My generator was running great until I suspect a little extra load tripped the breaker on the unit. I pushed it in, felt a click, assumed that was the problem. However when started there was no power in the house. When I checked the generator outlets the 110 volt worked, nothing on the 220 volt. I tested voltage and found 120 volts from ground terminal to each leg. From neutral to one leg 120, neutral to other leg nothing. While testing with volt-ohm meter, voltage came back, no idea why. 4 wire plug looks perfect, no signs of burning. I don't feel I can depend on the unit now, anyone have any ideas?
Troubleshoot voltage on Generac 4000XL
- Thread starter richdell
- Start date
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
You overloaded it. Probibly had a heat shunt on the 240 side that reset after it cooled down. You only have something like 17 amps available at 240 side. Cant power too much. What were you running with it?
but im a home standby unit tech, not a portable gen guy. Im just guessing here.
but im a home standby unit tech, not a portable gen guy. Im just guessing here.
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ROUSTABOUT
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Swap the breakers out with each other and see if other side is hot. I have never overloaded one, been careful about that. Just fixed a 150.000 watt, or 150 kw. I have two big ones here and a small 5 kw I keep a big one with an Allis Chalmers 6 cylinder because it will do 3 phase.
The troubleshooting I did was the next day. It should have been cooled enough by then. As I stated, it's working now, I'm concerned about reliability the next time I need it. It would be nice to find something to fix!
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
In that case, have no idea. I know these generators should have a switch that choses between 120 and 240 volt output…maybe the issue is in the switch.
Halftrack
Platinum Member
I would have thought the breaker you reset should have been a double pole lever breaker. You may have reset one side and not the other. Remember, you have to shut both off to reset them.
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
dont know if this series uses breakers or those push in fuses.
Diggin It
Super Star Member
These are small portable units. Doesn't look like they're intended to power very much.
If those buttons on the upper left are the breakers, one may be bad.
But I sure wouldn't trust anything like a freezer on a unit like that.
If those buttons on the upper left are the breakers, one may be bad.
But I sure wouldn't trust anything like a freezer on a unit like that.