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Old 05-19-2021, 09:50 AM   #1
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38 ocean yacht - gen runs but no power!

My husband and I have a 1986 Ocean Yacht Sport with twin Cat diesels.
2# 8D batteries power everything (Currently no house battery).
We purchased this vessel 1 year ago. Boat runs great, generator runs great, all appliances work great but... as soon as we disconnect from shore power we loose anything connecting to 110 power.

We would really appreciate any feedback to help us trouble shoot this. Connection looks good at genset and panel - just can't understand why we suddenly aren't getting power from it.
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Old 05-19-2021, 10:05 AM   #2
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Have you switched the breakers on your 110 panel from shore power to generator? (We are just checking the basics)
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Old 05-19-2021, 10:06 AM   #3
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Sorry if too basic but.... there's probably a transfer switch somewhere.... that tells the panel available power is from the genset versus shore power. It's essentially a selector, sometimes a rotary, sometimes a slide of some sort.

If you've already worked that, I'll retire quietly to the background.

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Old 05-19-2021, 10:15 AM   #4
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Quote:
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Have you switched the breakers on your 110 panel from shore power to generator? (We are just checking the basics)
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Originally Posted by ranger42c View Post
Sorry if too basic but.... there's probably a transfer switch somewhere.... that tells the panel available power is from the genset versus shore power. It's essentially a selector, sometimes a rotary, sometimes a slide of some sort.

If you've already worked that, I'll retire quietly to the background.

-Chris
Exactly correct.

If the genset powered the vessel during sea trials, then there is a switch of some sort to redirect the AC source from shore to genset.

Otherwise- have the genset output checked.
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Old 05-19-2021, 11:16 AM   #5
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Have you switched the breakers on your 110 panel from shore power to generator? (We are just checking the basics)
Yes. All had been working fine for the past year.
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Old 05-19-2021, 11:27 AM   #6
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Have you done any maintenance on the genny lately? It's super easy to accidently bump and turn off the breaker on the generator itself, especially when changing out the air filter. I'd check that first.
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Old 05-19-2021, 11:41 AM   #7
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Have you done any maintenance on the genny lately? It's super easy to accidently bump and turn off the breaker on the generator itself, especially when changing out the air filter. I'd check that first.
Thank you! That is a good idea to check, it's a 1986 Westerbeke. Will do this today
Jason
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Old 05-19-2021, 01:24 PM   #8
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Thank you! That is a good idea to check, it's a 1986 Westerbeke. Will do this today
Jason

If you have the generator manual, it should tell you the location of the switches and breakers on the generator. Sometime they can be in unexpected locations on the equipment.


Also follow your power leads from the genny to your panel as those can have a fuse or fusible link on them as well.
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Old 05-19-2021, 03:45 PM   #9
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Thank you so much, this is good advice. Jason and I are greatful for your reaching out to us. We will take a closer look.
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Old 05-19-2021, 03:54 PM   #10
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A. check the output switch on the generator.
B. check the main panel for the correct configuration of the lock out breakers for shore power or generator power.
C. If everything is configured properly, call a tech.
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Old 05-19-2021, 06:06 PM   #11
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Another thing that can happen is if the generator was shut down with a load on it you can have the same problem. You may have to " excite" the gen with a 12 volt battery. May should have a qualified tech do it.
Gary
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Old 05-19-2021, 06:46 PM   #12
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Another thing that can happen is if the generator was shut down with a load on it you can have the same problem. You may have to " excite" the gen with a 12 volt battery. May should have a qualified tech do it.
Gary
Thank you Gary. We both appreciate your advice. We will look into this.
Shirley and Jason
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Old 05-26-2021, 10:30 AM   #13
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Any updates? Inquiring minds want to know!

Gary
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Old 05-26-2021, 10:42 AM   #14
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Hello Gary and thank you.
No updates yet. The tec at our marina hasn't located out problem yet. I have an appointment at another marina to take a look at things. This other marina feels confident tjat our problem lies in the control panel. We will so see, I hope. I will post an update when I have one.
Prayers that it will be soon!

Thank you again,
Shirley
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Old 05-27-2021, 05:17 AM   #15
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Thanks for the update and good luck!
Gary
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Old 05-28-2021, 02:05 PM   #16
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Generator runs, no power

You didn't cite the make. Assuming by now you have checked switches as suggested. A generator can be running perfectly when shut down and not produce current when started up again. The most common culprit is the voltage regular which is a board which can be easily detached and sent out to a dealer for checking.
Over the years, I have come to trust Flight Systems. The company specializes in generator controls. FS has a quick 3-day turnaround. I have found them to be totally reputable--returning boards that were not defective.
If it is not the regulator, you should check the bridge rectifier. The procedure will be outlined in a factory service manual. If not have the tech do it.

From there you will have to flash the armature, check the brushes if you have an older unit, or the diodes if it is self-energizing. In the unlikely event should have a shorted stator or rotor it is probably not worth repairing. Depending on the generator you might find someone replacing theirs because it is mechanically worn out. The electronics will be working. I did that once with an older Onan.

Good luck!
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Old 06-01-2021, 07:00 AM   #17
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Thank you so very much Oliver. I just read you message to my husband Jason Rice. You sure did get our attention with your advice and we will look into all you have suggested.

PS: Our generator is a Westerbeke 1986.

Very sincerely,
Shirley Rice
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Old 06-01-2021, 03:31 PM   #18
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My 1991 Westerbeke 5.0BCD exhibited the same symptoms after I overloaded it. It turned out to be a blown capacitor.

https://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/...ad.php?t=41619
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Old 06-01-2021, 09:53 PM   #19
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My 1991 Westerbeke 5.0BCD exhibited the same symptoms after I overloaded it. It turned out to be a blown capacitor.

https://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/...ad.php?t=41619
We have a 1986 westerbeke 4.4BCD and the same thing happened to us. I measured about 2.5 volts across the rectifier’s ac terminals. I read about the capacitor, and as it was a relatively cheap part I took a chance and ordered and replaced it. It was pretty easy, the hardest part was not dropping the mounting nut into the bowels of the generator when installing the new cap. Fired it up, and we had ac again. The only thing I did wrong was getting the wrong wire on one terminal of the cap so the inverter hated the power. Once I viewed the wiring diagram and fixed the mistake (we had wire #7 and #9 swapped) everything was perfect.
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Old 06-02-2021, 09:20 AM   #20
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Jeff thank you so so much! I will look at the schematics and locate this.

Have a great day Jeff,
Shirley Rice
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