Generator Issues

   / Generator Issues
  • Thread Starter
#31  
Was the microwave the only thing running on the generator at that time?

Dehumidifier in the basement.
Couple of lights in the bedroom (60watt x 4)
1 ceiling fan.

Generator is rated at 6500 watts running.

Microwave is 1000 watts. The rest of that stuff should not be 5500 watts.
 
   / Generator Issues
  • Thread Starter
#32  
Since the cord is one thing you know you've changed, if you still have the old cord you could try again with that.

However, unless there was a surprisingly high load on the generator (I don't know what it could be though) that sounds like a more than adequate generator. Have you eliminated things like a dirty carb (not run in a while?), bad gas (ditto), and forgetting to turn the choke off (everybody's done it)? Those are the sorts of things which will make the engine weaker than its rating and struggle at much lower power usage.

A guy I know once had low power and high fuel consumption with his generator because the spark plug came loose. It sounded fine with no load, but struggled under load.

Yes I have the old cord still. I will run a test this weekend with that cord and the microwave.

Choke was not out because I had a lesson with the wife about starting generator and pushing choke back in was one of the steps :)

Interesting about teh spark plug. I'll check it.

Fuel was fresh.
 
   / Generator Issues #33  
Another consideration is how well the load was balanced,
if the majority of the load was on one leg it would severely curtail the available power.
6900 watts divided by 240 volt yields about 28 amp.
But if the load was being carried by just one leg it can cause issues.
 
   / Generator Issues #34  
Dehumidifier in the basement.
Couple of lights in the bedroom (60watt x 4)
1 ceiling fan.

Generator is rated at 6500 watts running.

Microwave is 1000 watts. The rest of that stuff should not be 5500 watts.
dehumidifier 1000
lights 240
fan 120
microwave 1100

2460watts, maybe more with surge.

Maybe they are all on the same leg of the generator?

Are all those breakers on the same side of your panel?
 
   / Generator Issues #35  
Another consideration is how well the load was balanced,
if the majority of the load was on one leg it would severely curtail the available power.
6900 watts divided by 240 volt yields about 28 amp.
But if the load was being carried by just one leg it can cause issues.
Like he said. ;)
 
   / Generator Issues #36  
You guys have given Lots of great information on this issue . I was new to generators a few years ago and overloaded my generator and ended having to replace a well pump and oil burner motor as they were trying to keep going without the proper current and didn't like it very well . Costly error on my part . I now have two and one is the inverter type for sensitive electronics .
 
   / Generator Issues #37  
On 110v you only get half the wattage from each leg, so if you only tap one for 110v appliances you max continuous is 3450. Ignore the peak output, which is momentary and depends on the flywheel effect to pick up momentary loads. If your engine is derated for anything from dirty spark plugs to running on E10, NG or propane, you will get less than 6900 watts continuous.

If you have a 2 hp well pump, common for submersibles, you don't have much power left to run anything else.
 
   / Generator Issues
  • Thread Starter
#38  
When panel was installed electricial said that odd numbered breakers were on one leg and even on the other leg. I will have to check if all of those things were on the same leg.

Good info here and lots of stuff to trouble shoot over the weekend. I'll pull the spark plug too and see if it is fouled.

E10 gas is not the issue as it has always been run on E10 and have not had this problem in the past.
 
   / Generator Issues #39  
How long has it been since you last ran the gen? The adverse affect of ethenol is not immediate, it degrades components over time. When tis was happening was the gen just running with a loaded sound or was it running roughly?
 
   / Generator Issues #40  
E10 cuts your horsepower a few %. If you want to boost your horsepower a few %, add a little kerosene to the gas. Don't overdo it or you will have trouble starting the engine. Those of us who farmed decades ago drove a John Deere with a 1 gallon gas tank and a big fuel tank that we filled with stove oil. Once the engine got warmed up, it would generate more power from the stove oil, but you had to switch back to gas before you shut down or you would have to drain the carb to get it started next time. Fuel makes a difference.
 

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