Your last generator Maintenance Run

[grsthegreat]

Did the batteries explode while on trickle, when attempting to start the engine or when the engine started and the alternator started charging the battery? Just because it was on a trickle charger, doesn't meant that's what blew up the battery. Unless the trickle charger destroyed the battery, but didn't initiate the explosion.

dont know, all i know is generac admitted the problem and changed their chargers. problem went away

 

[3930dave]

g and bd - thanks for the feedback.

Rgds, D.

 

[daugen]

how old were these generac units with bad chargers? Was it that they weren't "smart" and overcharged or simply
malfunctioned? Mine is three years old, makes me wonder.

We have lost power three times in the last week. Once for an hour and a half. First time it was right at freezing out and boy that Generac made some odd noises starting up. Seems to surge and run faster than it should, then it gets its brain on and settles down. Even with propane these gens don't like starting in the cold very much, and I hate the fact they run up to full speed so fast. I have 26 motors to maintain and I would never, ever ever run a cold engine up to full speed that fast, but that's the real world of generators. Block heaters have to be the way to go, even with full synthetic oil.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

That's ANOTHER reason I like to use my tractor for my whole house generator...

"I" control start up and what happens, and my tractor always starts and is ALWAYS ready to go, and with long oil change intervals too...

SR

 

[3930dave]

how old were these generac units with bad chargers? Was it that they weren't "smart" and overcharged or simply
malfunctioned? Mine is three years old, makes me wonder.

We have lost power three times in the last week. Once for an hour and a half. First time it was right at freezing out and boy that Generac made some odd noises starting up. Seems to surge and run faster than it should, then it gets its brain on and settles down. Even with propane these gens don't like starting in the cold very much, and I hate the fact they run up to full speed so fast. I have 26 motors to maintain and I would never, ever ever run a cold engine up to full speed that fast, but that's the real world of generators. Block heaters have to be the way to go, even with full synthetic oil.

You are probably doing it already d - if the battery is standard flooded lead-acid, I'd just keep a close eye on fluid levels. You'll see them dropping down fast, if the the charger is misbehaving.

If Generac didn't issue a recall, that's a bit surprising, for a company of that size.

Rgds, D.

 

[zmountaineer]

The big air cooled generacs take it immediately to 3600 rpm until it warms up.

Oh and the soft start that I linked to earlier are only for scroll compressors.

 

[3930dave]

This guy went with this Battery Tender on a 15kw Generac:

FET Tricks: Substitue Battery Charger for Generac Generator

Choosing an IP67 rated one was a good call.

Rgds, D.

 

[grsthegreat]

how old were these generac units with bad chargers? Was it that they weren't "smart" and overcharged or simply
malfunctioned? Mine is three years old, makes me wonder.

We have lost power three times in the last week. Once for an hour and a half. First time it was right at freezing out and boy that Generac made some odd noises starting up. Seems to surge and run faster than it should, then it gets its brain on and settles down. Even with propane these gens don't like starting in the cold very much, and I hate the fact they run up to full speed so fast. I have 26 motors to maintain and I would never, ever ever run a cold engine up to full speed that fast, but that's the real world of generators. Block heaters have to be the way to go, even with full synthetic oil.

they were of the 2008-2010 vintage that ive seen. anything after 2013 has the evolution controller. they never have issues that ive seen

 

[grsthegreat]

how old were these generac units with bad chargers? Was it that they weren't "smart" and overcharged or simply
malfunctioned? Mine is three years old, makes me wonder.

We have lost power three times in the last week. Once for an hour and a half. First time it was right at freezing out and boy that Generac made some odd noises starting up. Seems to surge and run faster than it should, then it gets its brain on and settles down. Even with propane these gens don't like starting in the cold very much, and I hate the fact they run up to full speed so fast. I have 26 motors to maintain and I would never, ever ever run a cold engine up to full speed that fast, but that's the real world of generators. Block heaters have to be the way to go, even with full synthetic oil.

generac offers oil filter and battery heaters...and a breather tube heater for super cold climates. there about 80-90 each. worth their weight in gold.. i can tell the difference in how the generators sounds on cold day startups. the units sound way happier.

 

[grsthegreat]

You are probably doing it already d - if the battery is standard flooded lead-acid, I'd just keep a close eye on fluid levels. You'll see them dropping down fast, if the the charger is misbehaving.

If Generac didn't issue a recall, that's a bit surprising, for a company of that size.

Rgds, D.

i dont know if they ever actually issued a recall or not. that was before my time working on them. ive only witnessed a few myself. if the owners kept up the electrolyte levels there was no issue. heck, i even check mine yearly just to be sure.

i went 19 years having a manual start unit. i only switched out to the 22 kw fully automatic unit a little over a year ago. after two years of 3-5 days without power, enough was enough.

the new units power my entire house and the barn. the horse waterers wont freeze now. i put a portable interlock device on my shop cause i couldnt open my roll up door last time power failed. i have a few portable generators laying around.

when we had the 5 day outage, i loaned them out to neighbors. it still amazes me that most of my neighbors dont even have a 2000 watt gen available. all they like to do is sit in the dark i guess:cool2:

 

[3930dave]

i dont know if they ever actually issued a recall or not. that was before my time working on them. ive only witnessed a few myself. if the owners kept up the electrolyte levels there was no issue. heck, i even check mine yearly just to be sure.

i went 19 years having a manual start unit. i only switched out to the 22 kw fully automatic unit a little over a year ago. after two years of 3-5 days without power, enough was enough.

the new units power my entire house and the barn. the horse waterers wont freeze now. i put a portable interlock device on my shop cause i couldnt open my roll up door last time power failed. i have a few portable generators laying around.

when we had the 5 day outage, i loaned them out to neighbors. it still amazes me that most of my neighbors dont even have a 2000 watt gen available. all they like to do is sit in the dark i guess:cool2:

ShoeMakers Children - good to see you that caught up with your clients :thumbsup: Auto-xfer is nice; I remember your post about doing some ledger work on your computer at home, and not even realizing the generator had taken over.

To your last point, some people never plan ahead, or for emergencies. I've seen some extended outages in urban areas at times, but in many rural areas you can expect long outages.

Some people have trouble keeping lawn mowers going season to season - at least up here where they sit idle a good portion of the year. I suspect some people may have given up on portable generators, after trying one once, then letting it sit with old gas in it for way too long.

For some households, if you're not into basic generator maintenance, then a 1kw+ inverter might be a good choice if you can park a vehicle near where you need power.

Rgds, D.

 

[daugen]

generac offers oil filter and battery heaters...and a breather tube heater for super cold climates. there about 80-90 each. worth their weight in gold.. i can tell the difference in how the generators sounds on cold day startups. the units sound way happier.

Amazon.com : GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS 71�2 9-22KW Oil Heater Kit : Garden & Outdoor

thanks, think I'm going to invest in one of these. Where does it plug in for power? Would be nice to have a dedicated connector with thermostat. ........

 

[3930dave]

Amazon.com : GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS 71�2 9-22KW Oil Heater Kit : Garden & Outdoor

thanks, think I'm going to invest in one of these. Where does it plug in for power? Would be nice to have a dedicated connector with thermostat. ........

Plug in, and heat - only when needed. Nicely done.

Rgds, D.

 

[DEWFPO]

Amazon.com : GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS 71�2 9-22KW Oil Heater Kit : Garden & Outdoor

thanks, think I'm going to invest in one of these. Where does it plug in for power? Would be nice to have a dedicated connector with thermostat. ........

The "blister" on the wire between the heater and the plug looks like a thermostat to me.

DEWFPO

 

[3930dave]

The "blister" on the wire between the heater and the plug looks like a thermostat to me.

DEWFPO

Agreed. The gen controller needs to be fed utility line-power - that connector likely has a mate on the factory board, that feeds utility line power to it. My guess, anyway.....

Rgds, D.

 

[grsthegreat]

Amazon.com : GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS 71�2 9-22KW Oil Heater Kit : Garden & Outdoorj

thanks, think I'm going to invest in one of these. Where does it plug in for power? Would be nice to have a dedicated connector with thermostat. ........

they get power from the n1 and n2 circuits on control circuits. These are the circuits that are hooked up to the fuses in transfer swircg. The circuits are already present in the generator ... at least in the 2008 and newer units. Some of the older ones need additional circuits run for heater. They have built in thermostat.

You can order them thru lowes and home depot also. Parts # 7101 and 7102. About 70 bucke each part. Takes a few minutes to install

 

[grsthegreat]

Agreed. The gen controller needs to be fed utility line-power - that connector likely has a mate on the factory board, that feeds utility line power to it. My guess, anyway.....

Rgds, D.

good guess. Its fed from n1 and n2 utility feed lines

 

[grsthegreat]

The "blister" on the wire between the heater and the plug looks like a thermostat to me.

DEWFPO

yup. Thats the thermostat

 

[3930dave]

they get power from the n1 and n2 circuits on control circuits. These are the circuits that are hooked up to the fuses in transfer swircg. The circuits are already present in the generator ... at least in the 2008 and newer units. Some of the older ones need additional circuits run for heater. They have built in thermostat.

You can order them thru lowes and home depot also. Parts # 7101 and 7102. About 70 bucke each part. Takes a few minutes to install

Nice setup on the newer ones - plug and play heat, only when needed. Do you install those pads with thermal compound (grease), or dry ?

Seems like a good idea, at least for any area that sees low temperatures like we do - to daugen's point, not many other applications have to come up to high revs immediately in cold temperatures, like generators do.....

Rgds, D.

 

[ultrarunner]

The gensets on the job simply scream... start, full throttle and transfer load average of 6 seconds... must complete by 10 seconds to meet Hospital Standard.

I keep coolant heaters plugged in 24-7 and they cycle on and off as needed... jacket temp is 155 to 165 F

Engines are turbo Cummins Diesel...