gen set not running a/c but everyhting else

[millss]

Hi folks. I have a new to me 40 year old trawler... year 1 the gen set ran the
A/c this year on Gen Set only the generator will not run my 2 large appliances. ie Air and hot water... it runs everything else off the inverter. is there some inline fuse I may be missing , where low draw appliances will run and not Hi draw appliances???

 

[DrissZougari]

I would really recommend that you get a good marine electrician to trace your boats wiring and to explant to you how everything works for your specific boat.
Good luck,

 

[Bmarler]

Hi folks. I have a new to me 40 year old trawler... year 1 the gen set ran the
A/c this year on Gen Set only the generator will not run my 2 large appliances. ie Air and hot water... it runs everything else off the inverter. is there some inline fuse I may be missing , where low draw appliances will run and not Hi draw appliances???

I second that you might get some help from an experienced person to help you understand your systems, but in the mean time, is there a transfer switch you’re forgetting to throw?
Generally, there’s a shore/generator transfer switch. Also could be a breaker on the generator itself that needs reset.
Is the generator powering the inverter/charger or any other loads?
If it’s not powering the battery charger, the inverter is powering everything off the batteries and the generator isn’t powering anything at all.

 

[Choices]

Explain one more time.
What would it run?
What will it run?

 

[Comodave]

Welcome aboard.

 

[tiltrider1]

Did you remember to rotate the switch from shore power to generator power?

 

[millss]

I would really recommend that you get a good marine electrician to trace your boats wiring and to explant to you how everything works for your specific boat.
Good luck,

Thanks.. it is in the plans but it is the height of boating season here and no marine electricians available for the foreseeable future. my plan over the winter is to strip out all excess wiring and have a clearer look before engaging an electrician..

 

[millss]

I second that you might get some help from an experienced person to help you understand your systems, but in the mean time, is there a transfer switch you’re forgetting to throw?
Generally, there’s a shore/generator transfer switch. Also could be a breaker on the generator itself that needs reset.
Is the generator powering the inverter/charger or any other loads?
If it’s not powering the battery charger, the inverter is powering everything off the batteries and the generator isn’t powering anything at all.

awaiting an expert marine electrician.. just not available at my location at this time. the boat is new to me and the gen set ran everything last year and the beginning of this season. it has simply stopped running the A/C and water heater. all else runs. inverter. 120 outlets etc.. ( not the switch or breaker). at least not a switch or breaker in plain view.

 

[millss]

Explain one more time.
What would it run?
What will it run?

so... the boat does have some electrical gremlins. few previous owners and some birds nests to clean up. but the Gen Set ran everything last year. ( and the start of this year). all of a sudden... the A/C and hot water ( which still works on shore power) does not run on the Gen Set..... the Gen Set runs all other features on 120V system including inverter/charger..

 

[Bmarler]

The generator may have more than one breaker on it, or could be a 120/240 output with two 120 volt lines feeding different parts of the breaker panels or multiple panels. Couldn’t say without seeing it.
But, check the generator breaker. Reset it. Also could be a bad breaker on the generator. If you’re handy with a volt meter just follow the power and see where it stops.

 

[wkearney99]

Thanks.. it is in the plans but it is the height of boating season here and no marine electricians available for the foreseeable future. my plan over the winter is to strip out all excess wiring and have a clearer look before engaging an electrician..

That seems like a bad plan. If anything, having an expert seeing what has already been done helps figure out what should be done about it. Because to the trained eye seeing a bunch of half-assed attempts to deal with (X) says maybe there were 'assumptions' about what (X) was supposed to do, that an expert knows really points toward (Y) being the real source of the problem.

Perhaps better to likewise engage that electrician while ALL of the boat's systems can be operated. While it's in the water and, presumably, with the influence of summer heat putting the added stress on everything.

Once you get a reasonable explanation of what /looks like has been done/ you could perhaps plan a more targeted strategy.

 

[CaptTom]

I'm still not clear on the symptom. If there's no power to the appliances that it "won't run" then you need to find a breaker, switch or loose connection. If there's power to them but the generator fails trying to supply enough current, that's a totally different path.

 

[High Wire]

Question: Does everything work properly plugged into shore power? If so, I agree there is a loose wire terminal or bad breaker somewhere. Can you find anyone that is competent with a multi meter? Usual suspects are the generator output breaker and the transfer switches.

 

[SteveK]

An electrician will check for power at the AC and then trace back if none found. There is no magic to it. Either power at AC or there is an open switch, breaker etc. The transfer switch may be faulty.

 

[rgano]

Hello and welcome aboard. I am glad to see there are efforts here to help you, and I agree with them all! Hope you get it sorted soon.

 

[C lectric]

I agree there are a couple things you can do. If you are not comfortable tracing electric circuits then ask around for a knowledgeable dockmate to help. THey may run into a stone wall or maybe they find the problem.

I also agree that if several items now just wont work on the gen. but will on shore power then there is bad connection, broken wire, a failed circuit breaker or a blown fuse. You should take a good look as sometimes with additions by previous owners they put thing like this where it is convenient but not good practice.

Last is as already pointed out, DO NOT just tear out the existing wiring. For the electrician they could examine your system and say AHA. Of course more likely do some tracing with a meter and then say AHA. What is not apparent to you may be apparent to the electr.

BUt tearing it all out will leave NO CLUES about what is going on which will complicate things enormously. That kind of help is often no help.

I say this as a now long retired electrician who has had to deal with messes like this and the owner has only made it worse by trying to help.