Watts Onan Portable Generator - 4000 , Model# 5500 Logo
Anonymous Posted on Nov 01, 2009

Genset starts and runs fine but the 30 Amp circuit breaker trips as soon as a load (AC) is applied. Started right up, ran half a day, but now when it starts the minutes I click on the ac the circuit breaker trips but the genset keeps running steady.

  • 3 more comments 
  • Anonymous Jan 02, 2010

    The problem started with the switching on of the ac. I have not tried anything else because I assumed it was just the ac load. I had a rv mechanic look at it, and he said he thought it was the circuit breaker or control board for the genset. He wasn't sure stating he was not overly familiar with generators. I have put almost $2000 into this genset in the last 24 months not counting the $2800 I paid foor it orginally. Canping World wants almost 200 bucks to just diagnose it. I'm afraid of throwing more good money after bad. I'm 69 years old and not mechanically inclined and just don't have the money to put into something that might be unfixable.

  • Anonymous Jan 02, 2010

    It kicks off the moment the ac is switched on.I haven't tried it with other loads.A local rv mechanic although admitting he doesn't know much about gensets looked at it and he said he thinks it is either the circuit board or the breaker that is bad.

  • Anonymous Jan 02, 2010

    It kicks off the moment the ac is switched on.I haven't tried it with other loads.A local rv mechanic although admitting he doesn't know much about gensets looked at it and he said he thinks it is either the circuit board or the breaker that is bad.

  • Robert Wooley
    Robert Wooley May 11, 2010

    DOES IT TRIP THE BREAKER WITH SOMETHING PLUGED IN, OR WITH NOTHING PLUGED IN?

  • Mike Butler
    Mike Butler Jul 21, 2010

    What type/size AC are we talking here? Is it on an RV? Any extension cords in line?

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Mike Butler

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  • Master 6,674 Answers
  • Posted on Jul 23, 2010
Mike Butler
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What about when you have it powering the motorhome, without AC on, does it trip then? Do you have anyone you know with a multimeter and knows how to use it? How about buying a plug in voltage meter at a hardware store as a good start. You simply plug it in to a receptacle in your motorhome and it will tell you the incoming voltage and they are not very expensive. That will help diagnose generator problem.

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