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Generator Switchs
I have a question about those 3 switchs… When I start my generator with the GEN START button, my inverter seems to go on error about 30 sec after I put it on and I lose my 110V… Since I’m a new owner of this coach, I don’t know ether what the 2 other switchs beside are for… Can you help???
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15 Replies
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I do not have your type of conversion so my advice to you will be worth what it costs you.
My first reaction is if the generator start causes the inverter situation you describe my guess is the batteries are too deeply discharged or there is a problem with them that causes the inverters to shut down.
Since I am not very knowledgible on how your coach is set up that is strictly a guess.
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Martin,
If you turn off shore power does the inverters take the load and function properly? If not, as Jon look at your batteries.
If the batteries are good, turn off the AC breakers on the generator. Start the generator and run it a few minutes while on shore power. Then turn those breakers on that are on the generator. Within a minute the transfer switch should switch from shore to generator. After a minute turn off shore power. If this works it may be your generator is taking too long to stabilize or your transfer switch delay isn’t working.
If the above worked, turn on shore power. Monitor the inverter and shut off shore power. If the inverter doesn’t take the load it’s the inverter. Not all inverters provide hitless switch over, so what you are experiencing may be normal.
Of course, there could be other problems but these are the obvious first steps.
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Hi Jon,
My batteries are 100% charged… I was wondering if the other 2 switchs had something to do with that problem… Thanks anymay.
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Hi Gil J,
That may be the case… When the problem appear, one of my two breakers on the generator was kicked off…
Do you know if the other switchs aside have a link to this problem? If not, do you have an idea what there are for?
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Those switches are for the royale watch dog auto start and brown out situation . I would check the voltage regulator if it loses power like that
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Hi Peter,
If I understand well, those switches activate the system that start my generator if my house batteries goes to low?…
Is it the ”0-90 START” button that does that? What about the ”12V MON”?Thanks
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My switches where right on the grey box above inverters they where not on the dash just to make sure my coach was 1997 royale so yours may be different give Royale a call talk to glen 1-574-206-1216 he will help you. I sold my coach a month ago so I can not look at it so give glen a call
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The 12v mon switch will monitor for dry camping conditions and only be looking at your battery voltage for the condition of autostart. the 0-90v is looking at your A/C voltage coming into the coach and will auto start with loss of voltage.
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Thanks Peter, I’ll contact him…
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Hi Jeff
That makes sens to me now… Those switches must be connected with the gages inside my coach???
So in summary, I should run with those switches ”ON” when I drive and the generator will autostart if my voltage goes to low… -
This might start a food fight, but I will give my opinion which is worth nothing.
Leave the auto-start and power interruption switches off at all times unless and until you really need them, such as when dry camping or when leaving the coach unattended with pets inside. Even then be absolutely certain if the intent is to protect against the AC units from shutting down due to lack of power, make sure if power is interrupted they will resume running when power is restored.
Here is why I don’t think you need to “arm” those two features when you drive. Your coach as set up likely has the ability to charge the house batteries and possibly run one or two ACs while you drive. As long as the drain on the house batteries is not in excess of the alternator output with devices run throught the inverters you don’t need your generator. Just for information you control the loads on your 120V systems and it is likely to be one or two AC units, your refrigerator, maybe the TV, and a microwave or coffee maker. If you stay below the alternator output in amps you don’t need the generator.
However, if you are bumping up against the alternator limits you can increase its life by taking the load off of it and running the generator. The generators on our coaches do not get enough exercise or loading so it does not hurt them to load them up and run them hard when you do have an opportunity.
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First you must choose between which way you want to auto start. You can not have both switches on at the same time. Also I would suggest leaving them off unless you are in a position that would require you to arm the auto-start. One thing I have seen is people forget that the auto-start is armed and put the coach in a building, the building looses power, auto start starts the gen, now the coach or coaches in the building are filled with exhaust and damage to the interior of the coach occurs. This is just one of many things that can happen….
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Jeff is right on target! I have a good friend that has a coach that had generator auto-start inside a building prior to their purchase. Every bit of interior fabric/furniture, wall/floor covering etc had to be replaced to get rid of the smell. Perfect now but bad if that occurs.
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Thanks to everyone… It’s my first time on such a forum since I’m a new owner of a Prevost Coach… I really liked all your opinion /answers, and it’s been and great help understanding how my rig works!!!
Again, I thank all of you guys with the good tips. -
M&S………..
It may not seem like it, but at one time every single one on this forum was a newbie. My point is a lot of what we learned was learned the hard way. As a new owner ask questions and lots of them. In a perfect world we all learn by knowing other’s mistakes and the best way to avoid the same mistakes we made is to ask questions. That’s why we are here.
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