Unruly Generator!

[Johnny M Slone]

Thanks Ralph and Shane for your replys.
Do you think that water in wiring harness to the start/stop switches
inside could have caused this problem. I know that touching the lead
from the start switch inside with a test light will pull up the ( I
believe C relay ) and cause the engine to start. This tells me that a
high resistance ground would probably do the same thing. The engine
not restarting supports your opinion that the problem is the starter
solenoid but why did it start the first time. I have tested the
solenoids in the boost circut and they appear to be OK.
After thinking about the order that I disconnected the batteries if I
had first done the start battery and then the charger the starter
probably have stopped cranking and I could have left the house
batteries connected. Tomorrow I am going to do just that and see if
the gen engine will crank without pushing the boost switch. Would
this be a good test for the isolator?
Thanks again,
Johnny M Slone
Pikeville, KY
1984 PT35


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ralph L. Fullenwider"
wrote:
> Johnny:
>
> The contacts in the starting solenoid are welding together so it
sounds
> like. The 12vdc "C" relay must close to supply power to the "S" (
starter
> solenoid coil) for the starter to turn, then opens up to stop the
starter
> but when it opens the contacts in that relay the coil of the CR
relay (
> 110vac) holds the rest of the circuit until the stop relay, "CR2"
is
> energized by the stop switch. So if the starter tries to start
again after
> pushing the stop switch then the run/start contacts in the start
solenoid
> must have welded shut. That it is working ok now further supports
that
> theory as probably the welded contacts have finally un stuck. But
you can
> bet they will weld again soon.
>
> If you have an battery isolator then the house batteries should not
supply
> 12vdc to the gen set, unless it has been by passed of has faulted
as well.
> Or some contacts in the charging system for the gen battery are
welded as
> well. These are high amperage solenoids and take a pretty good hit
each
> time they are brought on line.
>
> Safe travels,
>
> Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
> Ralph's RV Solutions, Duncan, Oklahoma
> http://home.swbell.net/rlf47/index.htm
>
> At 04:33 AM 8/10/2005 +0000, you wrote:
> >Hello to all,
> >On a recent outing with some fellow RVers we traveled to
campground
> >during a heavy rainstorm. I arrived at the campground with no
problem
> >that I could tell. Did all the things that we do when planning on
> >staying a couple of days. We enjoyed the evening with other BB
owners
> >that were there. At about midnight I went to the bus for a nap. At
> >about 2AM I felt something shake the bus and then I hear this awful
> >noise of a diesel engine starting up. I think to myself, why would
> >someone start a noisy engine at this hour of the night. I get up to
> >see who has done such a thing and find out that it is my generator
> >that is running. I run to the front to push the stop button. The
> >engine stops running but the starter begins cranking trying to
> >restart it. The engine will not restart but the starter just
> >continues to try. I go outside and remove the cables from the gen
> >start battery. This has no effect, so I go back and remove the
cables
> >from the house batterys. Still the starter is trying to restart the
> >engine. Finally I go around and throw the circut breaker off on the
> >AC power. All is silent now so I go back to bed.
> >
> >The next morning I try turning the AC back on but the starter
begins
> >cranking again. My friend and I finally managed to get the
generator
> >to run out and removed the leads to the starter to disable it. A
> >couple of days later I put everything back and all is well. I have
> >looked the control circut over and can see no problems.
> >
> >I have two questions, what could have caused this to happen and is
it
> >normal for the house batterys to crank the engine after the
generator
> >battery has been disconnected.
> >
> >I did wire a relay in the control circut power lead so if this
> >happens again I can disable the crank and run circut with a toggle
> >switch.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Johnny M Slone
> >Pikeville, KY
> >84 PT34
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >