Generator drops load

[kbbagshaw]

In our Cyclone we have a Onan 5500 gen. The last few times we have travelled, we stopped a couple of hours before our destination we started the generator and turned on 2 A/Cs. When we got to the destination, the generator was running but the A/Cs were not. On the second trip, we tried it with 1 A/C with the same result. Today, we start the gen and 1 A/C. App seems well until we bump out a slide then the gen drops the load. We are thinking maybe the transfer switch is going bad and the vibration messes it up.

Thoughts anyone?

 

[danemayer]

Depends what you mean when you say generator is running but A/C units are not. There are circuit breakers on the front of the generator - you didn't mention having to reset them, so I'll assume they didn't trip. Each A/C unit has 120V AC coming through a circuit breaker. You didn't mention resetting either, so I assume that's not why the A/C stopped.

The A/C units also need 12V DC at the thermostat and possibly in other places or they won't run. If your batteries are depleted, when you push the slide, it might drop the voltage enough to force an A/C shutdown.

When running on generator, the Power Converter should provide 12V DC to the thermostats, etc. Might be a Power Converter problem.

Cycle your Auto Level control panel to see how much voltage is getting to the control panel. If on shore power, or on generator, you should see 13.2-13.6 VDC.

It's also possible the transfer switch contactors are dropping, cutting all power to the main circuit breaker panel.

And if your Cyclone has 3 A/C units, and is a recent build, you also have a Precision Control energy management system that could be shutting off your compressors, but the blowers should continue running.

You might want to take a look at our Electrical System user guide for some pictures, diagrams and more information.

 

[kbbagshaw]

Depends what you mean when you say generator is running but A/C units are not. There are circuit breakers on the front of the generator - you didn't mention having to reset them, so I'll assume they didn't trip. Each A/C unit has 120V AC coming through a circuit breaker. You didn't mention resetting either, so I assume that's not why the A/C stopped.

The A/C units also need 12V DC at the thermostat and possibly in other places or they won't run. If your batteries are depleted, when you push the slide, it might drop the voltage enough to force an A/C shutdown.

When running on generator, the Power Converter should provide 12V DC to the thermostats, etc. Might be a Power Converter problem.

Cycle your Auto Level control panel to see how much voltage is getting to the control panel. If on shore power, or on generator, you should see 13.2-13.6 VDC.

It's also possible the transfer switch contactors are dropping, cutting all power to the main circuit breaker panel.

And if your Cyclone has 3 A/C units, and is a recent build, you also have a Precision Control energy management system that could be shutting off your compressors, but the blowers should continue running.

You might want to take a look at our Electrical System user guide for some pictures, diagrams and more information.

Thanks Dane for the useful information. Your assumptions about the breakers are correct, they didn't trip. The Cyclone is a 2015 so not sure about a Power Converter but the blowers were not running. Voltage at the Auto Level is good.

 

[danemayer]

When you test the generator and A/C units, after the A/C units lose power, see if any outlets or other 120V AC devices work. If no 120V AC anywhere, it could be the transfer switch, or possibly the junction box between generator and transfer switch.