Forum Discussion

Surviver76's avatar
Surviver76
Explorer
Nov 14, 2017

What would make the overload light come on on my GenSet???

I have an little Sportsman GEN1000i genny and yes it was inexpensive and not the Honda. It is under a month old and has been powering my Lance 3000 shore power flawlessly until today.
The "Overload" light comes on when I plug in shore power and the motor shuts down. There is nothing switched on in the camper and I'm stumped. The little genny did blow a bunch of white smoke for a while there after this happened but is now running fine. The lady on the Buffalo help line said to try plugging something else into it so I now have my laptop charging with an extension cord through the screen door. I'm in Oregon and it is a rain free day but this will not be good for tomorrows rain day and all the rest that we have here.. Any help appreciated..

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Update: My wall Systems Monitor may have a short in it.
I pushed the button to check it and the entire thing is dead!
No lights at all. Then it came back on line and now it's dead again. Perhaps my 20 plus year on camper has become possessed!
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Nov 14, 2017
    That genset only has an 800 watt continuous output. My guess would be that your converter is enough to overload it.
    Turn off all breakers in the rig. This "should" turn off connverter. Try again.
  • Surviver76's avatar
    Surviver76
    Explorer
    Nov 15, 2017
    enblethen, Thanks for your response. I will try that tomorrow. I do wonder however how I could be using the gen all this month and then that starts to happen only now.
    Also, I believe there is a short in the wall mounted systems monitor as it has gone dark. I think that whatever has happened in there, on that small circuit board I see behind the front facia, has caused the genny to act in a way that replicates an overload somehow...
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Nov 15, 2017
    enblethen wrote:
    That genset only has an 800 watt continuous output. My guess would be that your converter is enough to overload it.
    One review on The Home depot site says it will shut down at 500.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Nov 15, 2017
    Batteries run down somewhat, then the converter works a little harder to charge them back up.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Nov 15, 2017
    Just the converter could overload that generator. Not just watts but the power factor requires additional apparent power to drive most converters. Need an additional 35 percent over rating. That generator is good for maybe 30 to 35 amps into the battery max.

    Was the fridge set to automatic? That would add 300 watt load.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Nov 15, 2017
    Not sure where some are getting their numbers. 800 Watts continuous is about 6.66 amps without figuring in power factors. Even at 1000 watts is only 8.3 amps.
    Genset
    OP I believe you smoked the genset when you saw the white smoke.
    My PD9245 draws 725 watts when fully loaded and charging.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Nov 15, 2017
    I agree with Enblethen.
    When electronics smoke they aren't going to then work fine or fix themselves.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Nov 15, 2017
    Have you tried this from manual? Doubt if it will work but worth a try!
    "The reset button has been triggered by a power surge. Press the AC or DC reset button to reset the circuit breaker"
  • Surviver76's avatar
    Surviver76
    Explorer
    Nov 15, 2017
    enblethen, no but I will next time it happens...
    Guess what!!? I was correct about the dead led panel causing the gen issue..

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