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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: Mike in GA on April 24, 2012, 07:26:19 AM

Title: Power Tech woes
Post by: Mike in GA on April 24, 2012, 07:26:19 AM
My 10 kW Quiet Box wouldn't start, then after a few days it would. But it would shut itself off after 20-60 minutes, with no code light for overheat or low oil pressure. Plenty of fuel, and 12.7 volts on the dedicated start battery.
     Fortunately, I was at a rally with some very savvy electrical guys, and they isolated the problem to the master control module.
     Had a hard time getting PT customer service on the phone, but eventually they were helpful with a few extra tests, confirming our suspicions. The board had pooped out.
     Their parts dept was great, and shipped a new one to the rally, where it arrived quickly and installed easy. Problem solved. Runs great.
     These babies are not cheap - $278 plus express shipping. Adding to the hurt - the genny has only 1600 hours and nine years on it. Oh well...
     One of the guys who helped had suggested that we re-wire the genny to eliminate the master module. You would then have to manually prime and glow plug it, and manually hit a separate crank switch. Said they PT had manufactured the unit for years without the fancy module, but it did enable an auto-start feature, which I have never hooked up to my Trace.
     Bottom line - we will rewire it if and when the new module goes south, which I hope is never.
     Just FWIW.
Mike in GA
Title: Re: Power Tech woes
Post by: Busted Knuckle on April 24, 2012, 01:07:26 PM
I've heard Sean & Clifford mentioning some after market board for about 1/2 the money and not near as many problems
;D  BK  ;D
Title: Re: Power Tech woes
Post by: TomC on April 24, 2012, 02:20:44 PM
One of the reasons I bought the 10kw Powertech in 1993 was that all of their controls were simple Bosch relays.  I have the manual start/stop heat switch.  While I only have 1100 hours on it, the genset has had zero problems.  Just used it this last weekend in over 100 degree weather.  Good Luck, TomC