Generator Dummy Load

[07wingnut]

I would consider buying a battery backup (APC) for your electronic devices, and then let the generator power the house. If you need the generator to run the house during an outage, how are you going to get on TBN if you have to unplug your electronics when operating on a generator?
Just seems like a better investment than buying/building a load bank to run the generator on an exercise day.
David from jax

What is the problem with running your house and electronics from a generator? I have been doing this nigh onto 40 years and have yet to experience a problem with electronic devices. Inquiring minds would like to know if there is a reason for this idea that generators kill electronics.

 

[mjonesnh]

I just use 2 1500 watt space heaters on my 240 generators. 1 is a 5000 inverter and 1 is a 3500 plain old style generator, Have a 1700 inverter that gates 1 1500 watt heater

 

[bdhsfz6]

What is the problem with running your house and electronics from a generator? I have been doing this nigh onto 40 years and have yet to experience a problem with electronic devices. Inquiring minds would like to know if there is a reason for this idea that generators kill electronics.

The generator power is clean and all the electronics work fine. It's the momentary power loss during the switchover that causes the problems. A dozen or more clocks need to be reset. The satellite receiver recycles and is down for 15 minutes during reboot and any recordings in progress are lost. Some of our older electronic devices do not have non volatile memory and need to be reprogrammed as well.

We have UPC's on the computers and we're are slowly upgrading our clocks and other devices as they fail but for now, it's a hassle every time the power goes out. The grid goes down often enough and I don't need the aggravation of causing one during a generator exercise.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I would consider buying a battery backup (APC) for your electronic devices, and then let the generator power the house. If you need the generator to run the house during an outage, how are you going to get on TBN if you have to unplug your electronics when operating on a generator?
Just seems like a better investment than buying/building a load bank to run the generator on an exercise day.
David from jax

We have UPC's on the computers but it wouldn't be practical to install them on all our devices. We have a dozen digital clocks with no battery backup that all need to be reset. Many other older devices are affected as well.

 

[nyone]

I built a very crude load bank when I was buying/selling military generators. It's a box fan with two 5kw dryer elements attached to it. With large spade terminals I can do 2.5kw, 5kw or 10kw. Cost was less than $50. I have a diesel liquid cooled generator so dont need to run it very often at all.

For smaller gas generators il run a 1500w heater for a bit. Generaly this is only after I have fixed any running issues.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I have a diesel liquid cooled generator so dont need to run it very often at all.

For smaller gas generators il run a 1500w heater for a bit. Generaly this is only after I have fixed any running issues.

Is there a reason why larger liquid cooled generators don't need to be run more often than smaller gas powered units?

The specs on my liquid cooled 11KW diesel say to run it every two months or so at least at half load.

 

[ssgp2]

Is there a reason why larger liquid cooled generators don't need to be run more often than smaller gas powered units?

The specs on my liquid cooled 11KW diesel say to run it every two months or so at least at half load.

I think he is probably referring to the fact the diesel is fuel injected and the gas has a carburetor, magneto etc. which as you know has a tendency to be finicky if left unused for any extended amount of time

 

[grsthegreat]

SOME generators run clean, others, not so much. I maintain lots of whole house air cooled units, and they all exercise unloaded. That being said, where i live, we have so man6 power outages most of them see real loaded use often enough.

The power outputed by these run most electronics without issue, except for some high end HVAC AND HEAT PUMPS? . Some brands just dont want to run on generator power.

Portable generators is a whole other issue. Ive seen some of these with 25%+ distortion. I would not want to run my electronics on these.

 

[grsthegreat]

The generator power is clean and all the electronics work fine. It's the momentary power loss during the switchover that causes the problems. A dozen or more clocks need to be reset. The satellite receiver recycles and is down for 15 minutes during reboot and any recordings in progress are lost. Some of our older electronic devices do not have non volatile memory and need to be reprogrammed as well.

We have UPC's on the computers and we're are slowly upgrading our clocks and other devices as they fail but for now, it's a hassle every time the power goes out. The grid goes down often enough and I don't need the aggravation of causing one during a generator exercise.

I put my main tv and my router on ups devices so they dont need to reboot. My wifi unit monitors my generator, so if wifi cuts out, the monitor is useless. And im lazy, i dont want to wait 10 min for satellite and tv to reboot and reconnect.

 

[grsthegreat]

Is there a reason why larger liquid cooled generators don't need to be run more often than smaller gas powered units?

The specs on my liquid cooled 11KW diesel say to run it every two months or so at least at half load.

Running diesel generators unloaded isnt recommended. Running gas operated units isnt as big of an issue.

On the air cooled units i maintain i generally set them for weekly exercise. The newer units only run for 5 minuteds, but the older units run for 12 to 15, so i set the older models for monthly if possible.

 

[Robin Veerman]

I have a portable Honda EM6500SX and I run it monthly for about 30 minutes with a 4500 watt shop heater plugged into it. This load is about 2/3rds of its maximum. Is this too hard on it? It gives a nice grunt when I turn it on, after a warmup, and handles it well without any sense of straining.

 

[grsthegreat]

I dont think it would harm anything. Starting any large load gets a grunt from generator. Heck, even on residential power a largish load can dim the lights for a second.

 

[steve tym]

When I excersise my diesel, I turn up the hot tub and turn on my electric heated kitchen floor. Puts a pretty good load on. Actually had a 90 amp load a couple weeks ago.

 

[GMIslander]

Put the welder on it. I'm not regular but it works when I need it.
Here is a picture of the head gasket and one valve from the diesels I worked on when I was 18 yrs to 30yrs.
This unit was 420 hp per cylinder 514 RPM I think. Four valves per cylinder turbocharged intercooled. A real nice unit Mirrlees. Generators.

 

[Tx Jim]

Running diesel generators unloaded isnt recommended. Running gas operated units isnt as big of an issue.

If I'm understanding you correctly you're implying that one can exercise a gasoline powered generator for short periods of time without a load with no harm done to the actual electrical generation parts. I have a Predator 9500 invertor type generator. I read operators manual & located no explanation of my question
Thank you

 

[grsthegreat]

If I'm understanding you correctly you're implying that one can exercise a gasoline powered generator for short periods of time without a load with no harm done to the actual electrical generation parts. I have a Predator 9500 invertor type generator. I read operators manual & located no explanation of my question
Thank you

millions upon millions of home GAS powered standby generators run their weekly or monthly exercises WITHOUT ANY LOAD on the alternators. it is the commercial units, like hospitals, that are required to run loaded tests.

diesels have issues with running low or no loaded testing, as they dont build up any heat running so slow.. wet stacking. its caused by running long periods lightly loaded. the engines dont use spark plugs so the cooler running temps lead to incomplete combustion.

I usually recommend to my clients to manually power off house at least once a year for 30+ minutes and run house load under generator. Preferably before winter. this is mostly to make sure everything is powering up and running ok prior to winter months.

Otherwise the generator will run for 5-12 minutes (depends on generator model) and WILL NOT TRANSFER THE LOAD, every week , bimonthly or monthly.

 

[LittleBill21]

I am going to buck the trend here. I never exercise. Ever. I own 5 of them. 1 Generator was an Onan 4k. It had a coil issue, and didn't run for 7 years. Fixed the coil. went full load within 10 minutes. 0 issue. my inverter suitcase get the gas drained and oil changed and they wait. can be 2 months can be 2 years.

if I had to pull them out every month they would be in the trash. only engine/system i ever seen that says to do this.

I park cars for years at a time with no issue as well.

To each their own.

 

[MossRoad]

millions upon millions of home GAS powered standby generators run their weekly or monthly exercises WITHOUT ANY LOAD on the alternators. it is the commercial units, like hospitals, that are required to run loaded tests.

diesels have issues with running low or no loaded testing, as they dont build up any heat running so slow.. wet stacking. its caused by running long periods lightly loaded. the engines dont use spark plugs so the cooler running temps lead to incomplete combustion.

I usually recommend to my clients to manually power off house at least once a year for 30+ minutes and run house load under generator. Preferably before winter. this is mostly to make sure everything is powering up and running ok prior to winter months.

Otherwise the generator will run for 5-12 minutes (depends on generator model) and WILL NOT TRANSFER THE LOAD, every week , bimonthly or monthly.

I have to run a large generator (can't remember KW) once a month at one of my employer's facilities for half an hour. There's no load on it. Once a year, Cummins comes out and performs a load test on it.

 

[garry1p]

I just run a 1500W heater for 20 min every other month.

Previous 3500 Generac lasted 20+ years used several times a year, had a fair AC sine wave and good 60hz.

Now, Harbor Freight 3500i much cleaner output and super quiet. Haven't had to use it yet except load exercise.

 

[Tx Jim]

I am going to buck the trend here. I never exercise. Ever. I own 5 of them.

To each their own.

Thank you for your reply. I'm disabled so getting generator out of my storage building that's attached to carport then getting generator out from under carport so I can avoid any carbon monoxide problems & lower noise level of the generator then attaching cable from generator to special electrical generator outlet inside door of storage building & then changing safety switch on main electrical breaker box in my Barn dominium is very challenging for me. When I've exercised my generator after operating several minutes in the past I've turned gasoline off & let engine run out of gasoline. That practice plus gasoline stabilizer I hope will be sufficient to keep it operating if I ever need it.
Thank you, Jim