Generator breaker tripping while driving

[Edward Buker]

Steve,

I think you have a good plan changing the breaker and forcing some air. If the breaker has any resistance to the contacts, it also creates its own heat internally that will force a trip. The springs are most likely weak as mentioned before.

I do not know where the air inlet is to the compartment but it may be possible to fabricate a scoop of some kind so that when you are moving forward there is some forced air passing into the compartment. The fan may be the only way to make flow happen but it would be nice if you could keep it simple.

Later Ed

[Joel Ashley]

It's a bit hard for those of us with gensets mounted differently than yours to grasp the exact configuration.  I would expect a mesh grid across at least part of the genset bay door and at least some opening underneath, but this sounds like none of that?  If it's as Gerald describes, a fan at a vent outlet seems appropriate.  And or a flex tube from one vent to a new fresh air port cut in a bay door, coach side, or mounted behind the front cap.

Suffice it to say heat needs to be dealt with, perhaps on several fronts.  New breaker(s), a squirrel cage fan like used in the back of RV fridges or larger mounted to the genset box outlet vent and switched at the dash, and perhaps a way to get cooler air to mix with the genset fuel.  

Joel

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Steve,
Before you  modify anything, check to see if the generator fan is tight on the shaft (and the belt is tight as Ed suggested earlier). A loose fan could give the symptoms you are seeing. When parked, the air under the coach is still and the fan blades are turning enough to pull in air to keep temps low. However, when moving, the air get turbulent. If the fan is loose, the turbulence may be enough to keep it from turning at its intended speed, resulting in increased temperatures.
Steve