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Old 10-11-2012, 07:01 PM   #1
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Why did my generator start on it's own?

Parked it in front of the house last night getting ready to leave tomorrow night. Left the house tonight in the car to go to dinner and was gone for an hour or so and when we returned we could hear the generator running. Yes, I am positive it was off and the door was locked. Strange.
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Old 10-11-2012, 07:10 PM   #2
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My Onan 7500 started by itself and it is not an uncommon occurrence. On this model moisture gets into a connector and starts the generator. If you have the same generator there is a multi-pin connector that you can seal.
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Old 10-11-2012, 07:21 PM   #3
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I have a device on my HR that will start the gen. if the batterys get to low.
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Old 10-11-2012, 07:23 PM   #4
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Many newer MHs have an auto-start feature on the generator if the house batteries get low. Since I'm using the IRV2 app, I can't see your sig or know what year or brand of MH you have. So the previous responce may be your problem.
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Old 10-11-2012, 07:54 PM   #5
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The connector to clean/seal is on the passenger side of the generator at the top. Open the generator access hood and you'll find it easily. Take it apart, dry it out or spray some contact cleaner, then reassemble with some dielectric grease to keep it dry.

It worked for me.
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Old 10-11-2012, 09:21 PM   #6
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Yes, I have the onan 750. My coach is a 2000 Itasca Horizon. I don't think I have the auto start switch to prevent low batteries. I am betting its the wiring issue that several of you mentioned. I will look at cleaming and resealing in the morning. Thanks for everyone's help!
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Old 10-11-2012, 09:29 PM   #7
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We have an Onan7500 in an 06 fleetwood Bounder 38L. I thought I was going nuts. Pretty sure we do not have autostart but went to bed one night about a week ago, woke up on the middle of the night and the generator was running. (Hooked up to shore power). We were in Las Vegas so I don't think it was moisture caused. Couldn't figure out what had happened.
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Old 10-11-2012, 09:31 PM   #8
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This kind of event will make you question your sanity!
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Old 10-11-2012, 09:39 PM   #9
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Moisture, as others have stated, is most likely cause, but I have heard of several being started by "critters" walking on the switch.
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Old 10-11-2012, 09:46 PM   #10
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Gents,
This is interesting to me. As many of you know, I just performed some serious surgery to my Onan 7.5 Quiet Diesel, repairing three different issues all at the same time. In terms of the wiring that I had to remove, undo, or uncouple, there was only one place that needed that kind of work. That wiring was also noted and pictures were taken to show corrosion etc. that had happened, in the short 100 hours of this gens life.

I'm going to post the picture again to see if the electrical connection you're all talking about is the one to be cleaned and sealed. It was the only one I messed with during the operation. The rest of the electrical connections have pretty sealed plugs. That's not to say they won't or can't go bad, it's just that this one is basically in the "open" so to speak and is subject to the elements deterioration.



If these aren't the ones, then by all means, please let me know as I now have a complete parts manual for multiple series of these gens. Thanks
Scott
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Old 10-11-2012, 10:25 PM   #11
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FireUp, I believe that your pics are of the connection for the 120v output. The connector that causes the problem is on a bundle of 12v wires on the PS of your generator. Some of those wires go to your remote switch(s).
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Old 10-11-2012, 10:30 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clyon51
Many newer MHs have an auto-start feature on the generator if the house batteries get low. Since I'm using the IRV2 app, I can't see your sig or know what year or brand of MH you have. So the previous responce may be your problem.
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If you tap the picture/icon of the member that is posting you will be able to see their signature. I know this is off topic. I apologize.
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Old 10-12-2012, 12:30 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ernieh View Post
FireUp, I believe that your pics are of the connection for the 120v output. The connector that causes the problem is on a bundle of 12v wires on the PS of your generator. Some of those wires go to your remote switch(s).
ernieh,
Thank you Sir, yep, those are pics of the 120VAC stuff. During the time at which I was performing surgery on my gen, I also inspected most of the electrical plugs that I came in contact with and, while I didn't take them all apart, I did on some of them. And the ones I had apart, were clean and clear of issues. So, I put them back together and that was that. We have a nice coach with what appears to be, some pretty nice upgrades from the factory but, we don't have the "auto start" feature for that gen. So far, it's not been noticed that we needed it at any given time.
Scott
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Old 10-12-2012, 06:48 AM   #14
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Been there done that. Clean and grease the control wires connector. The connector is in the bundle of wire in front of the generator.
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Old 10-12-2012, 07:06 AM   #15
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Anyone have a ball park figure on the cost/labor for installing this system. I'm thinking I've seen a cost somewhere of $350-450 for the system but unsure of the labor hrs needed to install. Something to seriously consider having done next spring.
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Old 10-12-2012, 07:21 AM   #16
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Magnum has an AGS for $263. Looks pretty straight forward to install yourself.

http://www.wholesalesolar.com/produc...gen-start.html
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Old 10-12-2012, 10:39 AM   #17
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Onan EC-30W is a great auto start system. Cummins Onan RV Generator Energy Command AutoStart Control
It is wireless. Takes about 15-20 minutes to install. find a place to mount controller inside, add Y cable at generator harness, mount remote module, then program. Had one on my Class C and it worked great.
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