shore power vs generator

[erniecarpet@...]

Gardner- on my coach, inside the generator compartment, up behind the
generator is another breaker box. Mine had come loose from the wall and fell
down. I
would not have seen that unless that happened. Look way back there with a
flashlite and see if you have one of those, also.

Ernie Ekberg
83 PT40
Livingston, Montana



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Gardner Yeaw]

On my '78 FC the generator seems to feed only one phase of the
breaker panel. There is a double pole 30 amp breaker in the
generator compartment, a double pole 30 amp breaker below the main
panel, and double breaker on main panel labeled MAIN,

It seems to be divided so that you don't overload the generator,
but I would like my microwave and coffee maker to work while
boondocking, or just stopping for lunch. I have a 6.5 Onan, which
should handle most loads provided I don't run both AC units at the
same time.

I seem to be missing the 110-volt wiring schematic so I can't
follow it. The two 30 amp shore line connectors are no longer there,
just the 50 amp. The shore line is wired to feed both phases from a
single 30-amp circuit. I need to monitor my usage to prevent
tripping the shore breaker, so I am used to it.

Is it normal for the generator to be limited in this fashion?

Gardner
78FC33

[Gardner Yeaw]

Ernie,
I haden't updated yet, but I found that the generator is properly
wired for two 120 volt circuits, but in checking the resistance I
found one of the circuits is open. I checked at the generator
output, so I need to open it up to see what is wrong. The control
box mounts had previously broken off and it was ratteling around. I
made new mount brackets for it last week, so there may be a wire
pulled loose inside. I have been missing one side for some time but
thought it was normal, I just now figured out that it should be
there.

Gardner
78FC33

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, erniecarpet@... wrote:
>
> Gardner- on my coach, inside the generator compartment, up behind
the
> generator is another breaker box. Mine had come loose from the
wall and fell down. I
> would not have seen that unless that happened. Look way back there
with a
> flashlite and see if you have one of those, also.
>
> Ernie Ekberg
> 83 PT40
> Livingston, Montana
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[Gardner Yeaw]

All fixed!

The wires leading from the control box to the gen brushes were
chafing where they pass between the generator main housing and the
rear housing where the brushes are. The M1 wire was burnt in half
which explains why the circuit showed open. I replaced the wire and
reinforced the shield, but the passage is so narrow there is no room
for a heavier cover around the wires.

The fact that the control box mounts had failed allowing it to
move around probably lead to the failure. I had made new mounts a
couple of weeks ago, but obviously too late.

I have some pictures I will put up once I re-size them. It was a
long day getting the genset out so I could work on it. I had to
build a platform to rest it on and fabricate a special tool to allow
me to drag it out in a controlled fashion, and reposition it when
putting it back in. Basically a piece of 1x3 oak with a slot cut on
the face about 2 inches back from one end, and a series of holes
which allowed me to hook the wood on the generator tray and slip a
screw driver in one of the holes to pry against the edge of the bay.
That way I could inch generator out in a controlled fashion and save
my back in the process. It worked pretty well if I do say so myself.

Gardner
78FC33 (with full power)


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Gardner Yeaw"
wrote:
>
> On my '78 FC the generator seems to feed only one phase of the
> breaker panel. There is a double pole 30 amp breaker in the
> generator compartment, a double pole 30 amp breaker below the main
> panel, and double breaker on main panel labeled MAIN,
>
> It seems to be divided so that you don't overload the
generator,
> but I would like my microwave and coffee maker to work while
> boondocking, or just stopping for lunch. I have a 6.5 Onan, which
> should handle most loads provided I don't run both AC units at the
> same time.
>
> I seem to be missing the 110-volt wiring schematic so I can't
> follow it. The two 30 amp shore line connectors are no longer
there,
> just the 50 amp. The shore line is wired to feed both phases from
a
> single 30-amp circuit. I need to monitor my usage to prevent
> tripping the shore breaker, so I am used to it.
>
> Is it normal for the generator to be limited in this fashion?
>
> Gardner
> 78FC33
>