[Archived]

Could be bad segment of watchdog or interface relay board. You could check the bd connector for a corroded pin or remove cover and make sure that the voltage input wire on the interface board gets the same voltage as the see at the batteries. If not, could be a bad breaker or fuse that supplies the battery reference to the watchdog. Just a few things to start checking.

[Jerry]

Don’t mess up the Watchdog…………..if you choose to do your own investigative work and you damage the Watchdog it is going to get real expensive.

The same warning applies to some control modules for early slide controls.

All of these are made of Unobtainium.

[Jacky]

Marius:

I had watchdog issues with my previous bus (2003) and a real pain trying to determine the issues. Jon is correct, replacements are hard to find. Finally between Bill at Liberty and the manufacturer,were able to trouble shoot and finally had to make up another data board to get me up and running.

Call Bill at Liberty in Chicago as he has a test bench to trouble shoot.,.Good luck..

[Archived]

Thank you all.

I have talked to Jeff and we are working on the diagnosis.

[Tim]

The question I have, can I get ready of the watchdog and run the geny the same way that all other converters do? Has any sparky in the group been able to come up with a schematic to do that.

I know that liberty coach wanted the best of everything but the “KISS” method was forgotten.

[Marius]

That seems to be an obvious and reasonable goal especially since it seems technology is added to our coaches for the sake of technology, and then it is not supported after a while. No converter’s coaches are exempt from that kind of thinking as we all know.

A lot of the inverters available today have the means to control auto-start, something that might not have been available when the Watchdog was first designed and used. But the Watchdog is more than just a device to turn on the generator. It also monitors the generator and if any fault such as high temp, low oil pressure, etc should occur the Watchdog will shut it down. So if anyone is contemplating bypassing the Watchdog, be aware whatever system is employed it needs to include provision to protect the generator.

Do not let the almost 100% reliability of our generators lull anyone into thinking the risk is small. A simple failure such as a broken fan belt can result in temperatures high enough to ruin an otherwise perfect generator motor.

[Archived]

Just wondering….

The Kohler Generator/Yanmar engine has auto shut off for low oil pressure and overtemp, doesn’t it ? I remember reading in the book about sensors for these conditions that have nothing to do with the watchdog…..

Not all applications have a Watchdog and these generators on boats shut down themselves if the sensors detect low oil ( or pressure) and high coolant temperatures.

There is an Onan system I really like, the The Energy Command, EC-30W, wireless…4 wire hookup. It monitors the voltage and temperature inside the coach turning the generator on based on selectable voltage or temperature or manually from a LCD panel remote control.

It is made for all the Diesel Cummins Onan generators :

http://power.cummins.com/sites/default/files/literature/brochures/f-1824.pdf

If I could figure out the way to wire it directly in the converter compartment, I would give up the Watchdog in a heartbeat…..what a PITA and obsolete to boot

[Archived]

The Power Tech generator on my Wanderlodge shuts down due to high temp or/and low oil pressure. That Wanderlodge was produced in1997. The inverter back then also had auto start feature.

Was The “watchdog” the one upmanship that Liberty Coach wanted. ???

[John]

I don’t think the inverters used by Liberty had the ability to do an autostart or start on power interruption.

I don’t know why a commercially available generator start device would not have been used.

[Dave]

Somewhat related to this thread……….

I think most of us have some type of autostart feature, and possibly a power interruption start feature. I mention this because a lot of folks that own coaches have pets. Before leaving pets alone inside the coach with the power interrupt feature engaged try to determine what level of protection for the pets that provides.

Specifically, if your pets need air conditioning make certain if power is disconnected for whatever reason, that if the starting of the generator is automatic that in fact the air conditioning will be restored. Some A/C units will shut down if there is the slightest interruption of service and even if power is restored they will not automatically restart. Some require the generator to be turned on manually at the Crestron or the SMX panel.

Think of your pets and check your coach. You do not want to learn how things operate the hard way.

[DON]

Change out the inverters to Magnums and you can get rid of the watch dog and magnum has a auto start that works on low battery and the air conditioners

[Robert]

Peter did you get ready of your watchdog? Do you have to reprogram the Crestron system ,i think you would, if you did it who reprogrammed it for you?

Thanks for any input.

[Marius]

Marius…

http://power.cummins.com/sites/default/files/literature/brochures/f-1824.pdf


I had that system (EC-30W) installed in a previous mh (Winnebago Vectra) by Cummins/Onan techs at a rally several years ago. Long story short, Onan could not get the thing to work as advertised. Installed in Iowa, and 2 months later after numerous calls to Onan TS and spending a week in the parking lot at Rocky Mountain Power near Denver, and 2 new units, had it pulled out for a full refund. We had it installed because we have pets and wanted the auto start/hi coach temp and/or shore power loss features. Onan may have increased the radio strength or changed the freqs, but the techs I talked with when we were having problems indicated that alot of metal around the transmitter and/or the receiver would potentially cause the units to be unreliable. Winnie has more steel superstructure around the front windshield and gen slide than many other mfgrs, and that was the only thing that they could come up with as to why we were having drop-outs in comm between the gen receiver and the control handset. When comm link dropped, the unit would have to be reset again with our params for temps, gen run time, etc, essentially making it worthless. The hardwired units seemed to work well, but running the wires is a pita and was not something we wanted to do if we could use the wireless.

Just be aware and do your homework. As I said, Onan may have changed the units since I tried it, but it didn’t work as advertised for us in a mh that has nowhere near the metal content of your bus.

[joel]

Thanks Mike, good to know.

There has to be something better out there……

Like Peter suggested, when the time comes, change over to Magnums and RC/GS remote panels that autostart the generator….but that is a $4000 solution……need something better and now.

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1999 XLV X-6872,  liberty #440

[Archived]

Marius, why not give Troy at Liberty a call on Monday? He knows that stuff inside and out and should be able to troubleshoot over the phone. Maybe save a bunch of cash.