Genny

[Jimoz]

Feeling brave after my fix on the wacker is there anything I can do with my old genny. It runs fine, starts easy enough but when I plug tools in they are not running well. The motor sounds fine its not struggling but its like its not putting out enough power to the tool. AI is giving me a few things to check or fix. Is it easy enough to do these?

We had these power packs on hire the other month in the hospital they were mint but cost a fortune to buy

 

[V8Druid]

Feeling brave after my fix on the wacker is there anything I can do with my old genny. It runs fine, starts easy enough but when I plug tools in they are not running well. The motor sounds fine its not struggling but its like its not putting out enough power to the tool. AI is giving me a few things to check or fix. Is it easy enough to do these?

We had these power packs on hire the other month in the hospital they were mint but cost a fortune to buy

all pretty straight forward stuff Jim .... have a look at the commutator first -- if the copper surface isn't 'shiny', coudl well be an oxidisation issue - also check the brushes for free movement and length ..... AVR is, as said, a POP to swap out

 

[Jimoz]

Well after a more in-depth chat with AI and photos of the plate on the Genny it ended up telling me different. I've now ordered a new capacitor. While out there i've checked the oil and its black and about 1/3 up the dipstick so found the drain plug for this so will drain off and change. Probably wait till new capacitor is here and its powering tools ok with that.

It was running okay but we had a breaker plugged into it Friday and it was noticeably underpowered

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Well after a more in-depth chat with AI and photos of the plate on the Genny it ended up telling me different. I've now ordered a new capacitor. While out there i've checked the oil and its black and about 1/3 up the dipstick so found the drain plug for this so will drain off and change. Probably wait till new capacitor is here and its powering tools ok with that.

It was running okay but we had a breaker plugged into it Friday and it was noticeably underpowered

I know nowt about generators, but do know capacitors fairly easy to test with correct multimeter (we test them on oil boilers all the time)

I also find AI too bloody helpful. I like to ask (argue) it questions about why the fault I think is the issue shouldn’t be the cause. It will agree with you far too easily .

 

[V8Druid]

Well after a more in-depth chat with AI and photos of the plate on the Genny it ended up telling me different. I've now ordered a new capacitor. While out there i've checked the oil and its black and about 1/3 up the dipstick so found the drain plug for this so will drain off and change. Probably wait till new capacitor is here and its powering tools ok with that.

It was running okay but we had a breaker plugged into it Friday and it was noticeably underpowered

's 'cos it's only 2 Kva .... breaker'll draw more than 2000w .... would struggle with a 2kw 9" grinder
alright for drills, saws, lights, etc.
I've a 2.4Kva, Hodna which'll just about run a 9" ... runs the boiler fine when the leccy is off though

 

[Lancs Lad]

's 'cos it's only 2 Kva .... breaker'll draw more than 2000w .... would struggle with a 2kw 9" grinder
alright for drills, saws, lights, etc.
I've a 2.4Kva, Hodna which'll just about run a 9" ... runs the boiler fine when the leccy is off though

Nail on head

 

[Jimoz]

I know nowt about generators, but do know capacitors fairly easy to test with correct multimeter (we test them on oil boilers all the time)

I also find AI too bloody helpful. I like to ask (argue) it questions about why the fault I think is the issue shouldn’t be the cause. It will agree with you far too easily .

Yeh sometimes I have to tell it not to be afraid to offend me.

Its not a problem in this case though because I had no idea what to suggest.

 

[Jimoz]

's 'cos it's only 2 Kva .... breaker'll draw more than 2000w .... would struggle with a 2kw 9" grinder
alright for drills, saws, lights, etc.
I've a 2.4Kva, Hodna which'll just about run a 9" ... runs the boiler fine when the leccy is off though

So do these capacitors wear out or are they either working or not working? As in if the tools are getting power from the genny its working.

 

[V8Druid]

So do these capacitors wear out or are they either working or not working? As in if the tools are getting power from the genny its working.

a AI said, they do degrade (or explode even ) but if it's nadgered it won't excite the genny and you'll get no output ... the fact it wouldn't run an overload/ran it badly would indicate power is being generated .... could try poking a bare lead with a finger - or running something of a more suitable size for the 2 Kva capacity

 

[Jimoz]

Yeh i mean it wasn't a massive breaker just a small one but does work better plugged in to the wall. I will take the chance for how easy they are to swap. Unfortunately dont have a multi meter. I do have a moisture content meter though

 

[Stroppymonkey]

a AI said, they do degrade (or explode even ) but if it's nadgered it won't excite the genny and you'll get no output ... the fact it wouldn't run an overload/ran it badly would indicate power is being generated .... could try poking a bare lead with a finger - or running something of a more suitable size for the 2 Kva capacity

Do like in the videos - stick the ends into a bucket of water to see how long it takes to boil 🫣

 

[Gecko]

So do these capacitors wear out or are they either working or not working?

This type of cap is quite similar to a lead acid battery in the way it works. As they age, the electrolyte dries out and/or deteriorates, so yes, the capacitance drops off and the gens output drops - same as the run cap on a motor.

I bought a cheap 2kVA with a briggs engine. Seemed to work fine, but tools had no power. A quick test of the output shows only 160V. A new cap and it was back at full capacity.
Once I had it working, I realised it was too small and replaced it with a 6kVA diesel

 

[Jimoz]

Well I changed it today. What a waste of time. Doesn't seem any different power to me. Suppose I'd need a multi meter to be certain but if the tools don't seem anymore powerful then what's the point?! Changed the oil too. It only runs well on half choke so probably needs carb changing too but not convinced it would make it any more powerful so will just leave it for how often it gets used. Good to have in back of garage for odd time but obviously need a bigger one like @Gecko if want decent power.

 

[Gecko]

Sorry to hear it. To be fair, the cap was a likely candidate.
When you say it needs half choke, is it reaching full revs? Inverter gens are good at low revs, but our old-school gens need full revs.
Most likely the jets have some debris in it/them.

 

[Jimoz]

Tbf it probably has improved it if you measured on a multi meter? That old one was ancient. Just didn't seem noticeably different running tools. Obviously was just expecting too much from 2kw.

I think its reaching full revs. When I put a big load on it like hoover or extractor it fires up more then settles down. When i start it have on full choke then as it warms up knock it down to half. Anymore and seems to want to give up.

 

[V8Druid]

Tbf it probably has improved it if you measured on a multi meter? That old one was ancient. Just didn't seem noticeably different running tools. Obviously was just expecting too much from 2kw.

I think its reaching full revs. When I put a big load on it like hoover or extractor it fires up more then settles down. When i start it have on full choke then as it warms up knock it down to half. Anymore and seems to want to give up.

try draining the float bowl - might be half full of water and starving of fuel on full chat