Westerbeke Generator Problem....HELP!

[Scottzzzy]

Ok, this one has me stumped so I NEED you guys help. I have a 4.5kw Westerbeke in my 2002 340 and I have not had a moments problem with it until I started doing my Spring shakedown stuff this weekend.

The generator runs great, starts fine (even when it is cold), but I am not getting a charge at the panel in the cabin?? I checked the reset on the generator itself, checkd the breaker switches in the engine compartment and all seems to be set. :smt100:smt100:smt100

The batteries hold a charge great and there is NO issue using any of the accessories on shore power. So when I start teh generator and switch over to it in the panel I have nothing reading at all.

I looked in the Westerbeke manual and there is no troubleshooting item for "generator runs fine, but no charge at the panel"

Could not find anything in the 340 manual either as far as troubleshooting.

What should I be looking for? I will kick myself if I have overlooked something simple, but I appreciate any ideas you can throw my way!!

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[390x]

Did it ever over-rev? Mine is quite a bit older than yours, but mine over-revved once and blew out the capacitors in it. In my 6.5, there's two of them, and they were about 70 bucks a piece.Mine were behind the grille on the generator above the windings. White cylinder shaped things about 6" long and an .25" in diameter.

Can you check with a voltmeter, the output on the generator itself, to see if it's actually putting out power or not?

 

[Scottzzzy]

It has never over revved as far as I know. We are pretty light duty and I know it worked the last time we were out in December.

 

[390x]

Well, over-revving is how I blew mine up. I'd check at the generator to verify you have output voltage. If not, check the capacitor.

Start at page 6.

http://www.westerbeke.com/TroubleshootingGuides/bc_troubleshooting_manual.pdf

This is, of course, assuming that all breakers are on and that everything else is as it should be.

 

[FireIsland1]

please clarify. do you have 120 volts output. you can check this right at the generator. this will eliminate the house wiring

 

[Southpaw II]

There is a circuit breaker on the side of the generator that needs to be turned on. It gets turned off a lot when other people work on your boat.....happened to me.

Don

 

[rcknecht]

Ok, this one has me stumped so I NEED you guys help. I have a 4.5kw Westerbeke in my 2002 340 and I have not had a moments problem with it until I started doing my Spring shakedown stuff this weekend.

The generator runs great, starts fine (even when it is cold), but I am not getting a charge at the panel in the cabin?? I checked the reset on the generator itself, checkd the breaker switches in the engine compartment and all seems to be set. :smt100:smt100:smt100

The batteries hold a charge great and there is NO issue using any of the accessories on shore power. So when I start teh generator and switch over to it in the panel I have nothing reading at all.

I looked in the Westerbeke manual and there is no troubleshooting item for "generator runs fine, but no charge at the panel"

Could not find anything in the 340 manual either as far as troubleshooting.

What should I be looking for? I will kick myself if I have overlooked something simple, but I appreciate any ideas you can throw my way!!

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

I would check the output with a meter. Put your meter on on the black and white wires coming out of the control box near the breaker. Just a thought, when you reset the main breaker, it resets like a home breaker... If you have power coming out, check the control/switch box in the cabin...

 

[Scottzzzy]

I am going to give it a try today. I wish I was 20 something again so I could bend myself like pretzel and get to everything!!

 

[Southpaw II]

I am going to give it a try today. I wish I was 20 something again so I could bend myself like pretzel and get to everything!!

Please let us know what happens here.....

Don

 

[Scottzzzy]

Ok, note to self.............When climbing all over your boat with a manual in one hand and a flashlight in the other........check the obvious stuff and then when you think you have checked eveything it could possibly be..........check the obvious stuff again!!:smt013:smt013:smt013:smt013

The breaker which I was SURE I had checked on the generator 2x already........was OFF!:smt021:smt021:smt021:smt021:smt021

THANK YOU ALL for giving me some items to go back to check.

I will go sit in the corner now!:grin:

 

[Southpaw II]

Ok, note to self.............When climbing all over your boat with a manual in one hand and a flashlight in the other........check the obvious stuff and then when you think you have checked eveything it could possibly be..........check the obvious stuff again!!:smt013:smt013:smt013:smt013

The breaker which I was SURE I had checked on the generator 2x already........was OFF!:smt021:smt021:smt021:smt021:smt021

THANK YOU ALL for giving me some items to go back to check.

I will go sit in the corner now!:grin:

Glad it's fixed...like I said, it happened to me last year after my local mechanic installed an impeller. He had no reason to tun it off, but did. Took me about 2 beers to figure it out.

Don :thumbsup:

 

[rcknecht]

Ok, note to self.............When climbing all over your boat with a manual in one hand and a flashlight in the other........check the obvious stuff and then when you think you have checked eveything it could possibly be..........check the obvious stuff again!!:smt013:smt013:smt013:smt013

The breaker which I was SURE I had checked on the generator 2x already........was OFF!:smt021:smt021:smt021:smt021:smt021

THANK YOU ALL for giving me some items to go back to check.

I will go sit in the corner now!:grin:

Thank God for the easy cheap fixes :thumbsup:... Last year I could not start one engine because my I bumped my shift handle... Took me a half a day to figure out what happened... Just over a month to I start my baby... Hope everyfthing works....