Generator on the fritz

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Comments

  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,728 ✭✭✭✭✭✭

    Allright, the concert ticket and a halter top at the beach....My 64 GTO that I lent a guy, and spent a month working on the limited slip.

    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

  • palausystem
    palausystem Solar Expert Posts: 122 ✭✭✭

    Good news so far. Brushes were quite worn. One had frayed wire riding next to the slip ring. Gen started right up. Will check voltage tomorrow to see if voltage regulator needs replacing.


    Off-grid 48v, 3 kw PV, Sunny Island 5048U, SunnyBoy, US Battery RE L16XC  6v, 800ah, Genset: Kohler 8.5 RES propane.
  • arby
    arby Solar Expert Posts: 107 ✭✭

    First question in my mind is--

    Is the genny being shut down because of low voltage, or is it shutting down causing a low voltage fault?

    Easy enough to check and I suppose it has been.

    3310 watts panels, Classic 200 controller, 8 Surette S530's, Xantrex 5548 inverter, Honda EX5500 backup Genny.
  • palausystem
    palausystem Solar Expert Posts: 122 ✭✭✭

    Original problem was occasional shut down, charge controller showed low voltage fault. I checked connections,etc.

    Then a few weeks later, gen would crank up, begin to run for a split second then immediately shut down with an under voltage fault showing on the genset.

    Brushes changed, now all good. No need for change on voltage regulator.

    Not sure I know the answer to your question...I think originally the charge controller shut down the gen for low V. Then the gen began shutting itself down.

    Some say those brushes look older than 850 hrs, I'll just have to change them again in another 700.

    Off-grid 48v, 3 kw PV, Sunny Island 5048U, SunnyBoy, US Battery RE L16XC  6v, 800ah, Genset: Kohler 8.5 RES propane.
  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭

    Good to hear it was a simple and hopefully inexpensive fix.

    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
  • Tecnodave
    Tecnodave Registered Users Posts: 437 ✭✭✭✭
    I am using an Onan Emerald 4.0 that was removed from a motorhome, quiet, 1800 rpm always runs, 2 changes of brushes, 3 oil changes , points ,  4 spark plugs, 5 years no fail to run... burns more gas than inverter gen but has a beautiful clean sine wave output, tremendous overload capability......only change from motorhome use...its own house and a Stewart Warner engine minder.......automatic shutdown on fault...lol oil....hi temp.@.oil and cyl heads, and exhaust temp. Cummings builds great generators $$$$$$.  16 hp engine with 3 1/2 quarts oil and spin on filter...same filter as Toyota cars. Real long life machines
    2 Classic 150, 2 Kid, 5 arrays 7.5 kw total  2ea.  2S6P Sharp NE-170/NE-165, 1ea. 12P Sanyo HIT 200,  2ea. 4/6P Sanyo HIT 200, MagnaSine MS4024AE, Exeltech XP-1100,  2 Banks L-16 battery, Rolls-Surette S-530 and Interstate Traction, Shunts with whizbangJr and Bogart Tri-Metric, iCharger i208B  dc-dc buck/boost converter with BMS for small form lithium 8S 16650 or LiFePO4,