Your last generator Maintenance Run

[mrmikey]

I put an oscope on it, nice clean stable power.

That is a nice clean form. I'd have no qualms running anything off that.

 

[grsthegreat]

Got shop generator working today. Works great. Can turn it on and off from inside shop.

Installed a wireless monitor on it also to monitor faults.

 

[3930dave]

I should explain that comment. Yes there are other 10k inverters on the market and they have 50a sockets, but none I came across could actually provide the full rated power through that 50a socket.
This new Westinghouse igen11000 is the only one I have found where Customer Service assures me (2 phone calls to different people and also an email from a 3rd) that it will provide the rated output through the 50a socket.

Here is an example from a review I left on a different generator.


If you are wanting to use a 50a cable to hook into your house, make sure the generator will actually provide it's full rated power through that single port, most (inverter generators at least) do not, you'd need to use multiple sockets/cables to achieve that full rated output power. Buy a 10k generator but only get 7.2k, and you'd never really know Crazy!

Devil, meet Details !

Hard to believe (I do though), that hardware Cnx problem exists on other generators... sounds like cheeseball engineering for sure.

Thanks for the scope info.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Got shop generator working today. Works great. Can turn it on and off from inside shop.

Installed a wireless monitor on it also to monitor faults.

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Excellent as usual ! You should hire-out !

I often crack me (only) up......

That probably was on your One Day, I Should..... List , for "a while".....

Rgds, D.

 

[grsthegreat]

Ya, like for 2 years

 

[Racer4]

I see my yellow service light is lit up on my Generac 17kw backup generator. Might be time to service it. Have to check it out tomorrow.

 

[WinterDeere]

Most of those o’scopes probably have a simple FFT function, which would likely be a better way to compare waveforms, assuming it has reaolilution/memory sufficient to show close non-harmonic spurs (eg. 100 kHz stuff).

I wonder how a single phase idler motor might help clean up the waveform. An idling 3hp table saw doesn’t put much load on a generator once up to synchronous speed, but might do a lot to clean up the waveform thru mechanical inertia.

 

[Patrick Herd]

"Snip"

I wonder how a single phase idler motor might help clean up the waveform. An idling 3hp table saw doesn’t put much load on a generator once up to synchronous speed, but might do a lot to clean up the waveform thru mechanical inertia.

It will help somewhat, I'd wager that a 3 phase motor and some capacitors would probably be even better: The compromises made when constructing single phase alternators and motors are reason for some of the harmonics. 3 phase motors are more efficient, have less mechanical vibration etc.
A 3 phase motor can be "rip cord" started on single phase to make things even easier for this kind of application.

You're making me nostalgic for the time in my life as an educator, I had access to an electrical machines laboratory that would make such experiments a 30 minute task to prove or disprove.

 

[grsthegreat]

I see my yellow service light is lit up on my Generac 17kw backup generator. Might be time to service it. Have to check it out tomorrow.

That light comes on exactly 1 year since last service. Press enter button 2X to clear it.

 

[Racer4]

That light comes on exactly 1 year since last service. Press enter button 2X to clear it.

Thanks. I noticed a time interval for the servicing of the battery, plugs, filters, etc. It asks if the items were changed. If it hasn’t met the 100 hour mark since last service, I’ll skip it until next time or every 2 years. Whatever comes first.

I keep a few extra oil filters and service kits on hand with extra oil. Mom’s generator is the same unit. Been getting the oe parts from Amazon. The service kits are $10 cheaper than from the local Electric supply house.