Generator Dummy Load

[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