Cummins Onan generator

boaterholic

boaterholic

Active Member
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Jan 2, 2021
445
Welaka, FL
Boat Info
2005 420 Sedan Bridge
Engines
Diamond Performance Series 430HP 6CTA 8.3M's
I’ve got a model MDKAV 9 KW in my 420DB. Today went to start it up and within a second of starting it shuts down and displays a 3 flash service code on the start/stop switch. The codes sticker says 3 flashes mean service required.
Can anyone point me in the right direction?
It has oil and coolant, in case anyone wanted to ask.
 
do you have the manual to it? I'm thinking you ask it to give you a better code than just that. After all, whomever you have look at it will have to figure it out too. It could be a a whole host of possible issues. But whatever it is, it's mostly likely doing it's job correctly. Even if you can't figure out how to make it tell you the codes, the manual will give a list of what each code would mean and as to why you are getting that code. Go from there.
 
Three blinks is a "Service Fault"; is that what you got? If so, pressing the stop button should elicit a two-digit code that will indicate the specific fault. It's in two sets. The first set is 1-7 blinks indicating the tens digit. The second is 1-9 blinks for the units digit. Recommend you try to get that code to show then post the results.
 
I went back and checked for secondary fault codes and got a 12. Overvoltage. Is that from the AC or the alternator (DC) side? I’m assuming the actual generator(AC). If so how do I proceed?
And yes I need to order the manua for the generator. Can’t believe I didn’t order it when I ordered the manuals for engines
 
Last edited:
techmitch said:
https://www.seapowermarine.com/seap...05/MDKAV-AW-AZ-BD-BE-BF-BG-Service-Manual.pdf
Page 72/7-7
Click to expand...
So I went through the manual. Thanks for link to it.
I ended up turning off the line breaker on the side, and generator started. So for giggles I then turned the breaker back on and generator stayed running and powered up the AC system fine. Can’t figure that one out…
Thank you for the link to manual again and all other inputs appreciated too. Hopefully just a gremlin that won’t come back!
 
boaterholic said:
So I went through the manual. Thanks for link to it.
I ended up turning off the line breaker on the side, and generator started. So for giggles I then turned the breaker back on and generator stayed running and powered up the AC system fine. Can’t figure that one out…
Thank you for the link to manual again and all other inputs appreciated too. Hopefully just a gremlin that won’t come back!
Click to expand...
So, do you typically start with the line breaker on? Since I am usually on shore power when cold iron, I will start with the breaker disengaged, let the genny warm up a little then trip from shore to generator. I saw the manual mentioned that a burp in the fuel line might impact the voltage so letting the generator run off-line for at least a while is probably a good idea.
 
alnav said:
So, do you typically start with the line breaker on? Since I am usually on shore power when cold iron, I will start with the breaker disengaged, let the genny warm up a little then trip from shore to generator. I saw the manual mentioned that a burp in the fuel line might impact the voltage so letting the generator run off-line for at least a while is probably a good idea.
Click to expand...
On the side of generator above where the battery cables come into the generator is where this line breaker is. I didn't even know it was there until I looked at the manual in the link provided above. This side of generator is out of view unless I crawl to starboard on my 420 and look around side. There is a different breaker and switch beside the start/stop switch on the front side of gen that is in clear view and easily accessible. I don't normally start the gen from below deck. Normally start it from the electrical panel. So to answer your question I have never had the breakers installed on the generator turned off to start it since I'm not down there to start it.
When I change AC power source from shore power to gen, or gen to shore power, I turn off all the ac breakers on the electrical panel before using the source transfer switch/breakers, change the source, then turn on all the ac breakers again on the panel.
 
boaterholic said:
On the side of generator above where the battery cables come into the generator is where this line breaker is. I didn't even know it was there until I looked at the manual in the link provided above. This side of generator is out of view unless I crawl to starboard on my 420 and look around side. There is a different breaker and switch beside the start/stop switch on the front side of gen that is in clear view and easily accessible. I don't normally start the gen from below deck. Normally start it from the electrical panel. So to answer your question I have never had the breakers installed on the generator turned off to start it since I'm not down there to start it.
When I change AC power source from shore power to gen, or gen to shore power, I turn off all the ac breakers on the electrical panel before using the source transfer switch/breakers, change the source, then turn on all the ac breakers again on the panel.
Click to expand...
Your transfer switch/breaker in the main distribution panel does the same isolation as that circuit breaker on the side of the generator. Shouldn't have to mess with that circuit breaker on the side; only do the normal transfer after the generator is up and running.
 
ttmott said:
Your transfer switch/breaker in the main distribution panel does the same isolation as that circuit breaker on the side of the generator. Shouldn't have to mess with that circuit breaker on the side; only do the normal transfer after the generator is up and running.
Click to expand...
Interesting then because those two switches on the electrical panel were off since boat is connected to shore power. And like I wrote above I always start up the generator and then after it’s running I transfer the switches on the electrical panel inside. Was not until I tripped off the breakers on side per manual that it started.
 
boaterholic said:
Interesting then because those two switches on the electrical panel were off since boat is connected to shore power. And like I wrote above I always start up the generator and then after it’s running I transfer the switches on the electrical panel inside. Was not until I tripped off the breakers on side per manual that it started.
Click to expand...
Well your shorepower switch should be on but generator off; isn't there a slider to prevent both being on?
I think that is a bit weird as I don't remember any control circuity to shut down the unit if there is a problem on the AC side of things. If there IS some sort of control circuit like ground fault that shuts down the unit then it appears to be a problem between that generator breaker and the transfer breakers. Let me take a look at my generator's manual to see.
 
It appears there are a host of AC power things that are monitored which, if out spec will send an error code. I don't know if high/low frequency, high/low voltage will shut the unit down. Are you getting any error codes at all?
 
Yes I do have the slider to block either the generator or the shore power so only one source can be on. I have two 30 amp service so I have two transfer switches. Both are on the shore power only. I start the generator while the transfer switch is to shore power. Generator goes on after it's running and looking normal.
 
ttmott said:
It appears there are a host of AC power things that are monitored which, if out spec will send an error code. I don't know if high/low frequency, high/low voltage will shut the unit down. Are you getting any error codes at all?
Click to expand...
The initial flashing light code was 3 flashes then pause, repeat. Push the Stop switch and a secondary flashing sequence begins to tell you more info. That was giving me a one followed by two flash sequence, so 12. The manual says that was an overvoltage issue. Then manual says to trip that line breaker on the side, which I did, and attempt to start generator again. If it starts as normal then it tells you to check something else(can't recall right now). After it started just for giggles I reset that line breaker to see if it would shut the generator off or not, and it continued running as normal. Then I went inside salon to electrical panel and transferred power to generator and it pick up the loads as normal. Then I re transferred power to shore power so I could shut the generator off as I was out of time last night to mess with it further.
 
ttmott said:
It appears there are a host of AC power things that are monitored which, if out spec will send an error code. I don't know if high/low frequency, high/low voltage will shut the unit down. Are you getting any error codes at all?
Click to expand...
boaterholic said:
The initial flashing light code was 3 flashes then pause, repeat. Push the Stop switch and a secondary flashing sequence begins to tell you more info. That was giving me a one followed by two flash sequence, so 12. The manual says that was an overvoltage issue. Then manual says to trip that line breaker on the side, which I did, and attempt to start generator again. If it starts as normal then it tells you to check something else(can't recall right now). After it started just for giggles I reset that line breaker to see if it would shut the generator off or not, and it continued running as normal. Then I went inside salon to electrical panel and transferred power to generator and it pick up the loads as normal. Then I re transferred power to shore power so I could shut the generator off as I was out of time last night to mess with it further.
Click to expand...

https://www.seapowermarine.com/seap...05/MDKAV-AW-AZ-BD-BE-BF-BG-Service-Manual.pdf
Page 72/7-7 Edit; Page 59/7-7
 
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