PREP Test Run Your Generator

Lone_Hawk

Lone_Hawk

Resident Spook
I test run my Honda EB6500 generator on a regular basis. It is over 10 years old and runs like a champ! I pulled it out, turned on the fuel, choke, and run switch and it started on the first pull. Then it died. My wife exclaimed, "is that gas leaking?"

The brass bolt that holds the fuel bowl on the carb sheared off and the bowl fell off. Obvious manufacture fault. $34 later I have a new one on the way.

Test your gear!
 
nebb

nebb

Veteran Member
Bought my genny in 1999, Kawasaki Powerpartner. Oil changes and 2 yrs ago needed to replace spark plug. Works great and easy to start.
 
Anti-Liberal

Anti-Liberal

Veteran Member
Yeah, I tested my Yamaha genny just to find out a rat made a bag of doritos out of my wiring harnes among other things. Then Yamaha didn't want to fix it buy informing me that it would be cheaper to buy a new one.
 
W

Walrus

Veteran Member
Lone_Hawk said:
I test run my Honda EB6500 generator on a regular basis. It is over 10 years old and runs like a champ! I pulled it out, turned on the fuel, choke, and run switch and it started on the first pull. Then it died. My wife exclaimed, "is that gas leaking?"

The brass bolt that holds the fuel bowl on the carb sheared off and the bowl fell off. Obvious manufacture fault. $34 later I have a new one on the way.

Test your gear!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the good reminder; I've been needing to run mine and just have been so busy that I've not found a round tuit.
 
day late

day late

money? whats that?
I bought my genny before 2001. I have used it very little. In 2005 hurricane Francis did a lot of damage and it was needed. It worked just fine. I must admit I ignored it for a few years. The next time I tried to start it, there were problems. First of all, the last time it ran my Father was here and when it wasn't needed anymore, he shut it down. Dad didn't tell me that he shut off the gas flow with the valve under the tank. The next time I tried to run it to keep it working, it didn't matter how many times I pulled that rope. The thing just wouldn't start. It was only after I talked with my brother (Dad had passed at that time) that he told me about the cut off valve under the tank. Once I opened that, the genny ran just fine. Gee, thanks Dad.
 
mbabulldog

mbabulldog

Inactive
Speaking of generators; has anyone dealt with trying to "clean" up the power that comes out of a generator?

I've been doing some research, and it turns out my Predator generator throws off some dirty electric.

Between my freezers and my well pump (I don't really run anything else when the generator is online), I'm not sure how much tolerance of dirty power is healthy. And secondly, how to fix it without buying a generator with an inverter built-in, which really isn't in the budget.
 
Papacub

Papacub

Veteran Member
day late said:
I bought my genny before 2001. I have used it very little. In 2005 hurricane Francis did a lot of damage and it was needed. It worked just fine. I must admit I ignored it for a few years. The next time I tried to start it, there were problems. First of all, the last time it ran my Father was here and when it wasn't needed anymore, he shut it down. Dad didn't tell me that he shut off the gas flow with the valve under the tank. The next time I tried to run it to keep it working, it didn't matter how many times I pulled that rope. The thing just wouldn't start. It was only after I talked with my brother (Dad had passed at that time) that he told me about the cut off valve under the tank. Once I opened that, the genny ran just fine. Gee, thanks Dad.
Click to expand...

Sorry Day late, but I agree with your dad, always turn the fuel off!
 
T

Tripod

Veteran Member
mbabulldog said:
Speaking of generators; has anyone dealt with trying to "clean" up the power that comes out of a generator?

I've been doing some research, and it turns out my Predator generator throws off some dirty electric.

Between my freezers and my well pump (I don't really run anything else when the generator is online), I'm not sure how much tolerance of dirty power is healthy. And secondly, how to fix it without buying a generator with an inverter built-in, which really isn't in the budget.
Click to expand...
AC motors are pretty tolerant of less than perfect power.
Things that have a motherboard (computers, late model appliances, flat screen tv) have a switch mode power supply that's highly regulated and filtered.
Mike
 
Southside

Southside

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I also have a Honda Inverter knock-off.
1,700 watts, good for my 3 freezers & a fridge(separately, of course). When I am not running it on a regular basis, I use the long shelf life fuel in it. that way, it doesn't fail me when I need it. If I run it regular, I use regular garbage gas.
 
Lone_Hawk

Lone_Hawk

Resident Spook
mbabulldog said:
Speaking of generators; has anyone dealt with trying to "clean" up the power that comes out of a generator?

I've been doing some research, and it turns out my Predator generator throws off some dirty electric.

Between my freezers and my well pump (I don't really run anything else when the generator is online), I'm not sure how much tolerance of dirty power is healthy. And secondly, how to fix it without buying a generator with an inverter built-in, which really isn't in the budget.
Click to expand...

The only appliance I have ever had a problem with was this damn coffee pot my ex-wife loved. Got rid of her and the pot and have never had another problem with TVs, computers, or appliances.
 
TerriHaute

TerriHaute

Hoosier Gardener
We have a Champion 3000 that we use with our RV when we boondock. I'm not sure I have the upper-body strength to start it with the pull-cord, but it also starts with a remote that is like a key fob. This works out great when we are camping, because it means we don't have to get dressed and go outside to start it if it is raining or early in the morning. I use it to start the camper coffee maker for breakfast. DH test runs it once a month if it hasn't been recently used.
 
Samuel Adams

Samuel Adams

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Or do propane......and don’t worry about it.

Even though....purchased new....Miller 10,000 watt.....sits stationary in the shop.....developed a strong oil leak over nothing.

:)


I will be trusting mechanical technology as far as I can throw it, long term, following “the crash”.
 
Jeff B.

Jeff B.

Don’t let the Piss Ants get you down…
Great reminder. A genny is one thing we don’t have. I’ve delayed getting one as we’ve been looking at retiring to the SE and I figured we’d install a whole house or buy a property with one already.

Things as they are, we’re pushing that move out 18 - 25 months. I’m putting a portable on the priority list. As far as gas engines go, I learned, the hard way about periodically starting and running anything with a gas engine.

Jeff B.
 
Millwright

Millwright

Knuckle Dragger
_______________
Jeff B. said:
Great reminder. A genny is one thing we don’t have. I’ve delayed getting one as we’ve been looking at retiring to the SE and I figured we’d install a whole house or buy a property with one already.

Things as they are, we’re pushing that move out 18 - 25 months. I’m putting a portable on the priority list. As far as gas engines go, I learned, the hard way about periodically starting and running anything with a gas engine.

Jeff B.
Click to expand...

I'd start with a little 2kw-3kw portable.

It will keep the freezer & beer cold with a little power management.

You can take it with you.

Handy to run the blender at remote locations too. :D
 
Samuel Adams

Samuel Adams

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Millwright said:
beer cold
Click to expand...

Now see normally I would call that a low blow...BUT......there is the spring well that remains quite refreshing of temp, through the worst of the heat waves, so.....

Besides, who gunna have beer three months in where diesel hit ten bux ?
 
Samuel Adams

Samuel Adams

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Millwright said:
I'd start with a little 2kw-3kw portable.

It will keep the freezer & beer cold with a little power management.

You can take it with you.

Handy to run the blender at remote locations too. :D
Click to expand...

The blender I see the need for, couple weeks in......comes with a 12 yard tub, a conveyer for discharge, and a 600 hp Diesel engine.


:whistle:
 
W

wab54

Veteran Member
kytom said:
thanks for the reminder. i have mine filled with avgas so i dont have to worry about it gumming up. small planes can sit for years with no worrying about fuel quality.
Click to expand...

You can use 100ll avgas in your coleman stove and lantern. Avgas lasts for a long time.

WAB
 
db cooper

db cooper

Resident Secret Squirrel
Our Generac 10KW does an automatic start every two weeks, if there is a failure a warning light comes on. This auto start does nothing but run the engine. The generator does not connect to the home.

Once a month, at least, I trip the main commercial power breaker to simulate an actual power outage. This is the real test, to see if the generator will carry the house load. If the SHTF, our power use plan would hopefully get 5 months of run time out of the propane tanks, assuming they were full when it starts.

Those of you running your generators, I recommend doing a load test like we do. Just because the engine runs does not mean there are no faults in the power generating part of that generator. Put the heaviest load on as possible for several minutes to see if the engine can pull the load or if breakers trip, or if voltage is low, etc.

We used to do a lot of camping and paid attention to generators. The best small ones appear to be Honda, Generac and Cummins/Onan. Champion and some of the other Chinese crap gives the RV'ers endless troubles.
 
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Millwright

Millwright

Knuckle Dragger
_______________
db cooper said:
Our Generac 10KW does an automatic start every two weeks, if there is a failure a warning light comes on. This auto start does nothing but run the engine. The generator does not connect to the home.

Once a month, at least, I trip the main commercial power breaker to simulate an actual power outage. This is the real test, to see if the generator will carry the house load. If the SHTF, our power use plan would hopefully get 5 months of run time out of the propane tanks, assuming they were full when it starts.
Click to expand...

There might be a setting to test with load, if you want it to.
 
db cooper

db cooper

Resident Secret Squirrel
Millwright said:
There might be a setting to test with load, if you want it to.
Click to expand...
To be honest with you, I never read the manual. The electrician is the one that set it up and taught us how to use it.

But mechanically (actually electrically) I cannot see how this would be done, for the Generac system would have to trip the commercial power with a relay, and such a relay does not exist. We have our commercial power panel, and right beside it is the Generac panel. The circuits we want to run by generator are wired from our main panel to the Generac. I like that system, for if a person wants to conserve propane, certain circuits can be left out, such as our AC, outside lights, etc.
 
ShadowMan

ShadowMan

Designated Grumpy Old Fart
Our Generac is set up to test itself once a month. We have enough blackouts regularly (windy conditions &/or power line repairs and updating) that it gets a chance to run under load at least every other month. Although I should check my two back up gennies.
 
Millwright

Millwright

Knuckle Dragger
_______________
db cooper said:
To be honest with you, I never read the manual. The electrician is the one that set it up and taught us how to use it.

But mechanically (actually electrically) I cannot see how this would be done, for the Generac system would have to trip the commercial power with a relay, and such a relay does not exist. We have our commercial power panel, and right beside it is the Generac panel. The circuits we want to run by generator are wired from our main panel to the Generac. I like that system, for if a person wants to conserve propane, certain circuits can be left out, such as our AC, outside lights, etc.
Click to expand...

In their bigger stuff, there is an exercise with load option in the setup screen.

Residential stuff is a little bit different, there may a DIP switch setting.

I haven't been in one of those for awhile and would have to read the destructions.

As a general rule, I don't set them up with transfer on exercise, it causes too many problems downstream.
 
ka5gtc

ka5gtc

Contributing Member
I ran mine for 45 minutes Sunday. With all this talk of blackouts i want to be ready..
 
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