Generator Mystery

[JourneytoRet]

So we've been at a new campground and had two power outages, due to thunderstorms. I come home one night, wife is out shopping, to a RV with the generator running. I switched it off and sure enough, there is campground power. Wife gets home and I ask when did the power go out. She says not today. I said why did you start the gen? She says I didn't!

Is there a poltergeist at this Campground?

[JourneytoRet]

So I duct taped the wife and kids to the couch, shined a bright light in their eyes and played directtv's remote control tutorial nonstop while grilling them. Each of them swear they did not turn on the generator.

So, is there an automatic start on the generator in case the campground power goes out?

[J. Morgan]

How old are your kids?

Lol, I think maybe one of them went to playing with the switches they were not supposed to play with and freaked out when the gen started and he/she could not turn it off.

Once the first denial was in place the kid had to stick with it.

No harm no foul, and he/she probably wont do it a again.


Gradiens super tenui glacie.

[masseyfarm]

MY STORY: Probably has nothing to do with your experience?

I was working on the CLIPPER electrical, and had the door open most of the day as I was in and out.

Having finished, running a new 10ga wire, from the rear to the dash to control a new solenoid, I cleaned up, locked up, and went into the house to bed.

A couple hours later, I awake to the sound of an engine running. Go to the window and it sounds like my genset?

I pull on some clothes and go to the CLIPPER, (yes the genset is running) and I to to the cockpit to shut it off at that switch.

As I turn around i see, the neighbours cat "SAMMY" scooting out the door.

The genset switch in the cockpit is on the horizontal panel below the drivers side widow.

I have to assume that the cat stood on the switch as he was looking for a way out, as there was no other logical explaination for what had happend.

-----
As far as I know, there is no automatic start in the Airstream products of this vintage.

Dave

Originally Posted by JourneytoRet

So I duct taped the wife and kids to the couch, shined a bright light in their eyes and played directtv's remote control tutorial nonstop while grilling them. Each of them swear they did not turn on the generator.

So, is there an automatic start on the generator in case the campground power goes out?

[israndy]

That would be a good prank, start people's generators and walk away. I don't have a lock on my generator slide out, I assume no one does. Slide out the gen enough to flip the on switch, push it back in, stand back and watch the head scratching when the occupants return...

-Randy

[bobmiller1]

Not the generator, but when we had the 390XL, we left Hanns (German Shepard) in the MOTORHOME. When we returned he was so happy he jumped up and hit the power door lock switch and locked us out. Thank God I left one window unlocked and hoisted my youngest daughter up to crawl through and unlock the door for us. I have since hidden a spare key outside of the 2007 396XL now. Regards, Bob

[jerryemeryde]

My "partner" has started the generator more than once, but only when he wants to sit in the drivers seat and his butt (or tail) extends over to the start switch.

[bobmiller1]

Great picture !!!

[masseyfarm]

Locating switches where they can be accidentally turned on, is not a great idea.

As noted above, both the door locks, and the genset switches are located on the drivers side flat panel below the side window on many models, including my CLIPPER.

On my CLIPPER, I protect this switch panel with some plexi that I trimmed up. Easy to do. The front flat plexi panel slides to the rear under the raised panel, and vise versa.

The rear panel has a camera mount that can take photo or video direct from that position, unobstructed when the screen is moved forward


http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/...psz3lvzzh8.jpg

Dave

[Woosch]

By chance do you have the new Dometic Comfort Control Center? I have the CCC2 and page 18 has a couple paragraphs on the "Auto Generator Start" function.
Cheers

[israndy]

You need to have an Auto Generator Start device, the CCC will not do that by itself. I have the Xantrex AGS but there are others from Onan too

-Randy