Posted 2008-01-29 12:47 PM (#75537) Subject: generator or camper?
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
Last time we went camping our generator started bogging down and running funny when the AC kicked on. We thought maybe it was the elevation, but I just remembered that we took it camping up in the mountians in AZ last year which is higher than the lake here and it ran fine. We've used it since with just a drill and it ran fine. I want to try it again with the camper or horse trailer but since it's cold outside the compresser won't kick on. Any ideas of how to load test the generator or should I just wait for a warm day? Were taking the camper to Disney world in March and I would like to have this fixed wayyyy befor then.
Posted 2008-01-29 1:49 PM (#75543 - in reply to #75537) Subject: RE: generator or camper?
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
The space heater and/or hair dyier is the best way. Most hand held driers pull 1500 watts, plug in two driers and a 3000 watt generator will be maxed out!! Most space heaters are rated at 1300-1500 watts, so the can be used on most 15 amp circuits. The microwave alone may not provide enough load to simulate the problems you were having, starting the A/C.
Posted 2008-01-29 2:39 PM (#75548 - in reply to #75537) Subject: RE: generator or camper?
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Be careful of using a microwave to do a load test. If the governor of the generator is not responding well, the frequency of the power will drop as the engine slows. Motors and electronics don't like frequency change beyond 10 hertz per second.
You likely have a dirty throttle linkage or air filter that keeps the engine from developing max power.
Posted 2008-01-29 3:03 PM (#75550 - in reply to #75537) Subject: RE: generator or camper?
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Might be some "old gasoline" and, it may be that the A/C compressor's head pressure was too high.......Compressor vapor/liquid lock. I know that if I turn the thermostat back so the compressor shuts of, then turn it so the compressor TRIES to come back on, then the generator revs "wide open" and will trip the generator circuit breaker. If you turn the thermostat back, let the fans run for a minute or so as to let the compressor pressures equalize. Then the A/C will start and not "overload" the generator.
Posted 2008-01-30 5:59 PM (#75642 - in reply to #75550) Subject: RE: generator or camper?
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
It's been to windy to try anything yet. Blowing sand STINGS.
There my have been some old gas, but it was doing it almost from the start. We truned on the ac, worked fine, then it cyled off and then when it went to cycle back on it started acting up. We turned off the AC but it still kept running funny (surging). We turned it off, waited a few minutes and restarted it. It ran fine until we tried to turn the AC back on.
I think before we test it were going to change the fuel, oil, and air filters. There not "due" yet as far as running hours but with the sand around here..... It gets into everything. I'd swear that I have half the desert in my hair right now.
generator or camper?
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