Your last generator Maintenance Run

[Turbys_1700]

Be sure and check/change the oil. After that solenoid sticks gas will go past the rings and dilute the oil. You will probably find it overfilled if the mechanic didn't already change it.

Yes, we went ahead and changed it.

 

[Looking4new]

Hydro went out for 45 minutes today. That is my maintenance run for January.

 

[PILOON]

Hydro went out for 45 minutes today. That is my maintenance run for January.

LOL, called 'forced maintenance'.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I started my small Honda gen today, 3/4 load for 20 mins, and 5 more at fast idle... I filled it with E0 gas, so it's always ready TO GO!

SR

 

[3930dave]

I am setting up a MEP803A Military Surplus generator. These units are designed to deliver 10KW at 80% and capable of running 24/7 in the desert.

I built a load bank using four 5400 watt dryer elements to run and test it with. I used a 100 amp outdoor panel with 6 spaces to set up three 240V circuits. Two circuits are 5400W and one is 2700W. Two of the elements are connected in series to cut the load in half. The fan is 120v and I plug it into the 120v convenience outlet on the generator. I will set a reminder in my phone calendar for regular testing intervals.
View attachment 494516

I am planning to keep a little over 100 gallons of diesel on hand but I will fill my tractor and backhoe from the drums to keep it rotated. Also going to add the correct amounts of Killem biocide and Stanadyne Lubricity formula to the storage tanks just for peace of mind. The generator has a auxiliary fuel system that will pump fuel from the storage drum to keep the generator tank full.

Here is a photo of the genset in it's final resting place with the load bank connected.
View attachment 494515

This is a video of the first time I ran it on the load bank.
Load Test MEP83A Generator - YouTube

I still have a few refinements to make. I have some digital meters ordered to install in place of the flaky analog instruments it came with. The volt and hertz meters didn't read at all on this when I got it. I cleaned out the voltage meter and it works but isn't accurate so I didn't bother with the hertz meter. The percent load meter on the unit reads higher than the actual load so I'm not going to bother with any of them. All accounts are the original meters are junk and not to be trusted. I have a digital generator meter coming that will read the voltage and hertz and a couple more that read voltage and amps. I will use the volt/hertz meter to adjust output and droop. I plan to put one each of the volt/amp meters on L1 and L3 to monitor the loads and see how even they are.

Thanks for the test setup details, and the feedback on the milsurp gen. Nicely done.

Rgds, D.

 

[farmer2009]

Put a motor and auger on a bulk feed bin. Barn it's at only has 120 power. So put in a plug and 20 amp 240 disconnect. Been using generator to power it. So generator is getting about 15 minutes of run time ever week. First week generator hadn't been run in 6 months. Had some trouble starting it in 30* weather. Had to use some starting fluid and once running added some sea foam. Started by second pull since then.

 

[3930dave]

Put a motor and auger on a bulk feed bin. Barn it's at only has 120 power. So put in a plug and 20 amp 240 disconnect. Been using generator to power it. So generator is getting about 15 minutes of run time ever week. First week generator hadn't been run in 6 months. Had some trouble starting it in 30* weather. Had to use some starting fluid and once running added some sea foam. Started by second pull since then.

I'm traveling, and on flaky wifi at the moment.... can't type fast enough to post all I want to say.....

Gas motors.... does seem to vary by make and model, and regional fuel source.... mine seem happy at 3 months, past 6 often takes extra cranking.

Murphy never sleeps, but quite a few of you guys have been beating him back into his corner... for now

Rgds, D.

 

[dragoneggs]

I periodically run my Honda EU3000iS generator but I don't put a load on it unless it is working during a power outage. Just how important is loading it during a maintenance run?

 

[Looking4new]

3930dave....
Shell V-power (High Test) aka [the good stuff] gas has no ethanol in it. Better for the small engines in the long run.

 

[3930dave]

I periodically run my Honda EU3000iS generator but I don't put a load on it unless it is working during a power outage. Just how important is loading it during a maintenance run?

I view reliable starting as 75-95% of the battle; as that's where most people have issues with small gens.

I don't know enough about generator design to make statements like "This particular model has to be exercised at 60%+ load to stay healthy". My belt and suspender outlook on loaded testing is that it addresses things like circuit breakers tripping early, output issues like Industrial Toys listed today, and if a fuel filter is present - fuel starvation under heavy load.

I used to do test engineering for a living, and still reflexively try and test as close to real use if I can. In a cold environment, the bonus of load testing is you also get the engine up to operating temperature faster. Once you are into diesel units, you likely won't get close to operating temp w/o significant load - 90 has posted on wet-stack repairs he's had to do for people, regarding this diesel issue.

So, I'd say there is no one-size-fits-all answer. What I do know, is if it won't start, you don't want to find that out during an emergency.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

3930dave....
Shell V-power (High Test) aka [the good stuff] gas has no ethanol in it. Better for the small engines in the long run.

Good point, I'm not a fan of the E either.

Shell will be more widely available; I buy my Hitest Efree at Costco, as I already give the gubmint too many tax dollars to waste already.

Rgds, D.

 

[farmer2009]

I'm traveling, and on flaky wifi at the moment.... can't type fast enough to post all I want to say.....

Gas motors.... does seem to vary by make and model, and regional fuel source.... mine seem happy at 3 months, past 6 often takes extra cranking.

Murphy never sleeps, but quite a few of you guys have been beating him back into his corner... for now

Rgds, D.

Generac 7500E with a dead battery but a working pull start.

I normally keep stabil in the generator but was using it earlier in the year pretty regular and didn't ever add it to the last tank. Gas was regular 87 octane E10.

 

[daugen]

My 22kw Generac went on test cycle right in the middle of last weekends cold temps and ice.
Not a happy startup at all. Surging, sounded like rpms rising, kind of a misfire, then after fifteen seconds, smooth as could be. Did I ingest some water/condensation/ice? Propane, 500 gal tank, full.

 

[Looking4new]

Good point, I'm not a fan of the E either.

Shell will be more widely available; I buy my Hitest Efree at Costco, as I already give the gubmint too many tax dollars to waste already.

Rgds, D.

I'm not sure where you are Dave, but I will be paying $1.369/L for high test today.

 

[90cummins]

I periodically run my Honda EU3000iS generator but I don't put a load on it unless it is working during a power outage. Just how important is loading it during a maintenance run?

It's not nearly as important as a Diesel unit which if started should always be run under load long enough to warm the engine.
Running gasoline engines with no load during the cold months is not advisable although the consequences are not as nearly as severe as with diesel units.
1) Gasoline and Diesel engines produce 1 gallon of water for every gallon of fuel consumed which wets down the exhaust system and introduces moisture into the oil, therefore it should be run under load to warm up and drive the majority of moisture out of the system so it doesn't accumulate and corrode internal parts..
2) Running under load warms the engine and generator windings driving moisture out.
3) Running under load purges the carburetor of old gas (preventing deposits) and verifies the engine runs at the proper speed and that all electrical components such as switches & relays are operating properly.
I bought (2) 1000/1500 watt portable heaters at tag sales so I can properly load and warm up my portables.
I also have a large 9kw heater with 3 settings of 3kw, 6kw & 9kw which I use when I run my 25kw pto generator.
Using combination's of the 3 units I can load most generators very close to maximum capacity to verify that the voltages and Hz are correct.
During my testing I found that the voltage on both of my Generac XL4000's started to droop at 3.3kw and at 4kw it was dangerously low at 105v.
I would also highly recommend that you purchase a Killawatt meter to check the voltage, Hz and verify the load you are applying to avoid overloading your generator and running low voltage.
90cummins

 

[daugen]

the only load testing my big gen gets is when the power goes out.
Is there a not too expensive load tester for smaller units, say up to 9kw?

good reminder to measure the voltage at the plug when the backup gen kicks on.

 

[dragoneggs]

Thanks 90cummins... is this the one you suggest?

P3 P44 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor - Low Temperature Alarms - Amazon.com

 

[Matt in Virginia]

fwiw,
I have a Honda EU6500IS Inverter that gets the oil changed every 15-20 hours or twice a year. Battery life is a point... I know this will be seen as excessive, however, I run 100% True Fuel in the beginning so I did not have to worry about the fuel system. As the generator gets used a little that turned expensive and the only non-ethanol mix fuel available is Sunoco 112 octane racing fuel. I know guys that run this in their German Stihls. I still run Truefuel in them, however, the guys who actually run less often than daily(have a tree service on my lot) but more often than I do are having zero problems with Sunoco 112. I have run the EU6500IS and monitored head temps with IR Temp guns and they actually run cooler than with lower octane pump gas(The pre-detonation argument of low octane fuels being more volatile must to some extent be accurate(?)). Honda tech said it would lead to higher head temps whereas a race mechanic, builds offshore racing engines, said that is just what it is designed to avoid. Not seeing the Honda tech's advice, local garden center guru, playing out in reality has me wondering. Find it difficult to think Honda would have covered "don't run $10 a gallon 112 octane race fuel" in your generator to be in the factory course. Who knows literally?

I am not seeing a problem but don't want to learn the hard and expensive way... Make that more expensive..;-).

Regards, Matt.

 

[grsthegreat]

Problem is my 30 year old 2400 watt gen gets run maybe every other year if i need it .... and it still starts and runs good. Ive never run it under a load unless im using it. My generac 22 k runs 5 min once a week....no load. Im not worried about it. If it was diesel...that would be another matter

 

[grsthegreat]

My 22kw Generac went on test cycle right in the middle of last weekends cold temps and ice.
Not a happy startup at all. Surging, sounded like rpms rising, kind of a misfire, then after fifteen seconds, smooth as could be. Did I ingest some water/condensation/ice? Propane, 500 gal tank, full.

You might need a cold weather kit. I have one on oil filter and under battery. Major difference noticed in cold