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generator and air conditioner

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LRS

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generator and air conditioner
« on: July 02, 2016, 04:08:02 pm »
Well, the generator got serviced the other day.  Tried the air conditioner with generator on today..
..but the a/c did not come on. Panic.

Wanting to head out of town.   Will need the a/c on for the dog.

Hope someone has the magic trick that will work for this.

No one around the shop where it was taken due to holiday weekend.

(Sprinter PC)

LRS

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ron-n-toni

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Re: generator and air conditioner
« Reply #1 on: July 02, 2016, 04:16:26 pm »
There is a circuit breaker on the generator itself that most service people will turn off prior to service. It looks like a wall switch and should be in the "up" position. Also make sure that the breaker on your inside panel has not tripped.

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LRS

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Re: generator and air conditioner
« Reply #2 on: July 02, 2016, 04:53:49 pm »
Thank you for responding.   :)

The generator would turn on.

Once the generator was running, I tried turning on the A/C,  but it would not.

Then turned off the generator and plugged in to shore power and the A/C worked! 

Would that happen if the switch you mentioned was off?




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Gail Staton

Re: generator and air conditioner
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2016, 05:02:35 pm »
With the generator running,  see if the microwave will come on.

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keelhauler

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Re: generator and air conditioner
« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2016, 09:43:28 am »
Make sure the wall thermostat is set to automatic.



John

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Ron Dittmer

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Re: generator and air conditioner
« Reply #5 on: July 03, 2016, 06:03:51 pm »
Reiterating what ron-n-toni said about the switch/breaker on the generator itself.  It has nothing to do with running the generator.  The generator runs with it turned off or on.  MAKE SURE THAT SWITCH/BREAKER IS ON.

On our 2007 PC's 4000 Onan, the breaker on the generator will trip by itself if I am not patient in waiting to allow the generator to run for 5 minutes or so before turning on the a/c the first time each season.  I wait less than a minute thereafter.

I don't recall this, but like a house breaker, you might have to flip the breaker one way, then the other way to reset it to work.  Then again, maybe not.  I have not touched ours in 4 years now.

Gail and John have some good tips too.  If the microwave is working, then the trouble is with the a/c, not the generator.   If so, then it could be operator error with the a/c-furnace thermostat.
« Last Edit: July 03, 2016, 06:06:03 pm by ron.dittmer »
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LRS

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Re: generator and air conditioner
« Reply #6 on: July 04, 2016, 10:51:36 am »
I so appreciate all the suggestions!  😀

The generator is in an outside "bin" behind
a door.   After opening that door, I see no
switches on the Onan blue-ish generator
cover.  There is a handle on each end to remove
or lower the generator's cover fir service.
  ???
Behind the driver's seat on the wall is thr switch to turn on the
generatot.   Above that is a small "panel" that
reads : Xantrex "/Pro 1800.(I am presuming this is
for the converter (box is below fridge ).

I just ran the generator with the Xantrex button both on and off.

Neither the microwave or a/c turned "on" or
showed life...like whenever in shore power, the micriwave
immediately lights up.

Today is a holiday. 🇺🇸🎂
Cannot call factory or rv shop until tomorrow.

Thanks so much for any advice you can give.
Love this Forum!

(Sprinter/2010-- also waited 11 months for recalled airbag
inflator part to be available.😁)( Sprinter
 was in that mid
period when Mercedes made the engine, but
allowed Dodge Chrysler to make the chassis.)


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Ron Dittmer

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Re: generator and air conditioner
« Reply #7 on: July 04, 2016, 11:30:50 am »
LRS,

The solution to your problem is 99% successful and extremely simple.

Open the PC service door to gain access to the Onan generator.  There you see the blue/green Onan.  Look around for two black levers located on the upper-left and upper-right covers of the cover and turn them.  The cover is then unlocked.  Lift the cover by the two levers and work the cover downward and out.  Now look in the middle area of the generator for that relay switch we are all talking about.  You will also see a switch identical to the one inside your PC, but that is a remote-start switch.  The breaker we are discussing is close by it.  Flip the breaker switch, TURN OFF YOUR A/C AT YOUR THERMOSTAT, start and run your generator, and see if the microwave is flashing anything on the display panel.  That will indicate the generator is making 110V electricity.  Run the generator for about 5 minutes before turning on your a/c unit at the thermostat.  If all is then fine, place & lock the blue/green cover back on the Onan.  Make sure it is seated properly before turning those two black levers to lock.  If not seated properly, you will likely loose the cover while driving on the road.  Don't try to hook on the cover to the black metal frame that PC-USA made.  It hooks onto the generator alone.
« Last Edit: July 04, 2016, 11:47:44 am by ron.dittmer »
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LRS

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Re: generator and air conditioner
« Reply #8 on: July 04, 2016, 02:03:39 pm »
I was so excited to read and reread your
very clear and easy instructions!  Went out
to the rv to follow your directions--got the
bin door open--turned the two black Onan
cover handles--lowered the blue cover---
    but saw no switch.

Saw the start swirch like inside the coach,
but did not see another switch.

This is a propane generator.   Does that make
a difference?

😬

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ragoodsp

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Re: generator and air conditioner
« Reply #9 on: July 04, 2016, 08:00:05 pm »
LRS....the layout of your Onan maybe   different compared to what people are describing...I just checked mine and the switch/breaker that Ron D. and others are referencing is actually on the right side of the switch that looks like the inside switch...it is down and on the side, it is some what hard to see but look really hard and you will spot it.  I will bet for sure it is off.   best of luck
Ron Goodspeed

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Pax

Re: generator and air conditioner
« Reply #10 on: July 05, 2016, 06:43:09 am »
Yep, what they said  (exactly). If you still can't find it,  look in your Onan manual.  There will be a schematic picture showing the location of the breaker.  If you don't have a manual, the Onan website will have it for your model.

  - Mike

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Ron Dittmer

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Re: generator and air conditioner
« Reply #11 on: July 05, 2016, 09:55:30 am »
A propane generator is likely identical when it comes to these things.

I just looked at the manual to my 2007 Onan 4000.  According to the diagram, the breaker/switch we are all referring to is actually located on the side of the control panel, not on the front face.  So we have been giving you some inaccurate advise.  I'd take a picture of ours but I'd have to pull the rig out and all that.  It is easier to provide this diagram.  The switch is called "Line Circuit Breaker"

I am not a betting man, but I'd be very surprised if this is not your problem.
Reitterating that the a/c unit must be turned off at the thermostat before starting the generator.  And let the generator run for around 5 minutes before turning on the a/c.  If you don't, you run the risk of this breaker tripping again.  I say this because of my own experience when waking up our own rig for the season.  After that initial season startup, for daily use I like to wait one minute because it just feels right.

« Last Edit: July 05, 2016, 10:03:14 am by ron.dittmer »
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LRS

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Re: generator and air conditioner
« Reply #12 on: July 05, 2016, 11:34:46 am »
Hooray!!!!!   👏👏👏👏👏Thanks to all of you
who patiently and with great detail sought
to help me. Yes!! The pesky little black
switch was to the right and "around the
corner" from the starter button! 

You folks are the best.

Once again--haha--as with home dvds,
I wonder why electronics buttons
are always painted black--and seem to
be in the shadows. 😂

Thanks to you helpful, caring folks we
can now be ready to travel.

Many thanks and PTL!!
LRS ( still learning about this cute PC)
         P.S. Enjoy reading the forum.😊

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Ron Dittmer

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Re: generator and air conditioner
« Reply #13 on: July 05, 2016, 12:24:48 pm »
LRS,

I am so happy your a/c 110v generator troubles are resolved.  Those are the best solutions.  I call such issues "operator errors" when the solution is about understanding how your PC works.  We all have gone through many.  I personally reintroduce an occasional "operator error" when it's been a number of years.  I'll go full-circle and re-learn what I learned some years earlier, followed by a "duh" said to myself.

Please, please be sure you have placed the Onan cover on & latched properly.  It is easy to hang it up on the black frame, thinking you have it on properly.  You don't want to mount it improperly or worse yet to loose it for it is critical for cooling purposes.  It directs cool air through hot places within the generator.
« Last Edit: July 05, 2016, 12:35:47 pm by ron.dittmer »
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LRS

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Re: generator and air conditioner
« Reply #14 on: July 05, 2016, 01:47:42 pm »
Hope so, Ron.   Tugged on the grill vents.