Your last generator Maintenance Run
- Thread starter 3930dave
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Industrial Toys
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2008
- Messages
- 17,407
- Location
- Ontario Canada
- Tractor
- Kubota R510 Wheel Loader + Cab and backhoe, JD 6200 Open Station, Cushman 6150, 4x4, ten foot 56 hp Kubota diesel hydraulic wing mower, Steiner 430 Diesel Max, Kawasaki Diesel Mule, JD 4x2 Electric Gator
It would be great for people on solar. Why make ac ONLY TO CHANGE IT BACK TO dc?
vvanders
Platinum Member
So got another chance to look at things again. Did continuity tests across gen -> chassy (good) and all cable connections (good).
Fired everything up again but went for 505 rpm and 59.2Hz. lo and behold success. Lights didn't flicker and had the whole house running at less than 10A steady load.
Looks like it was just an out of spec frequency issue, curious now if it's the rpm counter on the L4760 or gear ratio on the gen that's letting it overrun slightly at 540.
Fired everything up again but went for 505 rpm and 59.2Hz. lo and behold success. Lights didn't flicker and had the whole house running at less than 10A steady load.
Looks like it was just an out of spec frequency issue, curious now if it's the rpm counter on the L4760 or gear ratio on the gen that's letting it overrun slightly at 540.
vvanders
Platinum Member
Yeah, after learning the quirks of it overall I'm pretty happy with how it all works(that's why you do this before the power goes out ...). Fuel usage was reasonable, noise is waaaay less than our 3.5kw one.
Couple other things that I didn't mention, I ran it this time with 5-6" of lift on the 3pt so the PTO shaft was parallel compared to set on the ground. Previously it would have a bit of wobble/vibration. With it lifted up that was totally gone.
I had also coiled a bit of my 30ft cable that connects to the transfer switch, I can't remember my ac theory well enough but I may have been inducing a bit of inductive load with that. Had it all uncoiled this time.
Lastly for fun I tried charging our EV directly from the gen as they both use NEMA 14-50. Sadly that didn't work as the charger was expecting a ground and when connected directly to the tractor there wasn't one. I didn't feel like digging up a spare ground rod so I'll have to leave that experiment for another day. Would have made a great load tester as you can set the charging rate on an amp by amp basis.
Couple other things that I didn't mention, I ran it this time with 5-6" of lift on the 3pt so the PTO shaft was parallel compared to set on the ground. Previously it would have a bit of wobble/vibration. With it lifted up that was totally gone.
I had also coiled a bit of my 30ft cable that connects to the transfer switch, I can't remember my ac theory well enough but I may have been inducing a bit of inductive load with that. Had it all uncoiled this time.
Lastly for fun I tried charging our EV directly from the gen as they both use NEMA 14-50. Sadly that didn't work as the charger was expecting a ground and when connected directly to the tractor there wasn't one. I didn't feel like digging up a spare ground rod so I'll have to leave that experiment for another day. Would have made a great load tester as you can set the charging rate on an amp by amp basis.
TheMan419
Veteran Member
As for the EV depending on if you have gas engine on that or battery only it would be good to be able to charge the EV if needed from the generator. Just another thing you can take care of in an emergency.
Runs nice, after the bit of checking/fettling you did. +2 on doing that in "peacetime".
Yes, best not to leave your cable coiled, esp. as power levels go up.
Yep, the car would be a great test load - nice to have that gen-backed for extended grid-down events.
If you are into making your own fuel (and have an old diesel), then you could even charge your EV from your french-fry oil !
Rgds, D.
aczlan
Good Morning
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2008
- Messages
- 17,540
- Tractor
- Kubota L3830GST, B7500HST, BX2660. Formerly: Case 480F LL, David Brown 880UE
If you are plugging something directly into the generator (vs connecting it to the house), the ground and neutral should be connected together.
Aaron Z
I was looking for a water-resistant charger, at 3+amps.
Not a lot of bells/whistles, but 6amps, IP67, delivered to my door for $51 Canadian.... Sold.
Robot Check
BLACK+DECKER BC6BDW , in case that link acts up.
Time will tell how well bonded they are, but I like the rubber wrap bumpers - adds some protection, and act as stand-offs on a flat surface (helps thermal).
This shipped with the 2 primary connectors; I'll make or buy the ring-terminal one.
Rgds, D.
Not a lot of bells/whistles, but 6amps, IP67, delivered to my door for $51 Canadian.... Sold.
Robot Check
BLACK+DECKER BC6BDW , in case that link acts up.
Time will tell how well bonded they are, but I like the rubber wrap bumpers - adds some protection, and act as stand-offs on a flat surface (helps thermal).
This shipped with the 2 primary connectors; I'll make or buy the ring-terminal one.
Rgds, D.
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
As long as you dont cook the battery. ive see non trickle chargers boil off the fluids in a battery.
