Your last generator Maintenance Run

[check]

you could, but why bother. All you need to do is open the transfer switch and turn off the 200 amp breaker. The gen will start and transfer a real load.

Yup. That's what I do. And I just have to reset the clock on the stove and the microwave after.

 

[check]

Yup. That's what I do. And I just have to reset the clock on the stove and the microwave after.

Oh, and we turn on the oven and a few other things in order to give the generator a bit of a load.

 

[farmer2009]

There are automatic transfer switches, but that gets expensive for the avg homeowner....

Yeah. Replaced a 400amp auto switch that will load with weekly test. 5k 9 years ago. That would be a hard sell to a home owner.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

When i did power system design yrs ago, auto sync transfer switches was all i used. This was for 10-20 MW generator systems.

 

[grsthegreat]

Good, that's exactly what I do for my 22kw. Oil changes are strictly for condensation issues, my oil is always so clean it's actually hard to read it on the dipstick. And I go every two years on filter and plug, though the air filter looks completely new after two years. Wonder if I can go another year on that. Spark plugs on propane look pretty new too.

The air cleaner and plugs are generally always very clean...even with 400 hours on them. Gots to love propane. Technically you only need to replace plugs and air filter every 4 years or 400 actual run hours. I do mine every 2 years...heck the kits like $16.00 so its not an issue. Id rather be safe for my own unit.

 

[daugen]

I understand the air filters are cheap, but they aren't recyclable
so they are just going in some land fill. Same thing with spark plugs.
No sense throwing out perfectly good parts. I'm old enough to remember when cleaning spark plugs
was a common thing. We just didn't throw things out as fast years ago it seems.

In a non dusty environment with limited annual run
hours, I'm thinking that 4 year spec makes sense. Thanks.
Regardless annually the air filter ought to get inspected and make sure the intake area is clean.
Inside that cover, my unit just doesn't get dirty at all. The last one didn't either.

 

[3930dave]

you could, but why bother. All you need to do is open the transfer switch and turn off the 200 amp breaker. The gen will start and transfer a real load.

I trust your description, I'm just not picturing clearly the wiring involved..... this is an automatic transfer switch - No ?

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

I understand the air filters are cheap, but they aren't recyclable
so they are just going in some land fill. Same thing with spark plugs.
No sense throwing out perfectly good parts. I'm old enough to remember when cleaning spark plugs
was a common thing. We just didn't throw things out as fast years ago it seems.

In a non dusty environment with limited annual run
hours, I'm thinking that 4 year spec makes sense. Thanks.
Regardless annually the air filter ought to get inspected and make sure the intake area is clean.
Inside that cover, my unit just doesn't get dirty at all. The last one didn't either.

I've come to respect the volume of junk that mice can pack into an air intake.... very small engines might be safe, but any air-box bigger than that is at risk, IMO.....

A fully enclosed and screened gen may be safe, but mice get into the darndest places.....

Rgds, D.

 

[grsthegreat]

I trust your description, I'm just not picturing clearly the wiring involved..... this is an automatic transfer switch - No ?

Rgds, D.

there are 10 conductors that run between a generac whole house gen and the transfer switch. 4 wires carry power produced by the generator. 2 wires are current sensing wires and also provide the power needed for winter kit. These 2 wires tell the generator that the utility power is or isnt available. There is 1 wire for battery charging circuit. There are 3 wires transferring 12 volt power that is used to transfer power within the switch. These power the actual transfer mechagnism.

When you physically turn off the 200 amp breaker within the transfer switch, the generator thinks utility power has been lost. In 6 seconds the generator starts up, 15 seconds (or so) the transfer switch flips and the generator powers house.

Thus is how you would support a load during exercise. The generator cannot be programmed to transfer power automatically during regular exercise periods.

 

[farmer2009]

Grs.

Do the generac units sense power on both legs? Like say you loose one side of your 240 do you have to be lucky and have the correct leg blow. Or will the generator switch if either leg drops.

The old 200 amp switch gear I replaced only sensed one leg. If you lost the other one no auto transfer. New 400 amp gear senses both and will start if either is lost.

I ask because I had it happen. When I had a meter melt. It was a clip in meter and the clips aged and melted the meter and the aluminum busses off one side. Along with several feet of feeder wire insulation. Was not residential. 400 amp rated meter. But is fed as a 300 amp service. My side is wired true 400 utility is not. Now have a bolt in meter.