Electrical gremlins

[dustym]

We have had issues the last couple of years with our trailer. We only boondock and use generators for power. For some odd reason, the generators would just shut off, and we have been trying to figure it out. We have 2 Honda EU3000IS and have them hooked up parallel with the Honda cords that have been purchased from Honda. Last year I thought it was due to heat, it gets hot in Eastern Washington, so I put a fan to try to cool it off, didn't work they still just shut off randomly. Generators are serviced every year. IE plugs, filter, and oil. We just took a trip of the year to stay on our property, and we have the same problem, and it is not hot. We thought it still is the generators, so we went and bought a brand new EU3000IS. Same problem it just shuts off. It can do it within minutes or hours, and its very frustrating.

About 2 weeks ago, we took it to Idaho, and stayed in a state park, and we actually had hooked up to shore power, didn't even have the generators with us and didn't have any issues. We came back and stayed in the campground where our property is, our lot doesn't have water or power, but the campground does, so we took advantage of the power. One night though, all power shut down. I ended up finding the breaker to the converter had tripped. Flipped it back on, and everything worked after that.

A couple of days ago, I emptied out the basement, and crawled into the area that housed the inverter, and a lot of the plumbing and wiring. I was hoping to find something wrong with the inverter, but all connections were tight and the fuses had not been blown. I even blew compressed air into it. Well by gosh it worked the whole day without any issue. (running on the generators) Next day it was back to the generators randomly shutting off.

So basically I am thinking my whole problem may be the converter. Does this seem to be a logical conclusion? I have already ordered a new converter that is the same make and model as the one in the trailer.

The trailer in question is our 2015 FR Sabre 34 REQS.

Thanks,
Tim

 

[DonTom]

We have had issues the last couple of years with our trailer. We only boondock and use generators for power. For some odd reason, the generators would just shut off, and we have been trying to figure it out. We have 2 Honda EU3000IS and have them hooked up parallel with the Honda cords that have been purchased from Honda. Last year I thought it was due to heat, it gets hot in Eastern Washington, so I put a fan to try to cool it off, didn't work they still just shut off randomly. Generators are serviced every year. IE plugs, filter, and oil. We just took a trip of the year to stay on our property, and we have the same problem, and it is not hot. We thought it still is the generators, so we went and bought a brand new EU3000IS. Same problem it just shuts off. It can do it within minutes or hours, and its very frustrating.

About 2 weeks ago, we took it to Idaho, and stayed in a state park, and we actually had hooked up to shore power, didn't even have the generators with us and didn't have any issues. We came back and stayed in the campground where our property is, our lot doesn't have water or power, but the campground does, so we took advantage of the power. One night though, all power shut down. I ended up finding the breaker to the converter had tripped. Flipped it back on, and everything worked after that.

A couple of days ago, I emptied out the basement, and crawled into the area that housed the inverter, and a lot of the plumbing and wiring. I was hoping to find something wrong with the inverter, but all connections were tight and the fuses had not been blown. I even blew compressed air into it. Well by gosh it worked the whole day without any issue. (running on the generators) Next day it was back to the generators randomly shutting off.

So basically I am thinking my whole problem may be the converter. Does this seem to be a logical conclusion? I have already ordered a new converter that is the same make and model as the one in the trailer.

The trailer in question is our 2015 FR Sabre 34 REQS.

Thanks,
Tim

Could it be exhaust from one getting into the sensor of the other? Can you move them in such a way that the exhaust blows in ways that will not get into the other?

 

[dustym]

If you are referring to the generators, we were only using 1. Should have mentioned, they we only have 2 running in the summer to run the AC. During this time of year I just switch which one is running until it runs out of fuel.

 

[DonTom]

If you are referring to the generators, we were only using 1. Should have mentioned, they we only have 2 running in the summer to run the AC. During this time of year I just switch which one is running until it runs out of fuel.

Still possible with the wind direction,

But looking at your Honda genny on the web, I see it has alarms for everything, CO, Overload, oil, Are you getting any of those alarms when it shouts down?

I wouldn't think it would shut down without an alarm.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[Larry N.]

For some odd reason, the generators would just shut off, and we have been trying to figure it out.

You don't mention where you are camping. If it is high altitude, especially if well over 5,000 ft, it may need some carburetor adjustment or needle changes.

 

[DonTom]

. If it is high altitude, especially if well over 5,000 ft, it may need some carburetor adjustment or needle changes.

See here. There is a high elevation kit which should only be used when it is staying full time above 5K'. However, many have said it runs fine withOUT the kit even above 10,000' elevation and the high elevation kit should not be used for only occasional use above 5K' as then it can have issues at lower elevations.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[dustym]

While I thank you for these answers, I am thinking this is a converter issue, since we were using a brand-new generator. elevation is 1700 feet.

 

[DonTom]

While I thank you for these answers, I am thinking this is a converter issue, since we were using a brand-new generator. elevation is 1700 feet.

If the genny is running a converter that is drawing excessive current, the "overload alarm" will be on. The alarms on the genny should tell you whatever the problem is causing a shutdown.

And be sure to RTFM to find out the various causes for shutdowns and the alarm you will get for each.

Don't guess at things (such as the converter) get the facts first, such what alarms. If you get no alarm at shutdown (which I doubt will happen) be sure to mention it here.

Besides, aren't you using the same converter for shore power?

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[CharlesinGA]

All the converter does is take 120v AC (generators or shore power) and make 12v DC to charge the batteries and run lights, and other items.

If you want to test your converter theory, make sure the batteries are well charged and then trip the converter breaker and run the generators and see if they shut off, I'll bet they still do.

Charles

 

[bigbAZ]

Are you sure the fuel cap vent is open, and it is working properly?

 

[8Muddypaws]

Strange problem indeed. What in the RV is drawing power when the generator(s) shut down?

I used to have. Samsung microwave that would run fine for exactly 2 minutes and then it would start drawing an insane amount of current and pop the breakers on my converter/inverter. Replaced the microwave and no more problems.

Personally I don’t think you suspicions about the converter are that far fetched. But if it was an overload the overload indicator would most likely be on. But maybe not.

My (Far fetched) theory is that when your converter starts charging your batteries based upon their state of charge there might be a spike just long enough to shut them down but not enough to set the overload indicator. I don’t know if a kill-a-watt meter would catch it. Are your batteries lead acid or something else.

My converter/inverter went bad it did some weird things just before it gave up the ghost. It’s pretty easy to wire around the converter if you want to try that.

Have you tried running the gennies with no load? Or a coffee maker or something like that? I would try that first.

 

[dustym]

there are no alarms and all lights are off when I get to the generators because they are shut down. The new one we just bought has the CO minder, but the older ones do not come with that. These are Honda EU3000IS models. The generators sit outside on the edge of our concrete slab with nothing around them for more than 3 feet as the instruction manual suggests.
It hasn't made a difference on what's running in the trailer. I have had it shut off with the AC on, all the way to just having a TV on. The tv's are hooked up thru inverters that are directly run from the batteries. The batteries are Battle Borns and have been using these for about 5 years.
I have been running the generators on this trailer since 2015 and have only had this issue since last year.

 

[Ohiosnowbird]

We’ve had many honda generators over the years. We’re off-grid and the EU3000IS are what we once used, but have upgraded to EU7000IS as our whole house generator. We use mostly propane, but also count on the generator for some things. These generators will randomly shutoff if the oil level is even a little bit low, they will shut off if CO is detected at all. It may seem like a gremlin but each and every time we’ve had this issue it was one of these things. Hubby can give a bigger explanation but he says the simplest things are often quickly overlooked.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

So basically I am thinking my whole problem may be the converter. Does this seem to be a logical conclusion? I have already ordered a new converter that is the same make and model as the one in the trailer.

I can't see any way a faulty converter could cause a generator to shut down. Even an amp overload condition won't do that - the Overload alarm goes off and output stops, but the 3000IS engine keeps running. Low oil pressure is the only thing that shuts the engine down on non-CO models. And CO models have a CO fault light that remains visible.
As Ohiosnowbird says, even a momentary loss of pressure will cause a shutdown.

 

[DonTom]

Is yours exactly like the photo I posted in message number 4? Exact same alarm lights as shown?

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[OldWEB]

We have had issues the last couple of years with our trailer.

~or~​

...and have only had this issue since last year.
Which is it?
Wishy-washy statements or no direct answers to questions should be AI-ed out of here.

 

[OldWEB]

there are no alarms and all lights are off when I get to the generators because they are shut down. The new one we just bought has the CO minder, but the older ones do not come with that. These are Honda EU3000IS models. The generators sit outside on the edge of our concrete slab with nothing around them for more than 3 feet as the instruction manual suggests.
It hasn't made a difference on what's running in the trailer. I have had it shut off with the AC on, all the way to just having a TV on. The tv's are hooked up thru inverters that are directly run from the batteries. The batteries are Battle Borns and have been using these for about 5 years.
I have been running the generators on this trailer since 2015 and have only had this issue since last year.

TV should not shut off then, unless the batteries are dead.

 

[OldWEB]

there are no alarms and all lights are off when I get to the generators because they are shut down.

The manual for the Honda, if you read it, says it has a battery... alarms/lights will stay 'on'.

I will never get these twenty minutes back... EVER.

 

[Larry N.]

We have had issues the last couple of years with our trailer.

~or~​

...and have only had this issue since last year.
Which is it?
Wishy-washy statements or no direct answers to questions should be AI-ed out of here.

Perhaps you should relax a bit, then re-read what you quoted. The first line says issues, plural, the second line says "this issue." There is no "wishy-washy statement there. It is spelling out a timeline.

"I will never get these twenty minutes back... EVER."

Back off. No one forced you...

This used to be a friendly place...

 

[woof-n]

Divide and conquer. The problem is the generator shuts down. You believe it could be the converter. Isolate and test run the generator directly with a resistive load, such as a space heater. If the generator fails, look deeper into the Genset. if not look in the other direction. Good luck let us know what you find.