Your last generator Maintenance Run

[3930dave]

While many people (myself included) have an interest in transfer switches and their use with generators, if this thread starts to degenerate the way others have, I will:

1) ask the offenders to to Take it Outside/Offline, or over into a thread of their own construction.

2) involve Mods if #1 doesn't work.

Recognizing that as the OP, I may be somewhat biased...... a lot of good information has been exchanged in this thread, in a constructive manner, which I'd like to see continue.

While I do find this thread helpful personally for equipment scheduling, I don't have a problem asking for this thread to be Locked if we devolve into trolling/flamewar nonsense..... I'd sooner have it stand as-is than watch that.

Now, hopefully, Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Programming .....

Rgds, D.

 

[Industrial Toys]

We were expecting freezing rain which usually means outages. Ran the generator for an hour, and as a friend was using the clothes dryer, this made an excellent load. The power never as much as flickered. I think the utility is getting back to their forestry work.

 

[3930dave]

We were expecting freezing rain which usually means outages. Ran the generator for an hour, and as a friend was using the clothes dryer, this made an excellent load. The power never as much as flickered. I think the utility is getting back to their forestry work.

While someone on here managed to precipitate a grid-outage () by changing the oil on their generator, most of the time...... If your generator runs fine, battery is charged, and you have plenty of stabilized fuel on-hand, the grid never goes down.

That's the flip-side of 'ol Murphy's Law that I like to be on.....

Given most of Canada's non-urban terrain, line maintenance is a huge ongoing task/cost.... it just takes one tree to take down a local line.

Rgds, D.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I guess my main point, although I failed to explain it specifically, and as it relates to the thread, is the importance (so I have been told) of testing a genset under load. Apart from the possible wet stacking issues, if you have a diesel, testing the engine is only half of the machine. The rotor and stator should be put under load to keep moisture at bay. I guess certain parts of the country, need not concern themselves with this (like Arizona) , but most should keep this in mind.

 

[ultrarunner]

Once a year I throw the main breaker for each Hospital Wing and do a real honest test.

Tests all emergency and back up systems and gives the gen set a real workout.

We are limited to a total of 20 hours testing and maintenance annually and it is strictly controlled and verified.

I generally do it New Years... 150kW prime stand-by rated Onan with Turbo Cummins...

 

[Industrial Toys]

I hope no one has brain surgery scheduled in the new year.

A commercial pilot friend once told me something interesting. Not sure if it's true, but Toronto Airport (Pearson) has their own generating plant, and uses the Utility as the back-up.

 

[3930dave]

I guess my main point, although I failed to explain it specifically, and as it relates to the thread, is the importance (so I have been told) of testing a genset under load. Apart from the possible wet stacking issues, if you have a diesel, testing the engine is only half of the machine. The rotor and stator should be put under load to keep moisture at bay. I guess certain parts of the country, need not concern themselves with this (like Arizona) , but most should keep this in mind.

Agreed.

As an extreme example, if a utility-sized generator room floods, drying out the generators is a really big deal, requiring careful testing before power up. I've messed with enough systems, including high voltage, to know that you don't need flood conditions to have a moisture issue.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Once a year I throw the main breaker for each Hospital Wing and do a real honest test.

Tests all emergency and back up systems and gives the gen set a real workout.

We are limited to a total of 20 hours testing and maintenance annually and it is strictly controlled and verified.

I generally do it New Years... 150kW prime stand-by rated Onan with Turbo Cummins...

Job well done.... given that you are operating with one hand tied behind your back.....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

I hope no one has brain surgery scheduled in the new year.

A commercial pilot friend once told me something interesting. Not sure if it's true, but Toronto Airport (Pearson) has their own generating plant, and uses the Utility as the back-up.

IDK, but I could see that being the case...... if you are going to build a co-gen or tri-gen plant for something of that scale, it's likely cheaper to generate your own power than to pay grid rates - at least here, Natgas is plentiful, reliable, and reasonable cost.

Whole-house UPS systems have come up recently...... with a Natgas generator for recharging, you could duplicate what Pearson may have done, or just skip the grid altogether.....

Rgds, D.

 

[DarkBlack]

While many people (myself included) have an interest in transfer switches and their use with generators, if this thread starts to degenerate the way others have, I will:

1) ask the offenders to to Take it Outside/Offline, or over into a thread of their own construction.

2) involve Mods if #1 doesn't work.

Recognizing that as the OP, I may be somewhat biased...... a lot of good information has been exchanged in this thread, in a constructive manner, which I'd like to see continue.

While I do find this thread helpful personally for equipment scheduling, I don't have a problem asking for this thread to be Locked if we devolve into trolling/flamewar nonsense..... I'd sooner have it stand as-is than watch that.

Now, hopefully, Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Programming .....

Rgds, D.

Your thread is about "generator maintenance", of which I do, with a backup power source with a 100% perfect track running record. Transfer switches are Covered on many other threads.
If you look at my past years posts, you will see I have some tips for maintenance irregardless of, if you run a transfer switch, or not.

 

[PILOON]

Thanks to this site I decided to do a test run as we are predicted to get 30-40 cm of snow which often equals power outages.
Well the gen set simply balked. Must be gasohol as I did add wrong octane last time.
Much easier to trouble shoot when power is there, no panic!.
Cleaned plug, squirted same raw gas into carburetor and voila, burped a bit and then ran smooth.
Thanks guys for reminding me.

 

[3930dave]

Your thread is about "generator maintenance", of which I do, with a backup power source with a 100% perfect track running record. Transfer switches are Covered on many other threads.
If you look at my past years posts, you will see I have some tips for maintenance irregardless of, if you run a transfer switch, or not.

Fair enough DB.

I'm not interested in playing Thread Policeman...... and, truth be told, I do enjoy many forms of thread drift - we've touched on wood heat/cooking, old cars, and a few other things in this thread - no foul by me. Not that I consider Transfer Switches drift..... they directly relate to the thread.

Most days (here, and in the real world) I roll along with a reasonable amount of patience and humour. This morning though, the Lucy, Charlie Brown, and the football routine that was starting up again caught me the wrong way.

Like a lot of people, I gave up on TV quite a while ago. I'd hate to see TBN turn into the Springer Show - my hope in that regard is that if people want to butt heads, they can either do it privately, or in a forum that most people avoid - Friendly Politics.

Then again..... I've always been a bit of a dreamer.....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Thanks to this site I decided to do a test run as we are predicted to get 30-40 cm of snow which often equals power outages.
Well the gen set simply balked. Must be gasohol as I did add wrong octane last time.
Much easier to trouble shoot when power is there, no panic!.
Cleaned plug, squirted same raw gas into carburetor and voila, burped a bit and then ran smooth.
Thanks guys for reminding me.

That's a way easier fix with the regular ceiling lights on :thumbsup:

I've recently come across some NGK crosses (BR2-LM), for the Champion plugs I usually use in small stuff.... may try those @ next service. Automotive OE Replacement and Performance Parts - In Stock for Your Tune-Up!

Had about 10cm here, then freezing rain/rain....... heavy snow load, so far so good though.....

Rgds, D.

 

[cqaigy2]

Did maintenance last month. Put new spark plug in, cleaned carburetor, replaced fuel line and changed oil. Started up the generator and ran a 1500 watt heater for 1/2 hour.

A week later we lost power and i pulled the generator down to the house, fired it up and it ran for at most 15 seconds and shut down. I tried a few different things to start it, spark was good but fuel seemed to be the problem. I've since dissembled the carburetor and found it full of junk. My assumption is that junk buildup inside the metal fuel tank, that got shook lose when i pulled the unit down to the house.

 

[3930dave]

Did maintenance last month. Put new spark plug in, cleaned carburetor, replaced fuel line and changed oil. Started up the generator and ran a 1500 watt heater for 1/2 hour.

A week later we lost power and i pulled the generator down to the house, fired it up and it ran for at most 15 seconds and shut down. I tried a few different things to start it, spark was good but fuel seemed to be the problem. I've since dissembled the carburetor and found it full of junk. My assumption is that junk buildup inside the metal fuel tank, that got shook lose when i pulled the unit down to the house.

Definitely a difficult one to predict.

For sludge type junk, I'd favour Seafoam.

On my small equipment metal-tanks, I've gone to using Stabil 360 Protection, to hopefully head off top of the tank corrosion issues.

STA-BIL® 360°? Performance

Looks like it is now being marketed as 360 Performance.

Rgds, D.

 

[Ivan49]

Definitely a difficult one to predict.

For sludge type junk, I'd favour Seafoam.

On my small equipment metal-tanks, I've gone to using Stabil 360 Protection, to hopefully head off top of the tank corrosion issues.

STA-BIL® 360°? Performance

Looks like it is now being marketed as 360 Performance.

Rgds, D.

Does your tank have to be full the first time you use this so that the surface above the gas gets coated

 

[3930dave]

Does your tank have to be full the first time you use this so that the surface above the gas gets coated

I think you are asking if you have to overfill or invert the tank, for liquid contact to work/initiate the protection.

The original site they set up when this product was first out did a better job of explaining; try the video in the link I just posted - it may still cover the mechanism.

Short answer - it is described to work with the transfer taking place in the vapour/vapor above the fuel line.

That's what caught my eye - as in "Hey, it's about time". For a variety of reasons (safety for one), you can't totally fill a tank, so I view this approach as realistic and useful.

No, I haven't had the time/energy/$ to do a controlled test on this, but as the product is put out by a long established company that has a big reputation riding on what they are claiming, I've spent the extra few $ that 360 costs to use it in my small metal tanks. That, and altho Chem 301 was a long time ago, I recall that properly executed vapour deposition can work.

Rgds, D.

 

[cqaigy2]

Definitely a difficult one to predict.

For sludge type junk, I'd favour Seafoam.

On my small equipment metal-tanks, I've gone to using Stabil 360 Protection, to hopefully head off top of the tank corrosion issues.

STA-BIL® 360°? Performance

Looks like it is now being marketed as 360 Performance.

Rgds, D.

Thanks, i'll be giving that a try!

 

[grsthegreat]

The pacific northwest has been hammered with winds and snow this year. Saturday i was out repairing a whole house generator when a jet ranger helicoptor flew overhead at tree top level. He was blowing snow off of the trees and powerlines to help prevent damage to powerlines. Pretty cool to watch....cept he blew snow all over me and my truck.
Ive been working 6 days a week ...10 hour days for over a month setting up generators and transfer switches. Some areas were without power for 5 days last month...and again for 5 days this week. Im getting 3-5 calls per day to give bids on whole house systems.

Getting pretty tired of looking at generators right now. Ive installed so many this year im starting to get loopy. I was hoping for a few months off, but thats not going to happen any time soon.

 

[ultrarunner]

Are you still able to get your inspections done when conditions are bad?

Just curious.