Generator issue

[marty1300]

UPDATE
found the issue I believe, there is a compartment next to the generator and inside there is a junction box. Stranded wires from the generator are wire nutted to solid wire going to outlet in the rearmost compartment where the shore cable is. These wires were burnt, looks like the neutral . Will need to get them reconnected when I get home



Class c with onan 4K generator. Last night had air conditioner on and using microwave. We have done this before no issues. For some reason microwave stopped, then Air conditioner. Break on generator is not tripped, but I was not getting sufficient power. We use a manual transfer(move cord from shore to plug for gen). When I plug in my small portable generator to the shore cord I get power back to rv. Seems the issue is with generator wiring.? Any advice on what to look at. I did measure 120 volts on the black and ground on the back of the outlet when generator was on. Could not get a reading when on the white wire.
Marty

[marty1300]

Matt_Colie wrote:
Marty,

Thank you for posting the update.

When you do get it repaired correctly, please tell us.

Matt

Matt,
I was able to get it fixed at the track. I had some lever-lock connectors I had used in the trailer. I cut the burned section out and reconnecected with these. I did some research and these were recommended over wire nuts especially when combining stranded and solid wire.

[Matt_Colie]

Marty,

Thank you for posting the update.

When you do get it repaired correctly, please tell us.

Matt

[marty1300]

See my update above

[marty1300]

I will try to answer these suggtions/ comments
In orlando fl so sea level
The air conditioner and microwave were the boy 2 items , we have done this before.
Inverter might have been on
Water was not on
4kw gen
I will re check the breaker

[opnspaces]

The breaker that is really easy to flip is possibly tripped. Flip it to off and push fairly hard in the off direction. If the breaker has a springy feeling in the off direction you need to push harder until is gets through the springy feeling and resets.

[wa8yxm]

marty1300 wrote:
Update-when checking black/ground I have 122, black/white 122, white/ground nothing notable

That.... Is as it should
Black is hot
White is "Neutral" and in your case bonded to Ground.

NOW How big is that genny>

AC is around 1500 Watts or more
Microwave 700-1100 generally
Fridge 350 give or take
Water heater 1500 (unless you do the Fred mod then 1/4 that)

CONVERTER up to about 10 amps... 1100 watts)

NOTE that Fridge water heater and such are WATTS
Microwave, AC and Converter are VOLT AMPS which may be higher.

[Lwiddis]

“I will note it moves very easily. Not much resistance like the regular breaker.” Danger, Will Robinson.

[time2roll]

Any chance the electric water heater element cycled on? 1440 watts

[RLS7201]

Could it be that you're at high altitude?

Richard

[enblethen]

Don't "flip" breakers. To properly reset a breaker, move handle toward off applying light pressure toward off, then turn breaker on.

[marty1300]

What really stumps me is the portable generator is suppling power no problem, while not enough to run the microwave or Air conditioner

2019 sunseeker so the generator is not too old, has about 322 hours on it

Sorry for delay response , trying to race a car also
Thanks for any advice
Marty

[marty1300]

dougrainer wrote:
ALWAYS reset the Genset Breaker. Do not trust a visual look. Reset it and post back. Doug

I did flip it forward and back. I will note it moves very easily. Not much resistance like the regular breaker

[Bobbo]

marty1300 wrote:
Update-when checking black/ground I have 122, black/white 122, white/ground nothing notable

This is normal. Black/white SHOULD have voltage, black/ground SHOULD have voltage, white/ground should NOT have voltage. While 122 MAY be a little low, it is not low enough to be of concern.

dougrainer wrote:
ALWAYS reset the Genset Breaker. Do not trust a visual look. Reset it and post back. Doug

Pay attention to anything that Doug says. He has been an RV repair technician for over 40 years.

[Gary45]

What year is the generator? The unloaded voltage should be higher. Do you have a frequency setting on your meter to check frequency? The newer gennys have electronic voltage control, I have one from the 80's, transformer voltage control, when unloaded it puts out around 130 volts and around 62 cycles, when I turn AC on the genny rpm drops a bit and then revs up to carry the load. You can measure the volts and frequency at any outlet inside the motorhome. Neutral, white wire, to ground should be 0.