Your last generator Maintenance Run

[check]

My 20 kw, Aurora uses a Milbank Vigilant ATS and everything stays on when it transfers during the monthly test or manually testing.

Hmmm. I wonder if Kohler generators do that?

 

[daugen]

Interesting point, my two year old Generac 22kw does not have any load whatsoever; main breaker does not trip, it just starts up and runs at about 60-80% normal rpm, definitely slower than normal, for noise issues I'm sure.
So there is no loading whatsoever going on. Thats the bad news. The good news, sort of, is I lose all power often enough the gen gets a full load workout at least once per month. but it does remind me to run it all manual once in a while if the power hasn't gone out in a few months. Fast idling it will get temps up but not the exercise I think we all want.

 

[Dakota_male]

Hmmm. I wonder if Kohler generators do that?

I would think that it does providing it has the ats.(auto transfer switch)
i think only the higher ampere ats have a mid transfer delay (park) to unload compressors on heat pump etc.

 

[grsthegreat]

You guys with residential auto start generators. Is your switch gears not able to load your generator during test runs?

The 80KW diesel generator at the chicken coops gets test loaded every week. Switch gear starts generator, lets it come up to speed and transfers, placing load on generator for about 15 minutes, then a 15 minute cool down before it shuts down generator. The switch is fast enough that the lights don't even blink unless I'm close to max draw. The computers/alarm system don't even register the switch.

But it got a 2 hour exercise Thursday night when the line fell in the neighbors woods. At 10pm. Load around 50 amps. Little birds+cold weather=light load.

They have no way to switch loads unless utility fails. Customers dont want to have to reset all their clocks once a week.....i work on units starting weekly for past 10 years and they run just fine. I dont see any issues with non load runs as they dont run very long (older units 12 minutes, newer units 5 minutes)

 

[Dakota_male]

I wouldn't worry if the generator is kept in a dry place with just running a gas engine. Outside with our weather swings they tend to sweat when it goes above freezing so warming the generator with some load is a good thing and to dry out the housing if it is contained in one. Running the diesel without loading can creat wet stacking. A new Diesel engine without load just glazes the cylinder walls and ring never seat properly.

 

[clemsonfor]

I ran it a few weeks ago as a maintence run, and I used it in the woods this weekend for power while putting a new roof on a deer stand. Yesterday I did an oil change for the first time in a few years. Maybe a dozen hours or so on it total.

 

[Looking4new]

I run the carb empty on my genny every time I shut it down. I find that if when I want to fire it up, I turn on the gas, then check the oil, choke it and pull it over one or two times half heartedly (never expecting it to start) then hit the Electric start. She fires right up.

 

[Rocky J]

Interesting point about the plugs - not what I would have expected. Then again, air cooled generators are tougher on plugs in general than most automotive applications.

Years ago when propane was more of an option on vehicles here, cold-start (re. vapourization) on those older systems below -30C was often an issue, but I suspect daugen wasn't near those temperatures.

Good point on the vacuum aspect. With propane my guess is there is less of a chance of the fuel being directly contaminated with water, but that is only a guess. I know my MC has a vacuum operated fuel petcock, I wonder if daugen's auto-gen is similar. My bike takes extra cranking after sitting all Winter, to prime the fuel line..... really need to move a MityVac up my Tools to Buy list....

Rgds, D.

Was there a reason people move away from the propane on the cars there in Canada, Propane prices? They are back to putting it on school buses and county gas powered pickups here. Public transportation is 100% Natural Gas . The Dairy north of me run there Semi tankers on methane gas from there own Digestor . The Interstate I65 has natural gas fueling station spaced out . We have gotten so many wind turbines in the last 10 years I doubt any body knows how many are here now, natural gas prices had to come down to compete with them to generate electricity.

 

[Industrial Toys]

If my (ASCO) switch transfers over in summer conditions, the genny may see a 300 watt load, IF the fridge is running. So, just by virtue of a transfer, doesn't mean you have any appreciable load.

Keeping a genny heated is an invitation for mice.

A heard about alternators that have a winding that is heated to keep moisture at bay. That is a great idea.

 

[daugen]

They have no way to switch loads unless utility fails. Customers dont want to have to reset all their clocks once a week.....i work on units starting weekly for past 10 years and they run just fine. I dont see any issues with non load runs as they dont run very long (older units 12 minutes, newer units 5 minutes)

I thought the whole idea of running the gen was to warm up the motor to bake off moisture both inside and out.
A load test tests the electric end and I suppose the motor under much greater load, but unless Generac sells a plug and play load module to
test the electric end, seems that test will come when the utility's power conks out. I was away for a week and came back today with the stove light flashing. Power went out for some reason, will find out from my neighbor for how long.
Whenever I lose power for real, in a storm, or something that will likely be extended, I load my gen down pretty well, considering I'm running
three hvac systems including one heat pump. So it gets a real workout during the summer and winter if the power goes out. What I need to do is test the voltage when under full load out of any interior receptacle. Easy to do and a good indicator that systems are up to snuff.