Alanpandew Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 I have a Itasca Sunstar 2002. My problem is my microwave works fine when plugged in at a campground. If I run the generator, the microwave does not work. I have checked all of the circuit breakers and fuses. I'm stumped. Any ideas? Help me!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stvekay Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Is the generator powerful enough? Just a thought Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spirou Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Under powered generator would be the most obvious choice. I'm guessing you're not trying to operate 60 Hz equipment on 50 Hz generator (it was a discussion we had a while back with someone exporting his MH to US). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtravel Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Is 240V output by an inverter or just an alternator ? In case of sophisticated or inductive loads, very often it makes difference: if by an inverter, is the output a pure sine or modified (roughly square) wave ? Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 A brochure for a 2002 Winnebago/Itasca Sunstar can be viewed here https://www.rvroundtable.com/wp-content/uploads/winnebago/2002/2002.Sunstar.pdf The brochure lists a 2.8kW generator as an option (image attached below) and - as one might expect with a USA-specification RV - this provides 110V power. (The ‘avatar’ photo on Alan’s posting is of a Thor “Chateau” RV.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Alan, Are you in the UK or USA? If your RV is still wired as from the factory then it most likely has a 'Transfer switch' which changes over the power selection when a generator is running and these do fail. If so then I feel you would need to find someone conversant with the USA wiring to correctly diagnose your fault. Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanpandew Posted November 22, 2019 Author Share Posted November 22, 2019 It does work on the inverter. Everything else works. The 110 sockets work. It had been working on the generator, then all of a sudden, no longer operating when I put the generator on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Alanpandew - 2019-11-22 3:12 PM It does work on the inverter. Everything else works. The 110 sockets work. It had been working on the generator, then all of a sudden, no longer operating when I put the generator on. If the sockets automatically changed to generator power when it was started then you almost certainly have a transfer switch and, as I said earlier, they do fail. They are actually nothing more than a mains operated relay and changeover contacts. Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyishuk Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Could be corrected here, but I think a microwave needs a good thump of amps to get to initially power up. Situation similar to starting an electric motor. The microwave amp rating is given as the running current, not the starting current. Rgds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted November 23, 2019 Share Posted November 23, 2019 Alan has said that his RV’s microwave oven works when powered from the inverter (so the oven seems to be OK) and that the oven used to work when powered from the generator. Also that, when the generator is running, the RV’s 110V sockets are functional - so the generator seems to be OK. Alan has also confirmed that he has checked all the RV’s circuit-breakers and fuses. Keith has suggested a failed ‘transfer switch’ may be the cause of the problem and these switches are referred to on-line. But it’s evident from RV-related on-line comments that there are significant differences between USA standard electrical practice for RVs (not just 110V instead of 230V) and standard practice for ‘European’ motorhomes. if I lived in the USA and owned a Winnebago RV, my first port of call for technical advice would be a website like this one http://www.winnieowners.com/forums/registry/ Obviously I don’t know if Alan has enquired about the microwave problem unsuccessfully on USA websites before trying this one, but USA forums (or even a UK RV forum) is where focused advice is most likely to be found. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onecal Posted November 23, 2019 Share Posted November 23, 2019 Check for voltage drop from the Gen set when starting the microwave and the microwave oven noise filter board Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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