Generator Dummy Load

[07wingnut]

I would consider buying a battery backup (APC) for your electronic devices, and then let the generator power the house. If you need the generator to run the house during an outage, how are you going to get on TBN if you have to unplug your electronics when operating on a generator?
Just seems like a better investment than buying/building a load bank to run the generator on an exercise day.
David from jax

What is the problem with running your house and electronics from a generator? I have been doing this nigh onto 40 years and have yet to experience a problem with electronic devices. Inquiring minds would like to know if there is a reason for this idea that generators kill electronics.

 

[mjonesnh]

I just use 2 1500 watt space heaters on my 240 generators. 1 is a 5000 inverter and 1 is a 3500 plain old style generator, Have a 1700 inverter that gates 1 1500 watt heater

 

[bdhsfz6]

What is the problem with running your house and electronics from a generator? I have been doing this nigh onto 40 years and have yet to experience a problem with electronic devices. Inquiring minds would like to know if there is a reason for this idea that generators kill electronics.

The generator power is clean and all the electronics work fine. It's the momentary power loss during the switchover that causes the problems. A dozen or more clocks need to be reset. The satellite receiver recycles and is down for 15 minutes during reboot and any recordings in progress are lost. Some of our older electronic devices do not have non volatile memory and need to be reprogrammed as well.

We have UPC's on the computers and we're are slowly upgrading our clocks and other devices as they fail but for now, it's a hassle every time the power goes out. The grid goes down often enough and I don't need the aggravation of causing one during a generator exercise.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I would consider buying a battery backup (APC) for your electronic devices, and then let the generator power the house. If you need the generator to run the house during an outage, how are you going to get on TBN if you have to unplug your electronics when operating on a generator?
Just seems like a better investment than buying/building a load bank to run the generator on an exercise day.
David from jax

We have UPC's on the computers but it wouldn't be practical to install them on all our devices. We have a dozen digital clocks with no battery backup that all need to be reset. Many other older devices are affected as well.

 

[nyone]

I built a very crude load bank when I was buying/selling military generators. It's a box fan with two 5kw dryer elements attached to it. With large spade terminals I can do 2.5kw, 5kw or 10kw. Cost was less than $50. I have a diesel liquid cooled generator so dont need to run it very often at all.

For smaller gas generators il run a 1500w heater for a bit. Generaly this is only after I have fixed any running issues.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I have a diesel liquid cooled generator so dont need to run it very often at all.

For smaller gas generators il run a 1500w heater for a bit. Generaly this is only after I have fixed any running issues.

Is there a reason why larger liquid cooled generators don't need to be run more often than smaller gas powered units?

The specs on my liquid cooled 11KW diesel say to run it every two months or so at least at half load.

 

[ssgp2]

Is there a reason why larger liquid cooled generators don't need to be run more often than smaller gas powered units?

The specs on my liquid cooled 11KW diesel say to run it every two months or so at least at half load.

I think he is probably referring to the fact the diesel is fuel injected and the gas has a carburetor, magneto etc. which as you know has a tendency to be finicky if left unused for any extended amount of time

 

[grsthegreat]

SOME generators run clean, others, not so much. I maintain lots of whole house air cooled units, and they all exercise unloaded. That being said, where i live, we have so man6 power outages most of them see real loaded use often enough.

The power outputed by these run most electronics without issue, except for some high end HVAC AND HEAT PUMPS? . Some brands just dont want to run on generator power.

Portable generators is a whole other issue. Ive seen some of these with 25%+ distortion. I would not want to run my electronics on these.

 

[grsthegreat]

The generator power is clean and all the electronics work fine. It's the momentary power loss during the switchover that causes the problems. A dozen or more clocks need to be reset. The satellite receiver recycles and is down for 15 minutes during reboot and any recordings in progress are lost. Some of our older electronic devices do not have non volatile memory and need to be reprogrammed as well.

We have UPC's on the computers and we're are slowly upgrading our clocks and other devices as they fail but for now, it's a hassle every time the power goes out. The grid goes down often enough and I don't need the aggravation of causing one during a generator exercise.

I put my main tv and my router on ups devices so they dont need to reboot. My wifi unit monitors my generator, so if wifi cuts out, the monitor is useless. And im lazy, i dont want to wait 10 min for satellite and tv to reboot and reconnect.

 

[grsthegreat]

Is there a reason why larger liquid cooled generators don't need to be run more often than smaller gas powered units?

The specs on my liquid cooled 11KW diesel say to run it every two months or so at least at half load.

Running diesel generators unloaded isnt recommended. Running gas operated units isnt as big of an issue.

On the air cooled units i maintain i generally set them for weekly exercise. The newer units only run for 5 minuteds, but the older units run for 12 to 15, so i set the older models for monthly if possible.