Genset returned with 105 volt readout...

softdown

Bought an Onan HomeSite Power 3500 genset about three years ago. It is rated for a 2500 watt output (deceptive name?). Onan had a great name for a long time. My "housesitter" was going to take it to a pawn shop so I "rescued" it. Was told that the usage time was low.

It worked great 99% of the time. Slipped to a 60 volt readout a couple times. Brought it in for repair. He mistakenly tried a voltage regulator off of a working 3500 watt genset (after all this Onan 3500 genset does carry 3500 in the name). The output was about 90 volts........as memory serves. A year went by with neither one us able to find a suitable voltage regulator. After all, Onan has long since gone kaput....I am told.

Repair guy reports that he finally found a suitable voltage regulator. Great news.....I hurried in and cranked it up. Voltage readout is 105 volts and the idle speed seems a tad bit higher than it used to be.

Repair guy says not to use it on motors but it is ok for electronics with capacitors. Like I know what has a capacitor and what does not. Says to "turn up the idle if you are worried about it." Well....of course I am worried about it.

He has bad health problems and may not live much longer by the way.

High voltage is better than low voltage. I am playing with the idea of trying an approx. 2000 watt voltage regulator. This saga has stretched out for two years. My memories may not be exact.

softdown

What do you know. Ebay now shows a voltage regulator for this exact genset for $20. I bought it of course. We both had searched *periodically* for a very long time.

Being offgrid certainly involves a number of skill sets...