Generator Problem

[BrandonH]

I purchased a portable diesel generator for temporary use at my cabin that is under construction. The generator was purchased from a fellow TBHer and in no way am I blaming him for my issues. Once I got the generator home I ran it for about 5 minutes to make sure everything was good and ran a small drill to confirm it at least had power. The volt meter showed 110 or 220volt when the toggle switch was moved just like it should. It has now been a month or so and I am just now needing the generator, but am having issues. It cranks with no problems and runs great, but the volt meter was reading zero volts. I plugged a light into the 110 outlet and the meter jumped up to about 100volt and the light came on. Once flipped over to 220volt the meter read about 190 volts. Once I shut it down to look at possible issues it has now lost all power. I pulled the panel in the picture and checked all connections and everything looked good. I then checked the "hot" wires that come from the generator to the breaker in the panel and there is no power.

Any ideas on what I could look I to next? When searching online I have found nearly a dozen generators that look identical to this one, except that they are sold under other names. I can't find any details about troubleshooting.

Thanks,
Brandon

[waterdog]

im sure you try the reset breaker button? right?

[BrandonH]

im sure you try the reset breaker button? right?

Numerous times

The generator isn't sending any power to the main panel at all. I traced all wiring and there looks to be two hot wires that come from the generator, then run to the breaker on the right, next to the switch for 110 or 220 volt. I know there is nothing wrong with the breaker or switches, they just are not getting a power feed.

[Teamigloo25]

Brandon. I've heard of ppl having that kind of problem before. I'm thinking I heard something like jumping the power or something. Let me talk to my dad tomorrow about it. I remember hearing its not hard to do. Also heard if the generator has been sitting for a while it will cause the generator to not generate power. That's why you jump the power then it will work again. Let me ask dad

[BrandonH]

Brandon. I've heard of ppl having that kind of problem before. I'm thinking I heard something like jumping the power or something. Let me talk to my dad tomorrow about it. I remember hearing its not hard to do. Also heard if the generator has been sitting for a while it will cause the generator to not generate power. That's why you jump the power then it will work again. Let me ask dad

Thanks...let me know what you find out.

[Teamigloo25]

http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111788. Sorry they call it "flash it" not jump it

[Bonesplitter]

You may have to "flash" the field. It is self excited most likely. I don't know how you would do it on this particular model though. You may be able to find some info on google for that particular model.

[BrandonH]

Thanks for the "flashing" idea. After a little Googling I guess this is the first thing I can try. Several people had good luck using an electric drill while otheres actually used another generator...I think I will try the drill method first.

[the-butcher]

I flash one i have all the time. Take a small extension cord and cut off female end and skin wires plug male side into generator and touch bare wires to a 9 vlt battery black to positive and white to negative ..the generator should be running while your doing this it will spark a little and excite the generator..watch the voltmeter and when it starts to put out voltage set down 9 volt and un plug extension cord as the bare wires will be hot with 120.

[BrandonH]

I flash one i have all the time. Take a small extension cord and cut off female end and skin wires plug male side into generator and touch bare wires to a 9 vlt battery black to positive and white to negative ..the generator should be running while your doing this it will spark a little and excite the generator..watch the voltmeter and when it starts to put out voltage set down 9 volt and un plug extension cord as the bare wires will be hot with 120.

Could I just use the 12volt starting battery instead of a 9 volt?

[Teamigloo25]

I'm not sure Brandon. Best of luck to ya. Let us know if it works or not

[Matt_C]

Brandon, be very careful.... this isn't a "hey hold my beer and watch this" thing. Electricity will kill you. Be smart and take it to a professional.

[Bonesplitter]

Could I just use the 12volt starting battery instead of a 9 volt?

Probably so, just unplug it as soon as it is excited and you have an output. What happens is the windings in the generator should hold a little residual voltage to self excite the field. Sometimes you get a little leakage and the residual voltage used to excite the fields bleeds off.

[BrandonH]

Ok...I tried flashing it with a drill and no luck. I plugged the drill in with the generatoe runniny, drill in forward position, trigger pulled, and spun the chuck in reverse. When I did this the drill would come on for 1 second and the volt meter would shoot up to around 60 volts. I did this numerous times and same result. Since the drill didn't work I wonder if trying a battery would make a difference. Any other ideas?

[yazoomike]

Brushes are stuck are wore misaligned.