Generator issue

[Pass42]

We have a 2001 National Tradewinds 37' DP...riding down the NYS Thruway to the Rally the other day, noticed the Generator run light on & a slight smell of burned insulation.....pulled over in the pouring rain, opened nose to look at genny, all looked ok...looked under dash, no smoke, all looked ok...got to Rally, light was off, however, 30amp breaker for genny/jacks tripped....reset, ran jacks down, breaker did not trip....slight smell of insulation burned in electrical compartment, nothing obvious.....If I try to start genny, run light comes on, nothing else happens....light goes off if I turn genny switch to stop.........breaker has not tripped again........
Thoughts??????

[Jim]

Multi-wire bundles of wire all the same color nearly always have printing on the wires with a number...so as to follow them. Again, if you smelled burning wire insulation, it has to be found. Yes, it's a chore, but important in the long run.

[Pass42]

Well, I was back under the dash..all wires look good, no sign of burning, as far as I can see...took the cover off the front of the genny, all wires look good...tracing them is going to be a bear.. all laid out neatly, however, all the same color blue!!!! I'm thinking my local Generac tech is going to be the answer....

[Jim]

If we're talking about the genni here, the power for the light in the start switch does come from the control board in the genset. There are three relays on that board so one or more could be bad or stuck in one position and you might still get a light. I'm going by memory but I have a schematic of that board for a circa '94 Onan. But I'm tired and am drifting off so I'll find it tomorrow. Meanwhile, with the smells of burning wires you've had, I don't think you should be trying to fire it up until you track down the burnt area.

[Pass42]

well, tonight I started doing some checking....I think the Starter Controller is bad..I have 12v to the battery feed side, 0 to the other, even when depressing the start button .. I have a click, like a solenoid engaging, but no power...not sure if it is safe to jump the terminals, nor if this is the original problem or a result of the original problem....If the starter controller failed, I don't see why that would cause the run light to illuminate... any thoughts out there???

[Pass42]

Actually, I had been parked in my driveway for a couple of weeks...plugged in, ready to go.....I guess critters are always a possibility....Have not started the "search" yet....probably after work today.. I'll keep posting.. thanks for the replies........

[crasster]

Wonder if some kind of piece of crud, a dried leaf, or bug got fried. ? Keep us posted.

[Jim]

Where were you parked a few to several days before this happened? Anywhere where there might have been squirrels?