Is it possible to "clean up" my older generator's power for sensitive electronics?

[newbury]

I've several older, but well running generators in the 7K to 15K range. But with the increasing addition of sensitive electronics to almost EVERYTHING I'm apprehensive about using them to run my devices.
I had initially thought just slap a UPS in the loop, but now they can be fried by dirty power (or so I've read).
Is there any inexpensive solution short of buying all new generators?

 

[mikester]

Is there any inexpensive solution short of buying all new generators?

No

 

[Jrasband]

I am very curious as well. I am using a non-inverter generator to charge solar batteries and am worried about risk.. So far no problems so I am worried about long term.

 

[MattB4]

The biggest problem with small generators is that they may not do a good job of frequency or voltage control with changing loads. Often they do not have much in the way of speed governors nor the inertia of a larger generators.

However if your older generators are good quality I would not worry about using them. Modern electronics are pretty good at being protected from supply irregularities.The bigger worry from a non stable supply is your old standard motors. Such as the compressor in your refrigerator or well pump.

 

[LouNY]

An online UPS will do the job, but they are not inexpensive by any means;

 

[sea2summit]

UPS will do it, don’t have to go super large like the ones Lou posted unless you need that much clean power. A quick search on Amazon has them as low as $70…probably wouldn’t recommend that one though. I’d just inventory all the electronics you’d like to power and see what your load is plus any surge load and find one in the size you need.

 

[Oaktree]

I had initially thought just slap a UPS in the loop, but now they can be fried by dirty power (or so I've read).
Is there any inexpensive solution short of buying all new generators?

One thing to beware of is that some UPSs are not very tolerant of ratty input power. I haven't heard of one getting fried, but they'll often switch to battery and stay there (or toggle back and forth...see below) if the power coming in isn't clean enough. Some have sensitivity adjustments, but they're not always intuitive.

About 20 years ago I was involved with a new generator install at a work site. Home Depot-grade 8 kW Generac. Generator tech could not get it to run smoothly, engine speed would surge, fall back surge, fall back. He eventually threw up his hands and stopped returning calls. Some troubleshooting on my part revealed the UPS activity I described above. Bypassed the UPS and the generator ran smooth as can be.
A little research showed an unlabeled button on the back of the UPS...turns out it would step thru 3 sensitivity levels. Found one that made everything happy.

Don't know how old your generators are, but I have a box store Champion 4000W unit and have had no issues. Mostly used to run refrigerator & freezer in a power outage. I can live without tv, internet, etc. for a day or two if necessary so I've never tried to run a computer, etc. on it.

 

[sea2summit]

One thing to beware of is that some UPSs are not very tolerant of ratty input power. I haven't heard of one getting fried, but they'll often switch to battery and stay there (or toggle back and forth...see below) if the power coming in isn't clean enough. Some have sensitivity adjustments, but they're not always intuitive.

About 20 years ago I was involved with a new generator install at a work site. Home Depot-grade 8 kW Generac. Generator tech could not get it to run smoothly, engine speed would surge, fall back surge, fall back. He eventually threw up his hands and stopped returning calls. Some troubleshooting on my part revealed the UPS activity I described above. Bypassed the UPS and the generator ran smooth as can be.
A little research showed an unlabeled button on the back of the UPS...turns out it would step thru 3 sensitivity levels. Found one that made everything happy.

Don't know how old your generators are, but I have a box store Champion 4000W unit and have had no issues. Mostly used to run refrigerator & freezer in a power outage.

I’m not doubting your story at all, or the concerns you raise. I’d just say UPS, like many electronics, have come a long way in 20 years.

 

[LouNY]

UPS will do it, don’t have to go super large like the ones Lou posted unless you need that much clean power. A quick search on Amazon has them as low as $70…probably wouldn’t recommend that one though. I’d just inventory all the electronics you’d like to power and see what your load is plus any surge load and find one in the size you need.

If it is not an "online" or continuously converting and regenerating the power it will not clean up the provided power from noise.
A switching UPS will not clean up the incoming power.

 

[MattB4]

As others mentioned a UPS is not for cleaning power it is to maintain power to components with the loss of the the primary power source. If the primary power source is a small generator it may decide the generator output is not within specs for frequency or voltage. This does not mean the generator is outputting "dirty" power.

You see a lot of nonsense on the web about needing an inverter generator because standard generators are not PSW (pure sine wave) and the new inverter generators are. Regular generators are PSW by nature. What makes the new inverter style generators good is they can operate at varying engine rpm and loading changes while maintaining a stable output. Thus more efficient use of fuel. Put in Eco mode they run at low rpm with low loads and than idle up for higher loads. A old generator is forced to operate at a fixed rpm.