Generator Start Light Stays On

[jeffo]

I have a 2013 Onan 5500 and I have noticed lately the small red start lights at the remote switch on the electrical panel and the switch on the generator stay on all the time. The generator starts and run just fine but I have never noticed these lights staying on before.

[jeffo]

I unhooked the remote plug as mentioned above and that did turn off the light.
The light is still on at the start switch on the generator. You are right, it is probably a bad control board. I guess it has been out for a while as it has racked up 3100 hours on the meter. I think it actually has less than 100.I am getting ready to leave for Florida, I will check it more when we get back.

[Viper33071]

What ended up being the problem? Same issues here

[STBRetired]

Well, the light is energized by the control board on the generator. I have the manuals for my 1999 5500 Marquis and it shows the light between pins 1 and 6 of the remote connector (P2 on the control board). If you unplug that connector, the light should go out. You can then measure voltage between the 2 pins. There should be none if the generator is not running. If there is voltage, that would seem to indicate that the control board is bad.

That is not an inexpensive part. If the generator is functioning properly, I am not certain that I would spend the money to replace that control board just to turn the light off. If you are into electronic work, you can get the service manual for your model generator and it includes schematics for the control board.

[jeffo]

That is the problem, the light is on when the generator is not running.

[STBRetired]

Only a problem if the light is on when generator is stopped.

[harold1946]

The red light should be on when ever the genny is running. Everything is good.