Your last generator Maintenance Run

[daugen]

Have no idea how the Westinghouse units operate. I mainly work with whole house systems. But if it were me, id stick with the propane side of it. I swear you would not believe how clean plugs and oil look after 100 hours run time on propane compared to a gas engine.

I agree, my biggest challenge in checking the oil on my Generacs was I couldn't tell the oil level as the oil was so clear. I learned to use a blue paper towel and lay the dipstick on that.

 

[3930dave]

was wondering how long the Westinghouse generator I'm planning on getting would run on propane and would a 20 pound tank be big enough.
Apparently it is, they quote 7 hours of run time on propane and 12 on gasoline. Seems the best solution is to get a couple of 30 pound tanks, which is all I can pick up, have them filled, and then use gas if/when they run out. Generator says one can switch fuels on the fly without interruption which sounds good. Even using non ethanol gas, if I can, I'd rather keep the gasoline out of the gen until I need it. GRS, you would know this, when you throw the lever from one fuel to another, does that utilize a different carburetor path entirely? Hard to imagine the same carb for gasoline would work for propane.

A while back, I think it was Nik who posted the parts he used to build a manifold for 2 propane tanks on his portable gen. Similar setup on most small camper trailers. 2x30# would give you almost 24 hours, not bad.

Clean, clean, clean....... when I was young, an older buddy was talking with one of the mechanics at the local propane delivery company. He had taken the head off one of their old delivery trucks (broken valve spring) that they ran on propane, said the head was still as clean as the day it was built.

Rgds, D.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Dave. Regulator was totally disconnected. First tried just a variable PSU to deliver field voltage. Is that why his alternator is so HUGE? Seems to require miniscule field voltage or current to get good o/p.

He is still worried about all manner of Diodes and such. I told him that if he got good output substituting a PSU for the VR, then everything in the alternator is OK. I hope I was correct in this summation of the problem.

 

[3930dave]

Dave. Regulator was totally disconnected. First tried just a variable PSU to deliver field voltage. Is that why his alternator is so HUGE? Seems to require miniscule field voltage or current to get good o/p.

He is still worried about all manner of Diodes and such. I told him that if he got good output substituting a PSU for the VR, then everything in the alternator is OK. I hope I was correct in this summation of the problem.

I haven't played with gen internals enough to know how normal that low voltage is..... somebody may drop by who does know.....

Let us know how this progresses.

Rgds, D.

 

[grsthegreat]

I cant help you either. I know the generac only uses a 10vdc Field flash charge (Minimum) to initiate electrical production. Im not sure what other units need.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Any voltage regulator will only supply the field voltage necessary to maintain output. Without load this is typically 9-12 volts for most all generators when turning at their rates rpm. That’s a basic test for most any alternator - apply 12 volts and you should get near nominal voltage.

The voltage regulator increases the field when the output drops either due to loading or rpm decreasing. The AVR output voltage rating is the maximum it will produce so it will work in any application up to that field voltage. The more important rating is the field resistance which must fall within the specs of the AVR or it will have a very short life. Brush or brushless, 900, 1200, 1800 or 3600 rpm makes no difference.

Field flash is mostly used on small units, particularly 3600 rpm which are more likely to have insufficient residual magnetism to generate the needed voltage to get the AVR fired up due to the small amount of iron in the rotor.

 

[check]

was wondering how long the Westinghouse generator I'm planning on getting would run on propane and would a 20 pound tank be big enough.
Apparently it is, they quote 7 hours of run time on propane and 12 on gasoline. Seems the best solution is to get a couple of 30 pound tanks, which is all I can pick up, have them filled, and then use gas if/when they run out. Generator says one can switch fuels on the fly without interruption which sounds good. Even using non ethanol gas, if I can, I'd rather keep the gasoline out of the gen until I need it. GRS, you would know this, when you throw the lever from one fuel to another, does that utilize a different carburetor path entirely? Hard to imagine the same carb for gasoline would work for propane.

I just got one of those dual fuel Westinghouse generators, and a 100 lb. propane tank from Costco. Will last 40 hours. Weighs 170 lbs. full, however - use your tractor to move it!

 

[BrokenTrack]

was wondering how long the Westinghouse generator I'm planning on getting would run on propane and would a 20 pound tank be big enough.

It is not so much of a matter of how long it will operate on a tank, but will it operate at all if the temperature gets low. So, I am not really sure I can answer that because it depends on how cold it gets where you live.

If it does get cold where you live, and the power goes out because of a blizzard, then the cold temps may not allow the propane to convert to a gas fast enough, and with the high volume consumption of an engine, a small tank may not be big enough to provide for your generator's fuel needs. But there are a lot of other factors involved in that then just having too small of a tank.

 

[daugen]

Westinghouse pictures show a 20 pound tank being used, and while they are everywhere, everywhere, I don't mind taking a 30 pounder out in my car to get refilled.
But...sold my tractor and my truck, so anything larger isn't in the cards. Gen would be kept in unheated garage, and PA winters can get down to zero. On really cold days I could put a small heater next to the gen and tanks and keep them warmer. Would put tank in garden cart and wheel it over to house. Broken track, yes understand cold weather vaporization issues but average winter temps are more likely in the twenties instead of zero. Of course Murphy arrives in the coldest, worst weather...
I had a 1000 gallon propane tank at my last house, didn't have to worry about this for sure, now moving into rental home which is fuel oil and electric, unfortunately.

The problem with smaller tanks is gas company won't send a truck out to fill them, so either you go large, or small enough to carry.

 

[3930dave]

Any voltage regulator will only supply the field voltage necessary to maintain output. Without load this is typically 9-12 volts for most all generators when turning at their rates rpm. That’s a basic test for most any alternator - apply 12 volts and you should get near nominal voltage.

The voltage regulator increases the field when the output drops either due to loading or rpm decreasing. The AVR output voltage rating is the maximum it will produce so it will work in any application up to that field voltage. The more important rating is the field resistance which must fall within the specs of the AVR or it will have a very short life. Brush or brushless, 900, 1200, 1800 or 3600 rpm makes no difference.

Field flash is mostly used on small units, particularly 3600 rpm which are more likely to have insufficient residual magnetism to generate the needed voltage to get the AVR fired up due to the small amount of iron in the rotor.

411 provided, thanks.

Rgds, D.