AC kills ONAN

[tom winslow]

I have a situation.

Our 1974 26' Eleganza SE has a single roof AC (Caravan Mark IV). The AC
works fine while connected to the 'shore power' and the ONAN seems to be OK
so long as I am not running the AC. But, If I run the AC using the ONAN
power, the ONAN dies about the time the compressor 'kicks in'.

We have adjusted the voltage to upward about 125vac and that does not seem
to help.

Any help, suggestions?

TW
- --
Thomas P. Winslow
1966 TR4A IRS - CTC57665L 1968 TR250 - CD4783L 1968 TR250 - CD5272L
189 Hicks Creek Road, Troutman, NC 28166
h704-528-5868 * f704-528-5868 * p704-878-1157
E-Mail: winslow * tom_winslow
Web Page: http://www.iredell.com/triumph.html
http://www.iredell.com/gmc4sale.html

 

[russ bethel]

Tom,
I would suspect the engine is not able to supply the horse power needed
to run the air conditioner. I would look at the fuel system, possibly the
governor or carb. I looked in the Onan service manual and it did not
address your situation, or at least I didn't find it. You may have the carb
too lean to supply the need fuel for the power needed. Other than that
maybe Jim Bounds' Onan man may be able to help you.

Russ Bethel
rbethel

- -----Original Message-----
From: Tom Winslow
To: GMC Motorhome List
Date: Sunday, August 30, 1998 5:24 PM
Subject: GMC: AC kills ONAN

>I have a situation.
>
>Our 1974 26' Eleganza SE has a single roof AC (Caravan Mark IV). The AC
>works fine while connected to the 'shore power' and the ONAN seems to be OK
>so long as I am not running the AC. But, If I run the AC using the ONAN
>power, the ONAN dies about the time the compressor 'kicks in'.
>
>We have adjusted the voltage to upward about 125vac and that does not seem
>to help.
>
>Any help, suggestions?
>
>TW
>--
>Thomas P. Winslow
>1966 TR4A IRS - CTC57665L 1968 TR250 - CD4783L 1968 TR250 - CD5272L
>189 Hicks Creek Road, Troutman, NC 28166
>h704-528-5868 * f704-528-5868 * p704-878-1157
>E-Mail: winslow * tom_winslow
>Web Page: http://www.iredell.com/triumph.html
>http://www.iredell.com/gmc4sale.html
>
>

 

[jim bounds1]

Tom,
My first question would be,"Have you done anything recently to change the
generator or AC units?" Many times, there is a recent event that has
changed the operation of eather that might cause a problem (ie. rewiring,
oil change, generator degrease, etc.)

If not, then you may have something that happened without your knowledge
such as clogged carb., burned points, filled air cleaner, loose ground to
generator, etc.

Lastly, I had a unit which had the same symptom and we found that the rotor
had swollen after years of high current use and had rubbed on the stator
which caused a couple of wires on the rotor to be cut and open. There was
power until a load was put on the generator, it would then drop power!
Hope this is not your situation.

Let me know if your check out revealy nothing.

Jim Bounds www.gmccoop.com
- -----------------------------------------------

>Tom,
> I would suspect the engine is not able to supply the horse power needed
>to run the air conditioner. I would look at the fuel system, possibly the
>governor or carb. I looked in the Onan service manual and it did not
>address your situation, or at least I didn't find it. You may have the carb
>too lean to supply the need fuel for the power needed. Other than that
>maybe Jim Bounds' Onan man may be able to help you.
>
>Russ Bethel
>rbethel
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Tom Winslow
>To: GMC Motorhome List
>Date: Sunday, August 30, 1998 5:24 PM
>Subject: GMC: AC kills ONAN
>
>
>>I have a situation.
>>
>>Our 1974 26' Eleganza SE has a single roof AC (Caravan Mark IV). The AC
>>works fine while connected to the 'shore power' and the ONAN seems to be OK
>>so long as I am not running the AC. But, If I run the AC using the ONAN
>>power, the ONAN dies about the time the compressor 'kicks in'.
>>
>>We have adjusted the voltage to upward about 125vac and that does not seem
>>to help.
>>
>>Any help, suggestions?
>>
>>TW
>>--
>>Thomas P. Winslow
>>1966 TR4A IRS - CTC57665L 1968 TR250 - CD4783L 1968 TR250 - CD5272L
>>189 Hicks Creek Road, Troutman, NC 28166
>>h704-528-5868 * f704-528-5868 * p704-878-1157
>>E-Mail: winslow * tom_winslow
>>Web Page: http://www.iredell.com/triumph.html
>>http://www.iredell.com/gmc4sale.html
>>
>>
>
>
>