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?

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

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

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.

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

What frequency is it putting out?

House AC is 60 Hz.

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

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.

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.

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.

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).

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

Well, I didn't either when testing.
Glad you reported back...I'll know what to do/check if I have the same problem.

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

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.

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

Sweet! Glad I could help (if I did). FYI, if your meter is good enough, you can actually measure the cycles per second (Hertz).

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.

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

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.

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

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

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.

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

Well that's nice.

I'll take pictures ....but haven't posted here yet, I'll get err done some how.

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

pm sent.

message short.

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?

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

Ill go take some pics...

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

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.

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

Here you go.. This is on the dead generator, but the pics would be identical....

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

One more time, this time with meaning!

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

In most cases, 110-120 and 220 to 240 is in spec.

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

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.

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

Your avatar is my bumper sticker....

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

That's an awesome bumper sticker!! :applause_

I wonder what the sheeple think when they read it on the road. :4_1_72:

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

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....

Re: Hooked up generator from ChinaMart... have some questions
 

Thank you TechGuy, it's dark now I will check the regulator tomorrow.

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.