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am i missing something? 2016 onan generator on raptor

sean425
Explorer
Explorer
sorry if i missed something stupid, but i turn my generator on, and it runs correctly. i hear the transfer switch click after a few moments, but no power to the 120v outlets in the coach.

when we did the walk through, it was rushed and i realized after the fact the tech never ran the generator and used the 120v devices. only showed us how to run it.

all the breakers are on in the converter, and i dont have power to the line side of the panel.

i jumped out the generator and it does run under a load.
26 REPLIES 26

mkirsch
Nomad II
Nomad II
Yeah, but this is exactly the kind of American can-do attitude that allows RV manufacturers to keep churning out excrement year after year... If everyone that had an issue hit them where it hurts instead of most people fixing it themselves, they'd shape up.

Putting 10-ply tires on half ton trucks since aught-four.

NinerBikes
Explorer
Explorer
sean425 wrote:
thanks for the comments about the warranties. definitely taking the advice.

instead of hauling it to the dealer, ill just upgrade to a nice inverter/ats and add a battery bank :C


Smart move, you'll be happier without the doubt of shoddy workmanship.

sean425
Explorer
Explorer
thanks for the comments about the warranties. definitely taking the advice.

instead of hauling it to the dealer, ill just upgrade to a nice inverter/ats and add a battery bank :C

NinerBikes
Explorer
Explorer
smkettner wrote:
joebedford wrote:
smkettner wrote:
Otherwise you have an open circuit. Most likely at the generator, transfer switch or main panel. Voltage detector should pin-point this in about 15 minutes if easy access.
That's what I thought until he said he had a live RV ac plug when the generator is running. Sure sounds like a miswired transfer switch as others have suggested.
Still an open circuit to the outlet not getting power.

Miswired TS would seem to leave one main without power(assuming 50a RV). Again easy to discover with a voltage detector.

OP said he had some electrical knowledge so he may as well find the issue before rewiring anything.
Probably easier to just fix than take it in for warranty work.
At least find where the issue is so he can direct the repair guy to the right area. Last thing I want is the new lot kid pulling apart my new RV to find something simple.


/\ This... sometimes, since the owner is a licensed electrician and has the knowledge, it's just flat out better to go by the golden rule. If you want something done right, you'd better do it yourself, to your standards.

Warranty work at a dealership can always be questionable. Hopefully, work you do yourself should not be questionable.

time2roll
Nomad
Nomad
Or just put the wires right in the first place yourself and get on with camping.
Probably less time than the drive down and check the RV in.

hbski
Explorer
Explorer
temp fix it with pig tails for your trip....after trip, rewire the way it was.....then take it to CW, start the genny and ask the salesman to "hold this for me"......this of course being the shore cord terms


Seriously, that is some messed up stuff, if you don't want to go the gotcha route.....call the manufacturer, tell them the situation, your profession and that you'd like to leave this weekend on your first trip.....If they don't send someone to fix it up immediately they are pretty stupid.....can you imagine someone else getting them selves fried with that setup if it is indeed a miswired ATS?
'06 Dodge 3500 4x4 QC LB DRW
Ride-Rites, Hellwig, Torklift Tiedowns, Fast Guns, Superhitch
'07 Okanagan 117DBL

Gene_Ginny
Explorer
Explorer
sean425 wrote:
... im just baffled that it would come from the factory like this? ....
ATS installed at 4:45PM on Friday before a long weekend. :R

I think Mex covered the solution very well. CW totaly FAILED the safety inspection.
Gene and DW Ginny
[purple] 2008 Toyota 4Runner 4.7L V8 w/factory towing option
2002 Sunline Solaris Lite T2363[/purple]

Reese Dual Cam Straight Line HP Sway Control


Proud member of the Sunline Club

sean425
Explorer
Explorer
af

DrewE
Explorer II
Explorer II
smkettner wrote:
joebedford wrote:
smkettner wrote:
Otherwise you have an open circuit. Most likely at the generator, transfer switch or main panel. Voltage detector should pin-point this in about 15 minutes if easy access.
That's what I thought until he said he had a live RV ac plug when the generator is running. Sure sounds like a miswired transfer switch as others have suggested.
Still an open circuit to the outlet not getting power.

Miswired TS would seem to leave one main without power(assuming 50a RV). Again easy to discover with a voltage detector.

OP said he had some electrical knowledge so he may as well find the issue before rewiring anything.
Probably easier to just fix than take it in for warranty work.
At least find where the issue is so he can direct the repair guy to the right area. Last thing I want is the new lot kid pulling apart my new RV to find something simple.


I think it's just the transfer switch also. Don't confuse a plug with an outlet/socket. The RV proper has only one plug, on the end of the shore power connection, and it gets inserted into the receptacle on the power post or whatever.

Specifically, it sounds as though the priority input is correctly wired to the generator. Non-priority input is incorrectly wired to the RV distribution panel. Output is incorrectly wired to the shore power cord. "Works" fine when just on shore power, but connects the generator and shore power together when the generator starts up, and leaves the RV circuitry disconnected. Very bad things ensue if the generator is ever started whilst plugged into shore power, or if someone grabs the live male plug while the generator is running.

time2roll
Nomad
Nomad
joebedford wrote:
smkettner wrote:
Otherwise you have an open circuit. Most likely at the generator, transfer switch or main panel. Voltage detector should pin-point this in about 15 minutes if easy access.
That's what I thought until he said he had a live RV ac plug when the generator is running. Sure sounds like a miswired transfer switch as others have suggested.
Still an open circuit to the outlet not getting power.

Miswired TS would seem to leave one main without power(assuming 50a RV). Again easy to discover with a voltage detector.

OP said he had some electrical knowledge so he may as well find the issue before rewiring anything.
Probably easier to just fix than take it in for warranty work.
At least find where the issue is so he can direct the repair guy to the right area. Last thing I want is the new lot kid pulling apart my new RV to find something simple.

joebedford
Nomad II
Nomad II
smkettner wrote:
Otherwise you have an open circuit. Most likely at the generator, transfer switch or main panel. Voltage detector should pin-point this in about 15 minutes if easy access.
That's what I thought until he said he had a live RV ac plug when the generator is running. Sure sounds like a miswired transfer switch as others have suggested.

time2roll
Nomad
Nomad
Are there breakers on the generator to reset?

Is this a 50a or 30a RV?

Otherwise you have an open circuit. Most likely at the generator, transfer switch or main panel. Voltage detector should pin-point this in about 15 minutes if easy access.

sean425
Explorer
Explorer
i can see that jd, if i didn't have a warranty, i would dove in head first and put in a better ATS and called it a day.

and i can jump out the generator straight to the panel which ill do for the next few weeks until i can get it to the dealer.

thanks for all the comments guys!

j-d
Explorer II
Explorer II
sean425 wrote:
j-d. its my first camper, and i just wanted to re-assure myself.

i am a licensed electrician, and i do realize the severity of having two sources of power connected.

im just baffled that it would come from the factory like this? i was hoping i was missing something, perhaps another manual selector switch?

also,i did not want to alter my warranty


I came down hard on the safety issue because you're a new member and we don't know you yet.

The "no slack" thing is absolutely typical. Any time we make a repair or replace Old Part A with New Improved Part A, it probably won't fit or connect without a lot of heroics.

In actuality, you'd probably do a better job of correcting the wiring than CW's service department will. Can you use it for what you want to do between now and a service appointment? Could always let them do the "correction" then clean the job up if you don't like the workmanship. I'd sure want to know they got the polarities right.

There are times I'm glad our rig is old enough to be well out of warranty.
If God's Your Co-Pilot Move Over, jd
2003 Jayco Escapade 31A on 2002 Ford E450 V10 4R100 218" WB