Onan 5500 generator, stops after a few seconds, shows code 41

[AbdRahim]

How many hours on it? I would just take it to a reputable Cummins placeand have it serviced. One morning or afternoon - everything upto date and running smoothly.

 

[JeffAndPam]

How many hours on it? I would just take it to a reputable Cummins placeand have it serviced. One morning or afternoon - everything upto date and running smoothly.

It only has 300 hours on it. The nearest Cummins dealer is over an hour away. I was hoping to avoid that trip.
I'm considering pulling out the controller to get a controller number off of it, and see how much a new one is. It might be worth trying to put in a new one first.
BUT, others here are so much smarter about this than I am. I do appreciate all the advice.

 

[AbdRahim]

If it was exercised every month from the time it was new, that is all it has been used in 19 years? If it were mine I would drive the hour and have a thorough service done on it. At that age it may need more stuff than you can find.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

UPDATES #4:
We just took it for a drive, stopped somewhere to test the levelers.
We also tried the generator. This time got the Code 41 again.
It seems to alternate between codes 41 and 45.

With that in mind, is there a possibility it could be the controller board itself?

Sorry! I am in the forest with marginal service. Long weekend always taxes service,so slow will be my response .

I think the board is potted so examination of the board will be a problem. The microprocessor is working or you would have no codes. There could be a bad solder joint, but I would not tell you to replace the board yet, I am not one to throw parts at something to fix the problem!

If you are, then buy a board! I think you will be throwing money away!

Look in the install manual and follow the 12 volt supply wires. Making sure All connections. Are solid on the 12 v+ + side. Then Make sure All groundings straps and busses/ground points are solid and clean.

There is something simple in the power to the armature circuit as to why it is not getting power.

Because I know what to expect, I would jumper maybe 6 volts to the brushes and see if the thing produced power. I might even use a lower voltage. That would likely give a voltage way out of tolerance, so the generator should be isolated to keep damage limited. You may find the field voltage in the trouble shooting section of a field manual.

The only damage it might cause is burn out the board you want to replace so bad. Have a meter on the output and be ready to shut her down.

One more time!!!
Disconnect from the coach if you follow this suggestion.

 

[JeffAndPam]

Thank you Kevin for your detailed reply!

Look in the install manual and follow the 12 volt supply wires. Making sure All connections. Are solid on the 12 v+ + side. Then Make sure All groundings straps and busses/ground points are solid and clean.

I'll start here since that's simple enough.
One question: I recently purchased a product called DeoxIT, as it was suggested by other RV owners to use on electrical connections.
Would it be worth my time to apply that to all connections?

 

[JeffAndPam]

Because I know what to expect, I would jumper maybe 6 volts to the brushes and see if the thing produced power. I might even use a lower voltage. That would likely give a voltage way out of tolerance, so the generator should be isolated to keep damage limited. You may find the field voltage in the trouble shooting section of a field manual.

So after reading this a few times, I wanted to understand what you were suggesting.
I found this video that's on a different generator, but was informative.
From 9:00 - 10:15:
Generator End Test
Tell me if that's similar to what you're suggesting.

If so, a few follow-up questions: The brushes are easy to locate, but I'm not sure where the output leads are. How do I find those? UPDATE: Disregard! I wrote that at work. Now that I'm here at the RV, I do see the wires coming out of the rotator.

Also when you mention isolating the generator, is that similar to what he was doing in that video at 4:52?

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Glad you found that!!!

To be clear! It has been 4 or 5 years sense I last touched the inside of any generator. The endevor was,what could be called a humanitarian effort. I am in My 70's so recollection can become cloudy at times. My efforts include many brands of generator.

That said, yes, that video was spot on to what I was saying. When isolating the generator, the idea is to avoid presenting brown out,to overvoltage conditions to the coaches electronics and components.( Unplug the house from the generator output)!!!

All generators operate on the same principles regardless of brand!!!

 

[Kevin D Pem]

It wouldn't hurt. My understanding it it protects from corrosion,right?

 

[JeffAndPam]

It wouldn't hurt. My understanding it it protects from corrosion,right?

Occording to the product:

• Improves Conductivity without Shorting, Cleans, Deoxidizes, Lubricates and Protects, Reduces Intermittent Connections
• Reduces Arcing & RFI, Reduces Wear & Abrasion

So I figured it can't hurt.
Well now we're on vacation again. Won't be able to get back to this until next week...