Generator Malfunction

[dale farley]

I keep my bus plugged in all the time when not in use, and I usually try to start it about every month to exercise everything. I back it out of the shed and run the generator and all three cruise airs for about 30 minutes.

When I did this today, everything worked fine, but when I turned off the generator, I noticed that my fuel pump and hour meter were still energized. I tried to find a breaker to disconnect the power but was unsucessful. After about 15 minutes, the fuel pump and hour meter stopped.

I have a 20KW Power Tech generator that looks and runs like new. Does anyone have any idea why the fuel pump and hour meter stayed on for several minutes after I shut the unit down?

[mike kerley]

Just a guess, but I'd say a relay in the control panel was hung up. I'd cycle the generator a few more times to see if it repeated or cleared itself. Then plan on finding and changing that relay some day. A bad diode across the coil contacts of the relay may also be the culpert, but that would be the last item I'd check.

[dale farley]

Mike, I suspected a relay, but wasn't able to locate one when checking this morning. My manual doesn't seem to be much help in locating the problem, so I may end up calling Marathon or Prevost. Thanks.

[mike kerley]

Dale, I have a panel behind my genny accessed by a hatch in the first bay. I THINK thats were the control panel, auto start ect is located. Sometimes these controls are physically located on the gen set. I'll look around on mine to see what I can see.

Did it behave the second time you tried it?

Mike

[dale farley]

Mike,

I've tried it several times and have not been able to duplicate the problem. Maybe it was a one-time thing. I would like to know how to disconnect the power to it, if it happens again.

[garyde]

Hi Dale. You may have a seperate battery for your Generator start, which also powers the Generator contols. There may be a disconnect or fuse between the battery and the Terminal at the Starter or Controls.

[dale farley]

Gary,

I do have two separate batteries for my generator, and I didn't even think about that when looking for a way to disconnect. I went straight to my engine compartment and flipped both switches, and of course, that didn't make a difference. Just shows I'm getting old.

I don't actually know of a disconnect betweeen the batteries and the generator, but I am sure there has to be a relay somewhere that is sending power to the fuel pump and hour meter. Thanks.

[truk4u]

Dale,

On my 97, the generator cut-off switch was located on the curb side in the battery box bay. Mine had two 12V batteries connected in parallel charged by the generator or the solar panel.

IMG_1018_1.JPG
You can see the switch here on the left

P5300070.JPG
Also, there are relays inside the gen control box

Good luck.....

[MangoMike]

Hey Trukman,

Who did you steal those photos from?

Mango

[dale farley]

Tom, Mine also has the two generator batteries in parallel charged by the solar panel, but I don't see a disconnect. There is a 12V house disconnect and a 24V disconnect in the compartment with my house/generator batteries, but they don't affect the power to the generator.