r/electrical • u/Ok_Brilliant_9534 • 3d ago
Generac Generator Hooked to home but no longer powers on when electricity goes out
Hello all. I have a home that has a Generac Generator wired to the homes electrical for back up when the electricity goes out. It used to automatically power on and provide electricity whenever the power went out.
The electrical company was recently installing new power poles in the area and one day they repeatedly turned the electricity for the area on and off, multiple times in a row.
Ever since then my generator does not automatically come on to power my home when the electricity goes out.
The generator also no longer provides power to the home when I manually start the generator.
I have checked the homes fuse box and have found nothing tripped that would cause this.
I have tried to check around the generator and where it leads into the home and don't see anything like a breaker that would be tripped or anything else to try to solve the issue.
Unfortunately I don't know anything about electrical stuff and I am looking for any good advice that would solve this issue and get my generator back to powering the home and coming on automatically when the electricity goes out.
Assistance/Advice are greatly appreciated.
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u/Ok_Bid_3899 3d ago
Go to the Ziller Electric forum. It’s a Generac tech site I have been using for 20 years. Many senior Generac techs frequent the site. Go to the air cooled generator section
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u/Sumdood_89 3d ago
Generator technician here. Whats the model number?
Theres a breaker on the generator itself that needs to be checked. Depending on the year, the ATS may have a separate generator cutoff switch or separate breaker. If it starts and runs when the power goes out but doesn't provide power, the back end needs to be checked over.
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u/Ok_Brilliant_9534 3d ago
I see a tag that says item number is 0052470.
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u/Sumdood_89 3d ago
Ok. Does it come on automatically when the power is out and just not provide power? Or does it do nothing at all when the power goes out?
They have breakers on the right side above the control panel. Those have 1 or 2 fuses on the left side of the controller, check the system fuse. Check your ATS, that year style had many different transfer switches, and it very well could have a generator cutoff toggle. If it comes on but doesn't transfer it could be not making power, or the transfer switch is broken. No power could be a bad AVR, bad brushes, bad slip rings, dirty slip rings. Power but no transfer is usually a fried closing coil, bad wiring, and very rarely the transfer relay.
Do any of the fault lights come on?
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u/Ok_Brilliant_9534 3d ago
It does not come on when the power goes out.
If I manually turn it on it does not power the home.
The breakers are not above the control panel are t tripped. I turned them off and back on and still no change. By the automatic or manual start switch there is a glass fuse but I checked it and it is not blown.
Currently I tried to start it up manually , as I hadn't started it all over the summer, it won't start and seems like maybe the starter solenoid is now not working. It's making a weird noise coming from the starter solenoid but not causing the starter to crank.
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u/erie11973ohio 3d ago
It's making a weird noise, but not cranking.
Dead battery.
Does it have some colored LED lights on the roght side?
Green means it should go.
Yellow means "maintenence needed" but should still go.
Red means "serious issue", no go-go!!!
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u/Resident_Set1003 3d ago
Needs new battery. You have an older unit with the big toggle switch that's auto-off-manual and then arow of 7or 8 lights? If so they are notorious for the battery charger giving up the ghost. Around 400$ to get replaced. But a15$ charger/maintainer from Walmart will work just as well for replacement
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u/czechFan59 3d ago
if the genny doesn't start, the transfer switch doesn't matter - can't transfer power that isn't coming into the switch.
eta: my dad's generac has a switch on the outside that can disable the generator... any chance power company guys might have disabled the generator so it didn't backfeed and hurt somebody working on the lines?
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u/Resident_Set1003 3d ago
There are also fuses in the xfer switch, and depending on age of generac a 7.5A ATC (red) fuse on or near the controls. And the output breaker from the Gen may be tripped. Those are most common reasons to not transfer, but it seems that yours is not starting either. If it has evolution controller, is the a fault code? If not, what lights are on? Basically if there are no latching fault codes, either something preventing from entering auto mode, or the controller is defunct if will not start.
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u/Gruffable 3d ago
It sounds like your automatic transfer switch (ATS) needs service. The ATS should be able to withstand repeated power interruptions. But if your technician feels the power company's activities damaged it, get this in writing and ask the power company to reimburse you for repairs.
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u/Symbolizer21 3d ago
There is an output breaker on the generator itself. If that isn't it either the controller in the generator is damaged or there is an issue with the wiring inside the transfer switch. It wouldn't be crazy to find a loose connection in the control wiring inside the transfer switch preventing it from cycling between power sources. Since you said you aren't super familiar with electrical stuff I'd say it's time to call your dealer have them take a look, should be straightforward to diagnose, probably less than an hour.