Your last generator Maintenance Run

[JCoastie]

Haven't looked up your gen yet.... guessing from the "i" - perhaps it's Injected ? If so, the resistor plug may be to avoid interfering with the computer.....

Rgds, D.

nah, it has a carb. I think the "i' is two fold, people think anything with an 'i' is cool, and it's also an inverter generator, and I think that's really what it's for.

And it's odd, that it lists the plug as a resistor type. F7RTC with also crosses to other resistor types.

 

[JCoastie]

yeah, definitely a resistor plug installed. The manual contradicts itself. Specifically lists (and has installed) a resistor spark plug part number, while also saying not to use a resistor plug.

I emailed the company, last time it took them several weeks to reply.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

On the RF topic, the first service truck I had with an aftermarket alarm installed somewhere around 25 years ago nearly stranded me due to RF... I was working at a radio transmitter site on top of a mountain where there were at least one AM and one FM station broadcasting and the RF was overwhelming the receiver for the alarm remote so I couldn't disarm the alarm which also had an ignition interlock.

Took me a while to figure out how to bypass the butchered wiring from the aftermarket installer and get the truck started. Ah, the good old days before google and of course very limited cell coverage so it was figure it out or start walking. Back when one whole side of the truck was binders of manuals and updates.

I've seen numerous controls issues over the years that I traced back to RF, usually due to high power hand held radios maintenance people love to use standing beside generators or transfer switches.

 

[3930dave]

yeah, definitely a resistor plug installed. The manual contradicts itself. Specifically lists (and has installed) a resistor spark plug part number, while also saying not to use a resistor plug.

I emailed the company, last time it took them several weeks to reply.

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Thanks.... let us know what the Response is !

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

On the RF topic, the first service truck I had with an aftermarket alarm installed somewhere around 25 years ago nearly stranded me due to RF... I was working at a radio transmitter site on top of a mountain where there were at least one AM and one FM station broadcasting and the RF was overwhelming the receiver for the alarm remote so I couldn't disarm the alarm which also had an ignition interlock.

Took me a while to figure out how to bypass the butchered wiring from the aftermarket installer and get the truck started. Ah, the good old days before google and of course very limited cell coverage so it was figure it out or start walking. Back when one whole side of the truck was binders of manuals and updates.

I've seen numerous controls issues over the years that I traced back to RF, usually due to high power hand held radios maintenance people love to use standing beside generators or transfer switches.

Thoreau comes to mind...... Cool story ^.

I've seen Service trucks (GM p/u's) chewing through headlight bulbs at a ferocious rate.... badly installed 2-way radio was giving a modern alternator spasms.....

There Are Lessons Here.......

Rgds, D.

 

[JCoastie]

Good news is that it is running like a champ. I put an oscope on it, nice clean stable power. After about a half hour I put just under 4kw load on it. Says keep it under 1/2 rated load for the first 5 hours. It's an 11000/9000 rated unit. Nice an quiet too. So far I like it.

Cheap little load bank, I split the 30a 240 into (2) 120 legs, and have a 500/1000/1500w heater on each leg along with a fan to keep them cool/running (it's almost 100f out)
After the 5 hour break in, I'll split the 50a circuit and add 2 more 1500w heaters and fan, so up around 8kw then whatever else I want to test with.

this is with 3.8kw on it.

 

[3930dave]

Excellent (product, and 411 that you are posting). I don't think we've seen that Inverter line before here....

I'm envious of your instrumentation - what is the Make/Model of your Scope ?

Rgds, D.

 

[JCoastie]

Just a cheapie scope, all I need these days lol

Amazon.com

That igen 11000 is new this year, I've been wanting a large inverter for a while, was finally announced but not onshore or in stock for several months. It arrived last night.
I think HomeDepot is about the only place with them at the very moment.

Westinghouse 11,000-Watt Electric Start Gasoline and Propane Inverter Generator with CO Sensor, Dual Fuel iGen11000DFc - The Home Depot

Electric Start Gasoline and Propane Inverter Generator with CO Sensor Dual Fuel from Westinghouse is suitable to replace with an egift card or repair your product during coverage period.

www.homedepot.com

During the last big hurricane here where we had no power for a week, one of my freezers and none of my UPS' liked my conventional generator. I have a sewage grinder pump that needs a good bit of power to start, that's the reason for the large generator. All the hot shower water does me no good if I can't get rid of it.

The generator has a locking handle, but it vibrates and is louder than the motor, that's the reason for the block of wood under it lol It vibrates in both the up and down position.

**Old conventional generator was noisy

 

[JCoastie]

That igen 11000 is new this year, I've been wanting a large inverter for a while, was finally announced but not onshore or in stock for several months.

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.

Amazon.com Customer service is lacking and it took a while and several back and fourths to get the actual info, but you can not use the L14-50 socket to get the full 10000/8000 watt output, you have to use a combination of multiple sockets. The L14-50 Receptacle is LIMITED to 120 Volt output up to 50amps and 240 Volt output up to 30
amps. That is ONLY 6000w at 120v and 7200w at 240v, a far cry from the rated output, and that is max, not running! If you want to use a single output cable, this is a poor generator and can not supply the rated output. Understandable for 120v, unforgivable for 240v: deal breaker.

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!

 

[Williy]

If I remember correctly many many years ago the resistor plugs were
installed in vehicles to stop the inter interfence of all the static in the
car radio and I do believe they would also interfear with the computer
because of the wide band frequency that the plugs emit

willy

 

[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.