Generator Operation

[Goodspike]

Originally Posted by Kg0gp

My guess would be, because switches have an energized state and not energized, it is set to the least on time expected, 1 to save power, 2 save the switch less actual "on" time, my opinion only...lol

Another good guess. I like that better than the load guess.

[creativepart]

Here's the real reason:

The transfer switches used in RVs are generator priority switches. This means that the switch will connect to shore power when under normal use or even when there is no power present. As soon as the transfer switch detects the presence of 120 volt power on the generator input lines it will switch over to the generator's inputs and drop the connection to shore power. Transfer switches are designed so that only one input can be connected at a time in order to prevent any backfeeding of electrical power back down the other input line, which would be a hazardous condition. In addition, RV transfer switches generally have a built-in delay so that the generator can come up to speed and warm up a bit for actually switching the load. This prevents stalling or stumbling that could cause the generator to die if the air conditioners or other heavy loads while the engine was still cold and not producing full power.

[danhannah]

Originally Posted by Goodspike

I've never used one either, but your guess was my first thought. Also, maybe it just assumes that shore power from an RV park is crap!

I like this answer!

[MIkey3air]

We have an 87 Brave and ours has a switch on the dash which allows checking each of the batteries. One thing that has not been mentioned is the amount of gasoline in your tank. Ours needs to have at minimum 1/3 of a full tank of gas for it to start or it will only crank. You should have a gauge which tells your generator hours on it as well…helpful for keeping track of oil changes and such.
I watched a video on YouTube for a 1988 Chieftain restoration done years ago which was helpful.

[Farco]

Yes! You need House batteries!
The Generator gets it’s power from them!
Now walk around the RV and look for a small exhaust pipe
That’s where the generator is.
Open the doors by the pipe.
It’s probably an Onan Generator.
Look for the oil dipstick. It’s a round cap that unscrews to
read the oil level. Cap looks much like that of a lawn mower.
Make sure it has oil in it.
Once you have batteries in, hold the starter button in 15 second intervals to see if it will start. It will take a few tries until it pulls fuel from the main fuel tank. Make sure you have more than 1/4 tank of fuel in main tank.

[Birdie2017]

The salesman told me to hold the stop button (on the control panel) for three seconds, then push the start button. (Make sure the propane switch is on...also located on my control panel.) That didn’t work so I looked on you tube and a guy said to hold the stop button for 15 seconds, I did, and when I pushed the start button it started right up!!

[US1]

The purpose of holding the stop button in for 15 sec is to prime the carb. If the gen has been sittting for awhile, the fuel has evaporated. 3 seconds is not enough time to draw fuel into the carb and fill it, thus the 15 seconds rule. You can’t overdue it by holding the stop in longer. The float will close the needle/seat once the carb is full of fuel. The fuel pump won’t override the needle. This is providing the needle/seat are in good condition. Today’s fuel is hard on carbureted motors. The ethanol evaporates and leaves a scale in the float bowl which can plug the passages. Youll have less issues if you install a fuel shut off valve between the fuel pump and gen, and then close the valve and run the gen dry of fuel when you expect the gen to sit unused for long periods of time (months).

[creativepart]

Originally Posted by Farco

Yes! You need House batteries!
The Generator gets it’s power from them!

Farco, just a note... not all Winnebago RVs, and certainly not all RVs in general use the House batteries to start the generator. A pretty large number of RVs use the Chassis batteries to start the genset.

I'm not sure what causes the manufactures sometimes use the House batteries and sometimes use the Chassis batteries for generator starting. But it's true.

My 2017 Adventurer is one that starts the generator from the Chassis battery.

[Farco]

Creative: I was basing my reply to what the original poster described.
Both Class A m homes I’ve owned used the house batteries to run the genset.

[Goodspike]

Originally Posted by creativepart

I'm not sure what causes the manufactures sometimes use the House batteries and sometimes use the Chassis batteries for generator starting. But it's true.

Based on post 12 here I made the assumption they were all the same and then realized that probably wasn't true. I apparently edited that earlier post, because whatever I said is gone. As to why they pick one over the other, one guess would be location of the generator relative to the two battery locations. They probably tend to go the closer battery assuming it's a significant difference in length.

Thinking about it logically there's no one best answer. But one advantage of using the coach battery is it is much less likely to be run down, so much more likely to be able to start the generator. But I guess if you start the generator too many times without driving anywhere then you may not be able to start the coach!.

[Morich]

One reason to start the chassis engine before trying to start the genset is that it is more reliable in most cases. The RV often uses the engine alternator to charge the chassis and the coach batteries as we drive, so if we start the engine and let it connect to the coach and the start battery through the solenoid, we get a combo of coach battery, start battery as well as alternator output.
If we do that, we get all three instead of any one single point for power. Most newer RV have so many extra-care items built in that it really gets down to understanding what they are doing for us and then when they fail, it also gets more complex to sort out what to fix.
Keeps a forum much more active , though!

[SabrinaSN]

I'm sure you have figured this out by now but we have a 87 Elandan and inside the engine compartment in the front is a switch that has to be off or on depending on if you are using the generator or shore power I believe. Ours wouldn't work until we flipped that switch. Now we get juice but it won't turn over to run. Seems were not getting a spark so here I am looking to see what others have found.