Don Parrish
AZ
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Joined: 12/15/2008
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Hello again...my day for questions. Monaco '07 Diplomat. It would be more convenient while driving to turn on one of the roof A/C units if I could simply leave the controls in the rear set to the correct "on" postions and just start the generator. I would be assuming all the correct switches, relays, and such would perform in sequence and at the proper conditions the gen would come to speed and the A/C would come on...all of this without me leaving the driver's seat or having to stop. Is there a fault in my reasoning or is this just a bad idea which could cause a problem?
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Skip and Norine
Fulltiming since Oct 2006
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Joined: 05/07/2005
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We do that all the time if the temperture outside is hot enough.
Nothing wrong with it at all and no harm to be done.
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The rig: 2006 SportsCoach Cross Country SE
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FormerBoater
South Florida
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IMHO a better practice would be to start your generator with no load, let it "stabilize" and then turn on your roof units.
Dave
Dave
1998 American Eagle 40EVS
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Mr.Mark
California/Tennessee
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Joined: 09/24/2006
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Don, I've thought of doing the same thing but I worry about turning off the generator with the air conditioners ON. They say that you are supposed to let the generator run for a couple of minutes to cool down after a load.
But, you might just be saying 'for start-up only' and by the time you get to your destination you then can get up and turn off the air first then the generator (right?).
What we do, is that I set the air on the thermostat where I want it and turn the switch OFF on the bottom. When it's time to run the inside air, I turn in the Onan and then my co-pilot will get up and turn ON the switch at the bottom of the thermostat and we're good to go. We reverse the process if we need to turn off the air/Onan while driving.
MM.
Mr.Mark 
2008 Monaco Dynasty, 42.2 ft., 4 slides, 425 hp clean-air Cummins diesel
2007 Honda CR-V EXL, 4WD, w/Nav and the M&G braking system
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wolfe10
Texas
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Joined: 10/08/2000
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Agree with Dave.
Better to start with no load and let it warm up for a few minutes, THEN turn on the A/C.
Same for generator shut down-- let it under no load for a few minutes to cool down.
It is also very hard on the generator voltage regulator to shut down under heavy load.
Brett Wolfe
1993 Foretravel 36' U-240
Cat 3116, Allison 3060
FMCA Forum: www.community.fmca.com/index
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rvten
Crossville,TN
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Joined: 11/30/2000
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Gen should be started and stopped with NO LOAD on it.
Tom & Bonnie
Crossville, TN.
Aspect 29H 2008 Type C
Ford Flex SEL 2010
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JFG
TN
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How do the auto start gen-sets do it.... when coach need air conditioning, gen-sets turns on... do they have time delay relays or something that waits a minute then allow ac to turn on?
Fred
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UltraKen
Ohio
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Check your Onan manual.
I believe there is a warning that starting the generator with an initial heavy load is potentially damaging.
It takes a few moments for the generator to come up to stable speed before any AC is delivered. The generator needs to stabilize once the AC voltage is initialized.
You may get away with doing otherwise but consider the cost of repairs against the "convenience" of slamming the generator with the heavy load of compressor start-up.
Your coach, your money.
UltraKen
Ex - 1968 Ultra Van
NOW - 1996 Safari Sahara 35' - Model 3530 - Cat 300
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SacsTC
N. California
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Hi Bud,
I travel without MonacoMama quite a bit as she still has to work. I set the thermostat where I want it and if it gets hot enough in the coach, I reach over and turn on the generator. They have a set time to run before they put out any voltage, so I figure it does no harm. Been doing it this way since 88 and three different MHs. No problems yet.
I agree with JFG post above.
2007 Monaco Diplomat 400HP Cummins ISL
Source Engineering RR8R Ride Enhancement Kit
2006 Chevy Silverado 345HP 6.0 TOAD
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zigzagrv
Nazareth, PA
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I had been contemplating asking the same question. Don't like the DW having to get up and go back to turn on the A/C while moving. I ALWAYS turn the A/C on after the generator has stabilized for a few minutes, and turn the A/C off before shutting the generator down.
What I had been thinking of doing is adding some sort of remote, either wired or wireless, to the A/C circuit so I can turn it on and off from the drivers seat. Anybody try this?
Ron
2003 Gulf Stream Ultra Supreme 33'
F53 Class A
'95 Tracker toad
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