The generator quit today after about three hours of use, the moter still runs ,it doesnt produce electric. There is an automatic transfer switch. It is a 3 cyl. kubota with a 7.5 head. It was running 2- 1500 watt heaters and the fridge, getting ready for our 3 week trip to Fla. tomorow am from cold north central Pa. I am not sure how to check the tranfer switch .
I'm not sure about your Generator but mine has a cicuit breaker on the Generator and also in main Panel. I would suggest turning heaters & Generator off and checking the breakers. Maybe toggle Breakers off & back on. Then restart generator. As always be very careful when working with electricity.
YeomansEagle
Just to chime in on something that I know little about, I would guess that if you just stopped getting current suddenly and you do not smell something radically burnt, you probably have a relatively minor problem. As said above check your breakers first since that is the easiest thing to do. If reseting them (turning them off and on) doesn't do anything, then start from the beginning and work forward. That means test to see if current is coming from the generator. If it is, move up to the next link in the chain; that could be your transfer switch or a conjunction box, etc. If you find current, keep moving forward until you get to the problem. If you do not find current at some point, then you know the problem is in between that and the last place you had current. If you did not get current leaving the generator, look to see if there is a breaker integral to the genset or if some wires have become loose.
Basic question, do you know how to check power out of the gen set, and at the transfer box? If not one of us will be glad to walk you through it.
Give me a call if you wish. 863-604-3701 anytime.
Bill
In Sunny Florida
To do any testing it is imperative that you have a voltage tester. You can not test the unit by checking for current. You have to check for voltage. Either a trouble light of the proper voltage with test leads or an el cheapo voltmeter from Radio Shack or any automotive parts place. Then start checking for voltage at the circuit breakers and then downstream to the automatic transfer switch.
Richard
BillC...can you give us your brand & model no.?
This can reduce time, confusing to yourself & us. We can work from there more straight forward as what your problem may be.
Picture of generator/motor and transfer box can help....more so if don't have brand & model #.
We can give you step by step after above information achieved.
FWIW
Sojourn for Christ, Jerry
I can not read the sticker on the gen head. the trans switch i will go read in a few mins. i have a 120 volt and a 240 volt tester with lead wires is this what you mean Richard thanks Bill C
Bill if the brakers are not tripped and you have no voltage I would sepect the voltage regulator next. I have a problem with mine in that it will run for a short time putting out voltage and then the engine will shut off, you can restart it and it will run for about 3 min and it shuts down again. I have not found the problem yet. Any suggestions.
Don
I just tested the switch and the lead from the gen, the gen wire is not hot . Numbers on the head are salr11305 made in england BCX164A WD6 73 machine ID 97484844 The transfer switch had power when i plug in the shore power . Bill C
I also took the cover off the top of the head and have no power there either . I did not smell anything burning and it all looks normal inside the box Bill C
Does it have brushes?
Winding not burned or black or blistered?
No picture yet....is it direct drive?
Is it blowing a lot of air from generator's fan.....would indicate if drive coupling is slipping!!
No brand name and/or picture is an opening to many suggestion.
In the mean time hope the right suggestion will fix it.
Picture may be your quickest responds with the fix.
FWIW
Sojourn for Christ, Jerry
Sounds like a bad breaker or reset needed at the Genhead - HTH
Don ,I don't know what brand of engine you have on the genny, but I had the same problem with shutting down at times. I have an Izuzu diesel. It has oil pressure and temp sensors. I replaced both and my problem was solved. Marc
I spoke with BillC last night. He is going to go ahead and head south to Florida Perhaps overnight in N.C. at a RV Park, so he can plug into shore power. Then Sunday, he'll come on down to Florida. He is headed for the Space Coast the first three night, name Satillite Beach. After that he is a little bit open. May come down Arcaida way, then over to Venice.
Somewhere along the way, we need to get him help with this problem. He can see no breakers at the gen set and believe's the gen set is producing no power.
What do you say, anybody around Jacksonville, Daytona, etc that can help?
Just (Sat 10:25a) spoke with Bill C's wife. They still hope to depart this morning.
Bill W.
Hi Bill I just tore the top half of the gen head off, the rearbearing looks good alot of road dust in there blew it out and put it back together, i found no breakers or switches , i checked all wires in the box and still no power.We are leaving at 10 am sat morn with long johns and blankets looks like the aqua hot will be installed soon. See Ya on the SUNNY side [still snowing] Bill C
Have a safe trip, let us know where you are tonight, if you find a wifi. It's sunny and 60 degrees warmer here, than where you are.
Drive safely,,,,,,,,
(looks like I can't tell time, I my time on the post should have been 9:25a, not 10)
The mind is a terrible thing to lose.
Bill W
Marcus;
I have already changed the oil pressure sensor but could not find the temp sensor here in town so I will call wrico on monday.
Thanks
Don
Bill, stop and think about this: The transfer switch will only hold in with shore power present. On the generator side it will only pull in when there is generator power available. Don't go tearing your hair out over this simple of a problem. If you have power at the switch, showing that the generator has output...you have a transfer switch problem. Either the sensing unit is not sensing generator voltage or the pull-in coil for the switch is bad.
Simple wasn't it?
Wish you well,
Bob
Bill, I re-read your post and got a bit more out of it this time. Engine runs, no output. Hmm, again, relatively simple. Probably a hidden circuit breaker or a bad voltage regulator.
I see you're in N Central PA. so you'll need to pick either the easy side of the mountains or the west to be practical. We're just off I-75 in Bushnell, FL and will do whatever we can to assist you. I was in the generator business for a number of years. Will PM you a phone number.
Bob
Quote from: Don Fairchild on February 09, 2008, 10:42:51 AM
Marcus;
I have already changed the oil pressure sensor but could not find the temp sensor here in town so I will call wrico on monday.
Thanks
Don
Don, before you go ordering any parts, talk to Dick Wright at WRICO. He will walk you thru troubleshooting your unit and determine exactly what is wrong. I strongly suspect it is not the temp sensor FWIW.
Richard
Richard:
I talked with Dick this morrning and he is helping me trouble shoot the problem. It may be as simple as the oil pressure sender. I don't think it is the temp sensor either due to the fact that after the engine shuts down I don't get a ground reading from the temp sensor indicating it shut down the engine. I have already changed the oil pressure sensor because it was going to ground with out the engine running. The engine did run a full 45 min after words and then shut down, I also noticed the oil pressure gauge was not reading the same after the engine started again. I did put a manuel gauge in it so I know I have oil pressure.
Thanks for your help.
Don
Don,
I had a similar problem and had to analyze the system and identify what sensor was shutting the engine down. In my case, Murphy switch gages had to be checked while running. I temporarily disconnected the wiring from the Murphy oil pressure switchgage, the water temperature, and the relay. I connected the wires to bulbs such that when the sensor sent a signal to the relay to shut the engine down, instead, it turned a light on or off.
My problem turned out to be an impact problem where when I hit a bump, the generator hit the floor and jarred the relay to release. My generator suspension, which were 10" tires, had a flat.
Ed Roelle
Flint, MI
Hi bob we are in melboure beach till wed morn then where ever we have to go to get it fixed. if you can help i can be there . there is no power at the gen head at all, no breakers or reset buttons any where i can see .. i am willing to buy a new gen head 8 k w if someone nos where to get one 570-295-2603. thanks for everones help. the internet is limited where im at . Bill C