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02-01-2022, 08:30 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Florida
Posts: 10
THOR #21140
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AC runs on shore power but not on generator
Hi All,
Thanks in advance for any feed back!!
I have a 2021 Thor Magnitude. The AC runs fine on shore power but won't run on generator power. Then generator runs fine and powers all the other stuff it's supposed to but not the AC.
This happened once before and I pushed a bunch of buttons on the inverter, the battery disconnect and anywhere else I could find a button to try and reset something and it fixed it.
I can't remember nor did i do it systematically to figure out how I fixed it.
Anywho, I can't figure out how to get it working again.
Thanks again for any suggestions.
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02-01-2022, 09:31 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: Texas
Posts: 6,187
THOR #2121
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Your motorhome should have two air conditioners. Can you clarify problem: Do neither of them run from generator, or does one air conditioner run from generator and other not?
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02-01-2022, 09:45 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,129
THOR #7035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maggie2021
Hi All,
Thanks in advance for any feed back!!
I have a 2021 Thor Magnitude. The AC runs fine on shore power but won't run on generator power. Then generator runs fine and powers all the other stuff it's supposed to but not the A/C.
This happened once before and I pushed a bunch of buttons on the inverter, the battery disconnect and anywhere else I could find a button to try and reset something and it fixed it.
I can't remember nor did i do it systematically to figure out how I fixed it.
Anywho, I can't figure out how to get it working again.
Thanks again for any suggestions.
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As chance asked: both A/Cs? have you really verified everything else in the coach is powered? Furnace? Microwave? Etc?
There's more to this story....................
__________________
Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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02-01-2022, 09:45 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challenger
State: Maryland
Posts: 108
THOR #25281
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maggie2021
Hi All,
Thanks in advance for any feed back!!
I have a 2021 Thor Magnitude. The AC runs fine on shore power but won't run on generator power. Then generator runs fine and powers all the other stuff it's supposed to but not the AC.
This happened once before and I pushed a bunch of buttons on the inverter, the battery disconnect and anywhere else I could find a button to try and reset something and it fixed it.
I can't remember nor did i do it systematically to figure out how I fixed it.
Anywho, I can't figure out how to get it working again.
Thanks again for any suggestions.
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Hello,
Your generator should have electrical breakers somewhere in the generator compartment. I bet that the one that controls the A/C is tripped. Worth a look at least
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02-02-2022, 01:45 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: South Carolina
Posts: 694
THOR #22342
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That is interesting. The Generator takes precedence over the Shore Pwr. So, if you run your SP and start the Generator, in about 15-30 sec, you will here the Transfer switch click over to the GEN. See if that works. If nothing, yes check the CB at the GEN panel outside.
I dont operate this way. this is trouble shooting,
You should trip breaker inside prior to selecting AC source, then when stabilized on GEN or Shore Pwr close the interior master breaker, then turn on your heavy start up load AC units. it also takes a min or so for the AC unit pressure to stabilize if you switch pwr source or just turn on and off AC unit.
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02-02-2022, 01:13 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Florida
Posts: 10
THOR #21140
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chance
Your motorhome should have two air conditioners. Can you clarify problem: Do neither of them run from generator, or does one air conditioner run from generator and other not?
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Thanks. Neither AC works on generator power. They work fine on shore power. The fans on the AC come on on generator power but not the compressors so it doesn't cool.
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02-02-2022, 01:16 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Florida
Posts: 10
THOR #21140
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 16ACE27
As chance asked: both A/Cs? have you really verified everything else in the coach is powered? Furnace? Microwave? Etc?
There's more to this story....................
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Thanks. Everything works fine on generator power including AC fans, microwave, etc. but the compressors won't turn on and therefore it doesn't cool.
Just to reiterate the AC's work fine on shore power.
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02-02-2022, 01:24 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Miramar
State: California
Posts: 891
THOR #22927
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Please be sure breakers are on at the generator.
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02-02-2022, 02:17 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Florida
Posts: 10
THOR #21140
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Grumpy Grampa
Please be sure breakers are on at the generator.
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Thank you! The breaker on the generator is on and running other appliances. There is only one breaker on the Onan 6000 that I am aware of. For what it's worth I confirmed this with the Onan representative at the Tampa RV show.
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02-02-2022, 02:43 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Missouri
Posts: 2,324
THOR #6903
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What does your amp loading show when running generator on each line? With AC fans on
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02-02-2022, 02:45 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Florida
Posts: 10
THOR #21140
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lwmcguire
What does your amp loading show when running generator on each line? With AC fans on
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Thank you. Where would I read the amp loading?
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02-02-2022, 03:39 PM
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#12
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,129
THOR #7035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maggie2021
Thanks. Everything works fine on generator power including AC fans, microwave, etc. but the compressors won't turn on and therefore it doesn't cool.
Just to reiterate the AC's work fine on shore power.
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Well, this makes no logical sense. The generator supplies 120 VAC power just like PS does, through 2 hot legs, a neutral, and a ground. The Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) selects which source this power comes from and applies it directly to the power distribution center/breaker panel.
So if the A/C fans are running, the A/Cs are getting 120 VAC from the generator.
The thermostat(s) tell the A/Cs to run the fans and the compressors as needed to provide cooling. This control of the A/Cs by the thermostat's is done with 12 VDC control power. If the thermostat can control the fans then it has the control power to control the compressors, and the control power doesn't care if the 120 VAC side is coming from SP or the generator.
If you had some loose control power wiring that was subject to the generator vibrations you would think it would only affect 1 A/C, but maybe if you have a single thermostat and it was loose at the thermostat end it might affect both. I can't see any load shedding device affecting both A/Cs either.
In any case, it appears you do not have a simple problem and will require some hands-on troubleshooting in the coach to figure this one out. Let us know how it is resolved.
__________________
Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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02-02-2022, 04:19 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: Texas
Posts: 6,187
THOR #2121
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maggie2021
Thanks. Neither AC works on generator power. They work fine on shore power. The fans on the AC come on on generator power but not the compressors so it doesn't cool.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maggie2021
Thank you! The breaker on the generator is on and running other appliances. There is only one breaker on the Onan 6000 that I am aware of. For what it's worth I confirmed this with the Onan representative at the Tampa RV show.
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Thanks for clarification. And you are correct, the Onan 6000 Watt Diesel inverter generator is listed as having only one 30-Amp 2-pole breaker, so it should be all or nothing in power — unlike some generators that have two separate breakers and can trip +/- 50% of loads.
As far as I know, common air conditioners get power for fan/blower and for compressor from same 20-Amp breaker, so I agree with Ace that the generator appears to be supplying power to air conditioners circuits. Based on your observations, the only thing that makes sense to me is that “something” is telling the A/Cs not to run. It seems more of a control issue and not a power issue. It makes no sense, and can’t help with controls because motorhomes have become rolling computers, and I don’t know if it is possible for software to keep A/C compressors from running if generator is on.
By the way, you mentioned having an inverter, and I assume it’s wired as originally installed by Thor. If it’s aftermarket or someone rewired to revise operation, that introduces other possibilities. Sorry I can’t help at all. I would focus on control settings to see if there is a selection that prevents A/C from turning on when powered by generator.
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02-02-2022, 04:31 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Missouri
Posts: 2,324
THOR #6903
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maggie2021
Thank you. Where would I read the amp loading?
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Not familiar with your coach but thought it probably had some kind of EMS panel, usually where or on the same as the inverter, charger and so on
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02-02-2022, 04:35 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Missouri
Posts: 2,324
THOR #6903
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On my Coach the EMS will limit the Heat Pumps or AC's depending on if dryer, range, fireplace, and so on so that neither side is overloaded
Here situation truly doesn't make sense but seems to be in the thermostats or load management
Will be interesting to hear what the final resolution is
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02-02-2022, 04:45 PM
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#16
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Site Team
Brand: Entegra
Model: Accolade 37TS
State: South Dakota
Posts: 8,726
THOR #1469
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Turn off the inverter and see if everything else runs runs on the generator.
Try that first.
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02-04-2022, 12:59 PM
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#17
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Florida
Posts: 10
THOR #21140
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Hi All!!
Thanks for all the feedback.
I'm happy and a bit embarrassed as it is now working and I have no idea why it wasn't.
I swear it wasn't working and I once again turned a bunch of switches(inverter on/off, disconnected batteries, turned breakers on/off) on and off and it started working again.
Thanks and sorry for the ambiguity.
Hopefully I won't trip whatever it was that triggered this in the past.
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02-04-2022, 03:05 PM
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#18
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,129
THOR #7035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maggie2021
Hi All!!
Thanks for all the feedback.
I'm happy and a bit embarrassed as it is now working and I have no idea why it wasn't.
I swear it wasn't working and I once again turned a bunch of switches(inverter on/off, disconnected batteries, turned breakers on/off) on and off and it started working again.
Thanks and sorry for the ambiguity.
Hopefully I won't trip whatever it was that triggered this in the past.
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Well, at least it's working now. No lessons learned but you gotta take what you can get.
__________________
Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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02-04-2022, 03:39 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2011 FW Hurricane 33T
State: England
Posts: 1,281
THOR #16471
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I would like to point out that IF you had run the ACs on shore power then switched to the generator, you have to wait for the AC compressor to rest while its internal pressure drops, any refrigerant compressor needs this bleed down time as they are a low horsepower motor and cannot restart under pressure. The fan will still run... this protection is also in your S&B reefer.
They mostly use an overload on the compressor or some aftermarket electronics have the time delay built-in (SoftStartRV for one). So run the generator and wait... 5 - 15 minutes(?).
EDIT: NOW I read txc... mentions this in post #5.
SoftStartRV - Protection restart time interval: 3 minutes
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