rgano
Guru
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2007
- Messages
- 4,995
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- FROLIC
- Vessel Make
- Mainship 30 Pilot II since 2015. GB-42 1986-2015. Former Unlimited Tonnage Master
I have a NextGen UCM1-3.5 3.5-KW generator and an on/off switch on my boat's circuit breaker panel labeled "Generator Control," and today, while investigating why the "Generator" light at the helm console did not come on while the generator was running I found out some interesting things. On the other hand, since the light is mounted together with three bilge pump alarm lights, maybe it is supposed to indicate an alarm condition with the generator....?
1. The Generator light at the helm came on only while the Start/Preheat-Stop switch was thrown to the "Preheat" position. Once the generator started, it went out. While the start switch was in the "Preheat" position, a buzzing noise was noted at the helm.
2. THEN I pulled the Circuit Breaker/Switch Panel down and found a single red wire which had apparently pulled free from one side of the Generator Control switch. There were two red wires connected to the other pole of this switch - so until I reconnected this wire, the switch was controlling nothing. However, the generator started and ran normally both before and after the wire was reconnected.
3. After reconnecting the single red wire to the Generator Control switch, the Generator light at the helm console came on as soon as the switch was thrown to the "on" position, and it stayed on while the generator was running. When I threw the Generator Control switch to "Off," the Generator light at the helm went off, but the generator continued to run. Also, there was a quiet click/beep noise heard at the generator when this switch was thrown to "on" before starting the generator whereas before the wire was reconnected, there was no noise at the generator when the switch was turned on.
4. With the wire reconnected to the Generator Control switch and with the switch "on," there was no more buzzing sound at the helm console when the Start switch was held to "Preheat." Generator started OK.
5. With the Generator Control Switch in the "off" position, I can still crank the generator - I did not proceed all the way to start but probably could have based on the fact that I could start it when the single red wire was disconnected.
So my questions are:
1. What is this Generator Control switch controlling? It seems to control nothing.
2. What is the purpose of the Generator light at the helm besides to remind me that the Generator Control switch, which seems to control nothing, is in the "on" position?
1. The Generator light at the helm came on only while the Start/Preheat-Stop switch was thrown to the "Preheat" position. Once the generator started, it went out. While the start switch was in the "Preheat" position, a buzzing noise was noted at the helm.
2. THEN I pulled the Circuit Breaker/Switch Panel down and found a single red wire which had apparently pulled free from one side of the Generator Control switch. There were two red wires connected to the other pole of this switch - so until I reconnected this wire, the switch was controlling nothing. However, the generator started and ran normally both before and after the wire was reconnected.
3. After reconnecting the single red wire to the Generator Control switch, the Generator light at the helm console came on as soon as the switch was thrown to the "on" position, and it stayed on while the generator was running. When I threw the Generator Control switch to "Off," the Generator light at the helm went off, but the generator continued to run. Also, there was a quiet click/beep noise heard at the generator when this switch was thrown to "on" before starting the generator whereas before the wire was reconnected, there was no noise at the generator when the switch was turned on.
4. With the wire reconnected to the Generator Control switch and with the switch "on," there was no more buzzing sound at the helm console when the Start switch was held to "Preheat." Generator started OK.
5. With the Generator Control Switch in the "off" position, I can still crank the generator - I did not proceed all the way to start but probably could have based on the fact that I could start it when the single red wire was disconnected.
So my questions are:
1. What is this Generator Control switch controlling? It seems to control nothing.
2. What is the purpose of the Generator light at the helm besides to remind me that the Generator Control switch, which seems to control nothing, is in the "on" position?