Gold & Silver Forum (http://goldismoney.info/forums/index.php)
- Survival Prep (http://goldismoney.info/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=141)
- - Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions (http://goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?t=314074)

TechGuy | 10-19-2008 04:46 PM
Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Hooked up the diesel generator from chinamart today, ran it for about 3 more hours and decided to plug some stuff into and run it under load. Diesel engine is running great, system putting out 115 volts AC and 233 volts DC. First was circular saw, no problems, then large 3ft shop fan, again no problems. Then I hooked up a flourecent like and then an incandecent. FLICKER, pretty noticeable. Checked the speed of the unit and everything appears to be in spec. Does anyone know an easy way to get rid of the light flicker on a portable generator? I know that there are some capacitors that when bridged accross the circuits should help but I am unsure where to get them, google searches haven't helped much. Any thoughts?

mshen11 | 10-19-2008 04:47 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions try putting a UPS between the generator and the light. how big is the generator? im a bit skeptical to think the generator is too small of a size for your (light) load

TechGuy | 10-19-2008 04:50 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Quote:
Originally Posted by mshen11 (Post 1367508) try putting a UPS between the generator and the light. how big is the generator? im a bit skeptical to think the generator is too small of a size for your (light) load
It is a 6500 watt that will be hooked to the house. I am looking for a large scale solution. I thought about a 220 volt transformer with a 220volt output. Should even things out. Not sure though.

Breaking_the_Bonds | 10-19-2008 05:35 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions What frequency is it putting out? House AC is 60 Hz.

Breaking_the_Bonds | 10-19-2008 05:38 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Quote:
Originally Posted by Breaking_the_Bonds (Post 1367571) What frequency is it putting out? House AC is 60 Hz.
I'm sure that's the issue. I'd try to get another generator that puts out 60 hz. Less than that could be damaging to electronics.

TechGuy | 10-19-2008 06:00 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions It is a 60hz generator. Not sure what is going on. Tried a voltage regulator from another generator, same thing.

Rampon | 10-19-2008 06:18 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Hey TG, Just contemplating your problem...I might have same problem with mine. Don't know, haven't had to use it since Y2K in a "just testing" mode Do you have it sufficiently grounded? I'm not near mine at the moment, but seems like something was said in the manual about proper grounding. Maybe that would have nothing to do with it at all... Just a WAG.

TechGuy | 10-19-2008 06:31 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions BB hit it I think. After saying no, that couldn't be it, I went and looked at the voltage regulator. I realized it had the same mount and pinout as my newly dead generator, so I swapped them out. VOILA. No more flickering lights. Looks like they either put the wrong regulator in (50hz) or I had a defective one. Time to order a couple more of those.. And no, I didnt ground it at all. (I know shame on me).

Rampon | 10-19-2008 06:41 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Quote:
Originally Posted by TechGuy (Post 1367640) And no, I didnt ground it at all. (I know shame on me).
Well, I didn't either when testing. Glad you reported back...I'll know what to do/check if I have the same problem.

TechGuy | 10-19-2008 06:56 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Quote:
Originally Posted by Rampon (Post 1367666) Well, I didn't either when testing. Glad you reported back...I'll know what to do/check if I have the same problem.
It is a sad commentary when my made in china (and marketed by china company) has the exact same parts as my American company generator.

Breaking_the_Bonds | 10-19-2008 07:04 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Quote:
Originally Posted by TechGuy (Post 1367640) BB hit it I think. After saying no, that couldn't be it, I went and looked at the voltage regulator. I realized it had the same mount and pinout as my newly dead generator, so I swapped them out. VOILA. No more flickering lights. Looks like they either put the wrong regulator in (50hz) or I had a defective one. Time to order a couple more of those.. And no, I didnt ground it at all. (I know shame on me).
Sweet! Glad I could help (if I did). FYI, if your meter is good enough, you can actually measure the cycles per second (Hertz).

Tn...Andy | 10-19-2008 07:07 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Easy way to check the cycles your generator is putting out, if your meter won't, is plug in an electric clock with a motor, and let it run an hour, using a wrist watch as a control. If the clock and the watch keep the same time, the cycle output is 60. But if the clock runs slower, like 50 minutes compared to an hour on the watch, you have a 50 cycle generator.....55 minutes, and you have a 50 or 60 that is out of spec...... Lower cycle will cause any motor to run slower, and causes you to notice the flicker in flouresent more in a light designed to run on 60.

TechGuy | 10-19-2008 07:48 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Quote:
Originally Posted by Breaking_the_Bonds (Post 1367694) Sweet! Glad I could help (if I did). FYI, if your meter is good enough, you can actually measure the cycles per second (Hertz).
I HAD one that measured frequency, capacitance, and was RMS. Unfortunately, I loaned it out to someone who should have known better and killed it. I have not replaced it yet, and will only loan out the cheapie meters from now on if at all.

nub | 10-19-2008 08:56 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions I missed all they excitement I was out disking up the field for red wheat this year. I have a coleman with a yamaha motor only has 40 hrs on it and it only puts out 215 volts instead of 240 the 110 seems to be ok. I bought this to replace my 10kw MQ welder/generator with a kubota diesel cuz I don't like leaving it down there now that people are getting hard up, it's on a trailer and would be fairly easy pickins. AAAAaaaaanyway I recked my well pump with the coleman piece of shite because of the 215 volt out put......there went another 1,500.00 bucks. Just went and checked the coleman now it is reading 262v and the 110 is 131 Could I have a bad Voltage regulator also ?:thumpdown

TechGuy | 10-19-2008 09:01 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Quote:
Originally Posted by nub (Post 1367847) I missed all they excitement I was out disking up the field for red wheat this year. I have a coleman with a yamaha motor only has 40 hrs on it and it only puts out 215 volts instead of 240 the 110 seems to be ok. I bought this to replace my 10kw MQ welder/generator with a kubota diesel cuz I don't like leaving it down there now that people are getting hard up, it's on a trailer and would be fairly easy pickins. AAAAaaaaanyway I recked my well pump with the coleman piece of shite because of the 215 volt out put......there went another 1,500.00 bucks. Just went and checked the coleman now it is reading 262v and the 110 is 131 Could I have a bad Voltage regulator also ?:thumpdown
Good luck getting coleman parts, since they are out of business. Take a pic of the bell end of the unit, and I will see if it matches my china generator.

nub | 10-19-2008 09:14 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Quote:
Originally Posted by TechGuy (Post 1367858) Good luck getting coleman parts, since they are out of business. Take a pic of the bell end of the unit, and I will see if it matches my china generator.
Well that's nice. I'll take pictures ....but haven't posted here yet, I'll get err done some how.

TechGuy | 10-19-2008 09:20 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Quote:
Originally Posted by nub (Post 1367869) Well that's nice. I'll take pictures ....but haven't posted here yet, I'll get err done some how.
pm sent. message short.

nub | 10-19-2008 09:22 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Do you think I might find a view of yours at chinamart.....if so how do I get there?

TechGuy | 10-19-2008 09:26 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Quote:
Originally Posted by nub (Post 1367880) Do you think I might find a view of yours at chinamart.....if so how do I get there?
Ill go take some pics...

Breaking_the_Bonds | 10-19-2008 09:35 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Quote:
Originally Posted by nub (Post 1367847) I missed all they excitement I was out disking up the field for red wheat this year. I have a coleman with a yamaha motor only has 40 hrs on it and it only puts out 215 volts instead of 240 the 110 seems to be ok. I bought this to replace my 10kw MQ welder/generator with a kubota diesel cuz I don't like leaving it down there now that people are getting hard up, it's on a trailer and would be fairly easy pickins. AAAAaaaaanyway I recked my well pump with the coleman piece of shite because of the 215 volt out put......there went another 1,500.00 bucks. Just went and checked the coleman now it is reading 262v and the 110 is 131 Could I have a bad Voltage regulator also ?:thumpdown
That's what it sounds like. 120VAC should be +/-5VAC. 240VAC should be +/- 10. Anything out of those ranges could cause serious problems for attached devices/electronics.

TechGuy | 10-19-2008 09:37 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Here you go.. This is on the dead generator, but the pics would be identical....

TechGuy | 10-19-2008 09:42 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions 7 Attachment(s) One more time, this time with meaning!

TechGuy | 10-19-2008 09:44 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Quote:
Originally Posted by Breaking_the_Bonds (Post 1367890) That's what it sounds like. 120VAC should be +/-5VAC. 240VAC should be +/- 10. Anything out of those ranges could cause serious problems for attached devices/electronics.
In most cases, 110-120 and 220 to 240 is in spec.

Breaking_the_Bonds | 10-19-2008 09:52 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Quote:
Originally Posted by TechGuy (Post 1367900) In most cases, 110-120 and 220 to 240 is in spec.
I gave those ranges as it pertains to a no-load condition. As loads are put on the system they will cause the voltage to drop slightly. 110-120 and 220-240 are the absolute ranges though. You are correct.

TechGuy | 10-19-2008 09:54 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Quote:
Originally Posted by Breaking_the_Bonds (Post 1367908) .
Your avatar is my bumper sticker....

Breaking_the_Bonds | 10-19-2008 10:05 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Quote:
Originally Posted by TechGuy (Post 1367911) Your avatar is my bumper sticker....
That's an awesome bumper sticker!! :applause_ I wonder what the sheeple think when they read it on the road. :4_1_72:

TechGuy | 10-19-2008 10:08 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Quote:
Originally Posted by Breaking_the_Bonds (Post 1367928) That's an awesome bumper sticker!! :applause_ I wonder what the sheeple think when they read it on the road. :4_1_72:
The reaction from most co-workers has been 'huh?' So I am assuming most people on the street do the same.... Your quote has the slavery is freedom backwards...btw....

nub | 10-19-2008 10:10 PM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Thank you TechGuy, it's dark now I will check the regulator tomorrow.

SilverCity | 10-20-2008 12:52 AM
Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions Techguy, I bet your generator's inverter is putting out a MODIFIED sinewave instead of a PURE one. Modified sinewaves can cause static in audio equipment and flickering lights like you mentioned. Try plugging in some audio equipment (FM stereo, TV, etc) and listen for sound quality...that should tell you.

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:05 AM. |

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright = None use it and Link to GIM