Honda Generator Power Issues

[Mike Linkers]

Howdy

Having some trouble with my genny - in a nutshell, the power is tripping out under heavier loads. I know it's capable of running this equipment perfectly as it has done for months, but now, the power trips out under load and I have to wait a couple of minutes, press the reset button, only for it to run for a few mins and trip out again.

Hoping it's a minor maintenance issue I can resolve myself without a costly professional repair job!

It's a gx200 with a clarke alternator if this helps.

Cheers in advance!

[jomifl]

Is it running at the correct speed and producing the correct voltage. If for some reason it is producing too many volts then the trip rating could be exceeded.

[beso]

What equipment are you running?

[Mike Linkers]

Thanks for your responses

I'm running a catering trailer with it, and the problem arises when I turn on the water boiler or the deep fat fryer.

And I'm afraid I have no idea how to test/gauge voltage or running speed

[beso]

High output voltage could cause this problem if they used to work before.

If you can't get hold of a volt meter then get two identical incandescant light bulbs. Run one from the mains power and one from the generator. If there is a substantial difference in voltage you should be able to notice it.

[beso]

Most generators now use a brushless alternator with a passive voltage regulation circuit involving a capacitor. Without seeing the alternator it would be hard to say if it is this type.

This type tends to increase their output voltage when running large resistive loads as they are usually optimised for slightly inductive loads such as electric motors. You may find the light bulb gets brighter when the heating appliaces are switched on.

The regulation circuit is quite sensitve to frequency and running too fast will increase the output voltage.

However if the alternator uses brushes it won't be this type and probably has an electronic regulator. If the voltage is high then the problem could be with this circuit.

[beso]

If you are only running the heating appliances and no induction motors (refrigerators for example) or transformer power supplies then you can quite safely reduce the speed of any alternator even if it is currently at the right speed.

If the generator uses the passive regulator circuit even these appliances might not care too much since both the voltage and frequency will fall proportionally. Induction motors and transformers will handle this to some extent.

Difficult to make an absolute statement on that though. An active regulator circuit could lead to trouble as the voltage will stay up but the frequency will fall. Some loads would be damaged by this.

The voltage will drop if it is the passive circuit but this will only slow the heating.