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01-22-2019, 10:43 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Desert Hot Springs Ca.
Posts: 362
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5500 Watt Onan dies after 30 min.
So this past weekend used my new to us 2011 MS 36 RSSB3 for the first time boondocking. We were out in Quartzsite.
Found some minor items to fix which are not a big deal. Main item was the generator. It would start up fine switch over & provide power. After 30 min. or so would start running slower & then die like ran out of propane. No codes were set. Both tanks full of propane. Fridge, stove, water heater all working fine. Restart generator fired right up. 20 min. later same thing dies like lack of propane. Start it again & 15-20 min later does it again. Next morning fire it up in the morning & same thing.
Ideas, I'm
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Mike & Trish Romans 10:9
2011 Mobile Suites 36RSSB3 #5556
2017 F-350 CC 6.7 diesel dually, Banks Derringer tuner with super gauge
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01-22-2019, 10:58 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Germantown, Tennessee
Posts: 716
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You will need to provide a heat source to. Wrap around your supplying propane tank. It is freezing up on you. It will work fine then.
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01-22-2019, 11:27 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Desert Hot Springs Ca.
Posts: 362
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Notanlines
You will need to provide a heat source to. Wrap around your supplying propane tank. It is freezing up on you. It will work fine then.
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I did notice the first time, the using tank had ice around the bottom 1/4 of the tank. Did the stove work fine because it isn't using as much propane? Temp out side was in the low 50's at the time.
This is the first propane generator I've ever had.
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Mike & Trish Romans 10:9
2011 Mobile Suites 36RSSB3 #5556
2017 F-350 CC 6.7 diesel dually, Banks Derringer tuner with super gauge
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01-22-2019, 12:04 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Germantown, Tennessee
Posts: 716
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Mike, this is the voice of experience talking. We bought a tank heater on line, $99, no tax, freight included. I don't know anywhere near as much about RV'ing as a few of our members, but this problem has reared its ugly head one too many times with our rig. The blanket heater solved all the problems.
Here is a similar heater:
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...iABEgJlT_D_BwE
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Jim and DW 50 years Brenda
2018 40rssa and 2021 Jayco Eagle 40'
2019 F450, ruby red
Harley Road King & sidecar
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01-22-2019, 12:49 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Desert Hot Springs Ca.
Posts: 362
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Thanks Jim. I just didn't think it was that cold to cause a problem like that. Being from the desert I don't RV in cold temperatures.
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Mike & Trish Romans 10:9
2011 Mobile Suites 36RSSB3 #5556
2017 F-350 CC 6.7 diesel dually, Banks Derringer tuner with super gauge
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01-22-2019, 10:39 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 107
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MTK - your problem and the offered solutions raises some interesting questions.
1) For those that ordered Arctic Packages, should the manufacturer have provided a 120 outlet in the tank storage compartment(s), for the tank blankets ?
2) Propane vendors add butane to their propane - I thought to make the propane more flammable in cold weather. But maybe the butane is to alter the freezing issue cited above. Advise to RVers headed north in cold weather, is to get propane on arrival, rather than purchase in the warmer weather in the south - that propane dealers alter the ratio of the two gases, again, with more butane in the north.
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01-23-2019, 09:32 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 382
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Needing a tank heater at 50 degrees? My house tank sits outside in minus 30 and is not heated. Works just fine. Construction sites around the country use propane heaters all winter and have no problems.
I have heard of utility companies up north mixing butane and natural gas just to stretch supply but have never heard of a north-south blend of propane. Called my northern supplier this morning and asked him. His answer was "what"?
Having an "ice" line is completely normal. It just shows the gas level in the tank during usage. Never heard of it happening at 50 degrees though.
Bill
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01-23-2019, 10:49 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 107
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Porkchop - glad you investigated a little. Looks like I got it in reverse - more butane in the summer, less in the winter. Here's the link I read from
https://www.seminck.be/en/our-produc...to-use-propane
and the article agrees with your questioning any issue in temps of 50 degrees and higher. I'm afraid there is an issue with the generator.
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01-23-2019, 02:55 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Desert Hot Springs Ca.
Posts: 362
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I'm going to run the generator Saturday in the day time at home. Weather should be in the low 70's. That should pin down what direction to go.
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Mike & Trish Romans 10:9
2011 Mobile Suites 36RSSB3 #5556
2017 F-350 CC 6.7 diesel dually, Banks Derringer tuner with super gauge
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01-23-2019, 06:03 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 137
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Does the Generator have a "Low oil shut off"? Check the oil level.
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Walt and Judy
2019 Mobile Suites 36RS3 #396674
2022 GMC Sierra Denali 3500 DRW 4WD
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01-23-2019, 07:56 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Desert Hot Springs Ca.
Posts: 362
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Walt
Does the Generator have a "Low oil shut off"? Check the oil level.
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Walt I'll have to double check that. If that was the problem I think it would shut down fast like you turned it off. It slowly died out.
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Mike & Trish Romans 10:9
2011 Mobile Suites 36RSSB3 #5556
2017 F-350 CC 6.7 diesel dually, Banks Derringer tuner with super gauge
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01-23-2019, 08:02 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Desert Hot Springs Ca.
Posts: 362
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New update when I got home I did some more checking. Come to find out my propane regulator valve at the tanks is bad. Wouldn't switch over automatically. Manually switch to the tank that is full & still shows red. I connected that full tank to the other inside tank hose & ran the generator for a hour. Was in the mid 60's. Ordered a new valve from eBay.
I know it's bad & thinking that should fix my generator problem.
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Mike & Trish Romans 10:9
2011 Mobile Suites 36RSSB3 #5556
2017 F-350 CC 6.7 diesel dually, Banks Derringer tuner with super gauge
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01-23-2019, 08:05 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 107
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good, an easy, and inexpensive fix.
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01-24-2019, 03:41 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Germantown, Tennessee
Posts: 716
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Mike, thanks for the update. It's how all of us learn.
__________________
Jim and DW 50 years Brenda
2018 40rssa and 2021 Jayco Eagle 40'
2019 F450, ruby red
Harley Road King & sidecar
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01-28-2019, 10:34 PM
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#15
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 5
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I too was there this weekend-- I had no problem with my generator... I found that if I only ran one tank no icing problem existed.. might try that..
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01-29-2019, 03:06 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Desert Hot Springs Ca.
Posts: 362
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Quote:
Originally Posted by morzio
I too was there this weekend-- I had no problem with my generator... I found that if I only ran one tank no icing problem existed.. might try that..
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That was my problem. As the tank I was running on that iced up was running out of propane. Switch over regulator didn't. So generator quite from lack of fuel.
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Mike & Trish Romans 10:9
2011 Mobile Suites 36RSSB3 #5556
2017 F-350 CC 6.7 diesel dually, Banks Derringer tuner with super gauge
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