Topic: Generator causing dead battery fault (Read 6794 times) previous topic - next topic

I had repairs to the Onan LP generator which ended up being a leaking propane line and the circuit board was arching (not so very far from the propane leak, however I'm still alive the Unity did not explode).  Now the generator purrs nicely, starts up fine, but two issues: (1) it works fine as long as the circuit breaker is off, which isn't too useful; (2) when the shore power is detached, the generator dies after 5 seconds, and a dead battery error shows up on the monitor.  House batteries are OK on testing, charged.  Resetting the generator a couple times did not resolve or change the issue.

Anyone have an idea where the disconnect, short or whatever that would give one or both of these issues.  Would like to understand it a bit better before going back to the repair shop and having them dither about at $195/hour.

Best own up to this one as a learning moment.  Turns out after getting the generator worked on, the DC switch was turned off. So when running the generator caused the error, so there was no battery in sight of the running generator.  It also explains why the generator could run with both the breaker and DC switch off since it was not bothering to look for a battery to charge at all.  Thought I would remind folks that checking the DC switch might help out at times.  Luckily I found out prior to paying the $195/hr at the shop.

Just so I understand both of these references -
1. Is the "breaker" the one inside the Onan case?
2. Is the "switch" referring to a breaker in the Unity's power/breaker panel?

Indeed the breaker is on the Onan itself under the removable cover.  The DC switch on my LTV is to the left of the steps on the galley door under the handle, it is a rotation switch (in my case on being turned to the right, off upright).  Seems this issue should have been more obvious to me, but an electrical engineer I am not.