Your last generator Maintenance Run

[3930dave]

First things to check then are battery voltage into the unit - needs to be 11V or better. Put a meter on the crank input to the starter and see if controller is sending the crank command after the glow plug time has expired. I not certain how long the preheat is on this unit but at -5 it would be at least 15 seconds. Do you hear any relay click from controller indicating it may be trying to engage the starter after 15-20 seconds? It should also be sending power to the throttle actuator at the same time it engages the starter. This is a PWM signal so not specific voltage but you should see something between about 4 and 12V on a DC meter.

If you are getting the throttle output, you could remove the crank wire from the starter and manually activate the starter with a jumper wire to start it and see where that gets you. Like bypassing controls to start any diesel engine though, have the air intake accessible and some plywood handy to completely block the intake in case you need to shut it down quickly.

Had one other thought... If someone had installed the control switch backward it may explain what you see. Holding the switch in STOP for 2 seconds energizes the fuel pump for as long as the switch is held but would never pre-heat or crank. Have you tried holding the switch in the other position?

Good data CM. Please keep it coming.

I take it you wrench on these for a living..... either that or you are an insomniac that likes reading up on generators even more than I do .

Rgds, D.

 

[Industrial Toys]

So, I wonder what the best panel to remove for troubleshooting is? I'm thinking maybe the top.

 

[cqaigy2]

Interesting... the telecom company is using hospital resources for non related requirements because of reliability? Please elaborate if you can.

That's not uncommon, we have some facilities that house teleco equipment that are used by other customers.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

I’ve worked on the entire range over the years but I don’t see much below 1500kw anymore.

On a side note, Murphy and his laws are alive and well. -9C and 70-90kmh wind here all night and the power has been off for 8hrs. Being a generator guy, haven’t been here long enough to have a permanently connected generator (only 8 years) so after checking the utility website and seeing the repair crew status change from enroute to onsite for a couple hours and back to enroute I figure it’s time to go get things lit.

Within 5 minutes of getting my tired old unit fired and connected power is back of course. Timed it to within 15 minutes on a 3 day outage another time just after we moved in.

 

[Industrial Toys]

That's what I found with a PTO set. Dig it out, take off current attachment, sometimes all done in the dark. Hook her up, start her up and whalla, utility power comes back on! Put everything back and put attachment back on tractor. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad thing to have. Depends how spoiled you want to be.

 

[LouNY]

I have my pto unit mounted on a trailer setup.
During the winter it is parked right where I would need it with a piece of heavy plastic
providing weather protection.
Back up hook up the pto, hook up the power cable,
engage the pto, bring the rpm up throw the switch.

As seen and then needing to be broomed off to be used.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Isn't winter fun?

I have never seen tire chains that perfect.

 

[daugen]

Lou, nice setup. I could not hook up that pto shaft in cold weather, no way it would go on for me...
Everything seems harder in the cold and ice.

 

[LouNY]

I pull the pto shaft apart and clean the grease off in the fall,
and lube it with various spray lubes makes the shaft much easier to
extend and retract, doose the coupler with the same.
Then repeat in the spring with grease.
Those chains go on quite well and I have had some practice putting them on,
2 to 6 sets once or twice a year, a couple of sets several times a year.

 

[3930dave]

I致e worked on the entire range over the years but I don稚 see much below 1500kw anymore.

On a side note, Murphy and his laws are alive and well. -9C and 70-90kmh wind here all night and the power has been off for 8hrs. Being a generator guy, haven稚 been here long enough to have a permanently connected generator (only 8 years) so after checking the utility website and seeing the repair crew status change from enroute to onsite for a couple hours and back to enroute I figure it痴 time to go get things lit.

Within 5 minutes of getting my tired old unit fired and connected power is back of course. Timed it to within 15 minutes on a 3 day outage another time just after we moved in.

Since you understand this tech intimately CM, perhaps you can clear up the big mystery.....

How did one tired old generator fix an entire grid ????

Rgds, D.