Your last generator Maintenance Run

[Industrial Toys]

I need an outage to trim a few trees encroching on my line. Would just take five minutes. I don't think there is a danger, but I would prefer the line to be off.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Not yet Dave, I've either been trying to sleep or plowing snow on my tractor since it went out. Just got in an hour ago and it sounds like it's very widespread, like areas 30 miles away from me.
Got a question, even with my new overkill generator (20kw) I hear a difference in the sound of the microwave and the tiny little blower motor on the oil fired hwh while on the generator. Currently we are running the mini splits heat pumps (no electric resistance heat) but they don't even seem to ding the electric bill and as mentioned oil dhw along with lp gas range and dryer so basically lights and 2 refrigerators and a chest freezer and whenever the well pump cycles. They both operate properly and don't smell funny and don't trip anything and not throwing sparks:laughing:
Any clue?

If you’re hearing a difference it’s most likely frequency. Assuming that unit is mechanically governed it will be running close to 62.5hz no load (which won’t harm anything) but if it will never see full load you can adjust it down to about 60.5 - 61hz with your actual max load. If it’s electronic the governor should maintain 59.8-60.2 except during a load change. If either voltage or frequency are unstable that may be what you’re hearing.

Any significant change in load will momentarily change the frequency which is normal.

Best bet is to get a meter on there and check voltage and frequency. You should have 120 Line to Neutral and 240 Line to Line.

FYI that’s a 4pole 2/3 pitch alternator so it has very low harmonics, as close to pure sine wave as you can get with copper.

 

[fried1765]

Unless he has a real shallow pump, i cant believe a 2k generator ran it. Ive seen people have issues with wells using 5k units.

What do you think?
Will my Porter Cable 3500W generator start and run, my 1HP Gould's shallow well pump?
I bought it new in 2005, and it is not the inverter type.
A nice little unit with a 6.5HP Honda.
It has a 20Amp 240V outlet.
1HP Gould's is 240V

 

[3930dave]

i generally dont let my gen run during prolonged outage during the day, but if i had a power outage on a day like today i probably would. woke up to 15F, and while its sunny out, it feals likw it may have warmed up to 16F.

theres a wind, and it chills to the bone.

i was out in shop getting tractor all chained up and had heater on. i forget how spoiled i am. heat in shop, backup generator, 4x4 cart to get around property. its nice to be spoiled.

Heated shop . Makes all the difference, getting things done before Spring !

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

After I'm done with the hydro pole sounds, I could end with an "UNBOXING" of some Frito Lays Chips.

:laughing:

Altho,,,, with that, somebody out there probably has 500,000 views by now....... less competition with hydro poles (has to be translated tho, for non-Canucks....)

Rgds, D.

 

[Industrial Toys]

737 watts per HP and then starting load. If you tripled it, you should still be safe. I hope they don't rate consumer generators the way they do say consumer compressors for CFM. TOTAL scam apparently.

I don't know how many HP my jet pump is, but my 3.7 Yanmar genny has no issue with it at all, and running other low wattage stuff, like fridge.

Just looked at a list of loads and my pump draws 6 amps at 220. No data for starting current. Microwave uses the same.

 

[3930dave]

What do you think?
Will my Porter Cable 3500W generator start and run, my 1HP Gould's shallow well pump?
I bought it new in 2005, and it is not the inverter type.
A nice little unit with a 6.5HP Honda.
It has a 20Amp 240V outlet.
1HP Gould's is 240V

If you can find your manual (or download it), it should list a max. hp for elec. loads. I'd say it's 50/50 likely; either way it will definitely notice it....

Rgds, D.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I am also told that despite there being continuous and peak load ratings, it doesn't mean you can run many consumer generators around the clock. Like some sort of duty cycle, but I don't understand that. It's gonna get as hot as it can after half an hour so what does shutting it off after a few hours and letting it cool down gonna do?

 

[grsthegreat]

I am also told that despite there being continuous and peak load ratings, it doesn't mean you can run many consumer generators around the clock. Like some sort of duty cycle, but I don't understand that. It's gonna get as hot as it can after half an hour so what does shutting it off after a few hours and letting it cool down gonna do?

You can run them round the clock if you want. I have lots of customers that let their air cooled units run during entire outage. No issues. Generac recommended shutting it down every 24 hrs to check oil, but thats it. Me personally, i dont want to waste fuel during daylight hours. But wifes nagging about wanting to quilt overrules my thoughts.

 

[fried1765]

If you can find your manual (or download it), it should list a max. hp for elec. loads. I'd say it's 50/50 likely; either way it will definitely notice it....

Rgds, D.

Yeah......that's the problem.....
I don't know where the manual is.
I will look some more.

I am not completely stuck for water in an outage though.
I do have a deep well hand pump just outside the kitchen door of this old house.
Pump bucket full, and dump in toilet tank, if absolutely necessary!

If it is cold out there, the pumping will warm me up!