Generator not cranking when controlled by Xantrex.

[Chuck Jackson]

I’m helping a friend set up his Xantrex SW2512 inverter to perform the auto start for the generator. He has a 2005 Beaver Marquis. The generator starts fine with generator switch on the dash.  You are supposed to be able start the generator using the Xantrex controller either by using the auto start function or the ‘On’ button. Neither of them will start the generator. You can hear the generator fuel pump clicking but it never cranks. There is a relay on the Xantrex inverter used for cranking called RY8. This relay has a green light that does illuminate for a few seconds but then goes out. I’m wondering if the relay is bad? Does the green light illuminate with power to the relay or from the relay to the starter?

[Joel Ashley]

I don’t have a Xantrex brand inverter, Chuck, but the Auto Start feature on my coach involves a controller module mounted on the wall in the 12v electrical bay (streetside forwardmost, below the driver’s seat).  Check it’s settings if it’s there or found on your friend’s rig.

That said, even BCS techs had trouble getting ours to properly function as designed, and I never could get it right, so I kept it off.  Getting the settings balanced was a real PITA, and I was using the owners manual.  Despite settings otherwise, the genset would come on when it shouldn’t or not energize as supposedly programmed, waking us and the campground in the middle of the night, or not coming on in the morning, or to keep batteries up midday or run AC’s in hot weather when we’re gone.

Good luck, but at least try to find a manual with programming instructions for the AGS;  there might be such in Coach Assist.  Some here have had no issues with theirs, but it can be a balancing act between the inside panel and the bay module.  Then again, your Xantrex may be a different animal that someone on the Forum has experience and can assist you with.

Joel

[Chuck Jackson]

We have the manual and it appears that we are following the correct steps since we can hear the fuel pump and the relay lights are coming on but no cranking of the starter. Our next step is to pull the relay and see if we can replace it with a new one to see if that solves the issue.

[Joel Ashley]

I suppose I’d first use a voltmeter to test the suspect RY8 relay’s ins and outs while inactivated and activated, to insure I had the right culprit.

Joel

[Fred Brooks]

  Chuck,
Does the gen start at the generator? To the best of my memory, if you have enabled auto gen start and the coach meets all the criteria in the settings it has no need to start and run. If you just want 120 volts, then start it at any remote gen switch inside the coach. The main reason that folks have enabled this feature is if you are using the coach and are not plugged into shore power, and you are away and have pets on board and it gets too warm inside or it is parked in a remote place and your house batteries need charging. Please advise. Fred

[Chuck Jackson]

Yes, the generator will start with the dash switch…just not when using the Xantrex Remote Panel by selecting the ‘ON’ option under the generator menu. Same issue with using the ‘AUTO’ option (which is how this problem appeared). The RY7 (run) and RY8 (crank) relay LEDs do light up correctly though.

We are trying to set the AGS function to save the batteries if the voltage drops too low.

[Richard Davis]

Chuck
If you have not already done so, check to see which battery bank (house or chassis) that is being tested for low voltage.  Many Beaver coaches of that vintage (I have an '06) were miss wired to test off the chassis starting battery rather than the house.  I had to rewire mine before I could get it to work correctly. 
Richard

[Chuck Jackson]

The generator start sequence initiates but never starts. (run relay LED lights up, fuel pump runs - you can hear it, then the crank relay LED lights up but the starter never cranks). According to the manual, if you select the. ‘ON’ option it should start no matter what. We did find that it will not start if plugged into shore power. But this makes since because shore power takes priority. In this case the start sequence never occurs which is expected.

[Chuck Jackson]

I suppose I’d first use a voltmeter to test the suspect RY8 relay’s ins and outs while inactivated and activated, to insure I had the right culprit.

Joel

This is what we were thinking also. I was just hoping someone might have come across this.

[Fred Brooks]

  If someone has changed the surgegard transfer switch, the replacement Surgegard will not communicate with the Xantrex AGS system and there is no update to my knowledge. Fred