Troubleshooting guide

11
PREVENTING SURGING
The electrical supply (voltage and frequency) for any appliance must be kept
within very close limits for it to work properly. Changes in the electrical supply
(called surging) can damage the appliances in your RV. Proper care of your
generator will enable it to supply a stable power source and prevent surging.
RV generators control engine speed with a governing system. Most generators
have a mechanical governor, although the latest Onan
®
Marquis Platinum
TM
and
Quiet Diesel
TM
generators use an electronic governor. Without a governor, as
appliances are turned on, engine speed simply drops until the generator finally
stops running. With a governor, the carburetor throttle opens to compensate for
load, to maintain a constant speed.
The governor works in careful balance with the generator engine, fuel system,
regulator and generator. If the balance is upset, surging may result.
A variety of things can cause surging, including an inadequate fuel supply, lack of
exercise, and poor maintenance. (See the Troubleshooting Guide on page 26.)
Tips To Help Prevent Surging
• Be sure the generator has an adequate fuel supply. Fuel is drawn from a
remote fuel tank. With gasoline-fueled RVs, it’s usually the vehicle’s main fuel
tank. Typically the generator’s fuel pickup extends only
3
/4 of the way to the
bottom of the tank — to keep you from being stranded at your campsite! So
just because you have fuel in the tank, you’re not guaranteed it’s getting to your
generator. (If you have two fuel tanks in your vehicle make sure both tanks are
full.) An inadequate fuel supply can also be caused by cracked/leaking fuel
lines or a defective fuel pump. Contact your local Onan Authorized RV
Service and Parts Dealer to have this checked out.
• Be sure to follow the generator exercise recommendations or the out-of-service
protection recommendations outlined in your Operator’s Manual. Gum and
varnish from stale fuel can plug small carburetor passages causing a lean
fuel mixture and surging. Treat the fuel system with Green Label Parts Premium
Fuel System Cleaner in the clean-up mode ratios. Contact your local Onan
Authorized RV Service and Parts Dealer to have the carburetor cleaned and
adjusted if the problem persists.
• On carbureted models, be sure carburetor, choke, and governor adjustments
are performed by your local Onan Authorized RV Service and Parts Dealer.
These adjustments can only be properly made using specialized instruments.
• Be sure ignition system components are in good condition.
• On carbureted models, with manual preheater control lever, be sure the
carburetor air pre-heater is in the proper position for temperature and humidity
at your location. The selector should be in the winter position if the temperature
is below 55°F and/or the humidity is high.
10
CAUTION: When operating electronic appliances (TVs, computers, VCRs,
etc.) in your RV, it is important to use surge protectors to prevent power
surges from damaging your equipment. We are not responsible for
damage to sensitive electronic equipment.
Suburban living room
Private office
Normal
speech
Inside a car
at 50 m.p.h.
or inside a
busy office
Rotary mower
Heavy city traffic
Chain saw
Auto horn at 3 feet or
rock & roll bar
Jet plane at 50 feet
Siren at 100 feet
Threshold of pain
Marquis Platinum™ - 64
MicroQuiet™ - 66
Marquis Gold™ - 67
Quiet Diesel™ - 68
Camp Power™ - 70/71
MicroLite™ - 70
Noise Level Comparison
(in decibels)
quiet