if there is still a problem or not.

Or you could just start your v-10 and see if then the generator and frig works fine. :)

64thunderbolt wrote:
the ign on the gen is 12v. If you disconnect the batt while the gen is running it will stop.

I didn't know that. I'm going to start my generator and flip the battery disconnect and converter to see if the generator stops.

Unhook your output wires to the gen to work on the gen when you get it started check your voltage with a multi meter . And check your battery with multimeter you need 12.7

the ign on the gen is 12v. If you disconnect the batt while the gen is running it will stop. If your fridg showed low dc the batt is probably dead and shut off the gen. The fridge didn't do it the batt did it. Sounds to me like the gen is not charging the batt.

Check the condition of your battery. The fridge is telling you it's not getting good DC voltage. If you battery is bad, that might explain why the generator won't start.

As to why it quit - who knows but it had nothing to do with the fridge.

We have had this rig for 3 years. We always run the generator once every 4-6 weeks and put load on it running it for at least 1/2 hour. We have never had a problem starting or running it and for some reason this time I just didn't let it run for a couple minutes, turned the frig on without thinking about it. It has always started right up.

the bear II wrote:
Sounds like you tripped a breaker somewhere.

X2