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Topic: Maiden voyage question. Help! (Read 6 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: help
Reply #25 –
Yahoo Message Number: 144232
Friends of mine who are having trouble accessing Yahoo asked me to post this for them:

Jerry took our LD next to the local Cummins authorized dealer/repair company and spent $100 on diagnostics. They insisted that AC was coming out of the generator, and the problem must be further down the line. Vince [at Lazy Daze] had Jerry check the transfer switch, which wasn't receiving AC from the generator, so we were pretty sure the Cummins place made an error. Chillhowie RV in Knoxville TN correctly diagnosed the problem in just a few minutes, replaced the corroded part on the generator, and charged $180 if I remember correctly.

Marian & Jerry 2006.5 blue MB "Orion" Charleston, SC
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: help
Reply #26 –
Yahoo Message Number: 144244
Oops!  I messed up.  I said that if they got outlet power when plugged in to shore power but not on the generator, then the ATS was bad.  I should not post before my morning coffee...
 Let me try again.  If they have power to the outlets on shore power but not on generator, the problem is either the ATS or the generator.  If they have no power inside when plugged into shore power, the problem is in the power box, either a bad breaker or a loose wire.
 I am comfortable working in the box but I repeat my caution - DO NOT OPEN THE BOX UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING.  That being said, here is how I would troubleshoot.
 First, plug into shore power.  If there is no power to the outlets, the problem is probably in the power panel box.  If there is power to the outlets the problem is either the ATS or the generator.
 Assuming the problem is in the box, I would shut down the generator, unplug from shore power, and turn off a whole house inverter if there is one.  I then would open the box and pull the main breaker.  I would check for a loose wire.  If the wire is loose, put it in, tighten the connector, replace the breaker and test the system.  If the wire is not loose, I would remove the wire and check the breaker for continuity with the breaker in the closed position.  If it reads open, the breaker is bad.  Replace the breaker by taking the old one to an electrical supply house or a good home center or hardware store.  Buy a matching breaker and install it, then check the system.
 Assuming that the problem is not in the box, I would cycle the breaker on the right side of the generator.  Still no power?  I would shut down the generator, pull the shore power, then pull out the power box.  On the back of the power box is a smaller box, the ATS.  I would open the ATS and check for loose wires there, or any visible signs of problems like a burnt connector or wire.  I would snug all 6 connections.  Here is where it gets dangerous.  I would plug in shore power.  Looking into the ATS, there are 6 connectors, black on the left and white on the right.  I will label them 1 to 6, left to right.  Using my meter, I would check 1 and 6, the connections to the power panel.  If there is no voltage there, I would check 3 and 4.  Those are the shore power connections.  If you see voltage between 3 and 4 but not between 1 and 6, the ATS is bad.  Next, unplug from shore power, start the generator, and check voltage between 2 and 5.  If there is no voltage there, then something is interrupting power from the generator.  That could be an open breaker on the generator, a bad connection somewhere between the generator and the ATS, or a failure of the generator itself.  If there IS voltage at 2 and 5, check between 1 and 6.  No voltage? The ATS is bad.  Voltage present between 1 and 6?  The problem is inside the power panel box.

Sorry about the mistake before.  Good luck.

Ken F in NM
'08 MB