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Generac 7KW shutdown

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Generick
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2025/04/02 22:22:18 (permalink)
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Generac 7KW shutdown

Two nights ago, we had a power outage in the middle of the night. I woke up to the power being out, and eventually wondered why the generator hadn't started and transfered to the EM source. Soon afterwards my wife received a text stating the power would be restored soon (and it was).

I checked out the generator the following day when I got home from work. It indicated there was an overcrank event as well as low oil (pressure). I stuck the oil and it was seemingly clean and full. I turned the selector switch to off which cleared the condition, and then to manual where after a few seconds it started and ran fine. After letting it run for about five minutes, I shut the switch off, and turned it to auto.

Today when I got home, I decided I'd test it under a load. I shut the main breaker off and within 20ish seconds the generator started and then 10 ish seconds later, it transfered to the EM power. I decided to let it run under a load for 20 minutes or so. I went into the house, messed with a few things, and about 15 minutes in, I saw lightning and heard thunder. I remembered I'd walked away from the unit with the lid open so I rushed outside where it had started to rain. Within 5 feet of reaching the generator it died....dang it!
The control surfaces were wet. I shut the lid, grabbed towels and dotted it dry. While still raining I switched the switch to off then manual. It cranked but would not start. I repeated this a few times but it would crank just wouldn't started. At that point I assumed the controls or ? got wet and it died. I shut the lid and locked it as it was still raining to revisit a different time.

I began to wonder if maybe there was a separate issue that killed it and I just happened to walk out on it during the rain and assumed the rain killed it (maybe it did?) It looks like it's been 4 years since I changed the oil and filter (bad). Is it possible that the oil pressure was low and the switch took it out?

What are your thoughts on how to troubleshoot this?

Rick

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    SRTsFZ6
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    Re: Generac 7KW shutdown 2025/04/03 07:31:33 (permalink)
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    That switch was my first thought. 
     
    Find the switch, disconnect it and see how she runs.
     
    If it doesn't start, ground the wire to the block.  
    Disconnecting the the switch wire should take that out of the equation.
     
    If it continues to run, you know the switch is bad..
     
    Rule out one thing at a time.
     
    BTW, oil switches do go bad and most of the time, it's after running for roughly
    10-20 minutes..
     
    Please post back what you find..
     
    .

    Scott
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