Onan 3.6kw 120vac generator. [RE-wrenches]

Wed Sep 18 09:08:39 PDT 2002

Wrenches,

I just performed a test with a Yamaha YG2800i inverter generator. Charging a
1,200 amp hour 24VDC battery bank thru a Trace SW4024 inverter/charger.

Charged at 81 amps at 28VDC (as seen on TriMetric meter with all other DC
charging sources disconnected).
Inverter Max AC Charge Amps set at 23. Observed AC charging Amps = 23.
Generator output as measured during above charging 117VAC, 60.00 HZ (does
not budge), 168.8 Peak Volts as measured with Fluke 87 meter.

This inverter generator is rated at 2,500 Watts. So the 23 Amps is pushing
it a little. Obviously this is not maxing out the Trace SW's total charging
potential but the 80 Amp at 28VDC performance is very impressive for this
small generator.
You can buy these over the web at USA Light & Electric for $1,000 delivered.
They weigh 66 lbs. They hold 3 gallons of gas and run for 7.7 hours on a
full load and 11.9 hours on a half load. They are relatively quiet at 60 to
67 dBA. And they rate a score of 3 (out of 10) on the California Engine Air
Index.

For back up on a well designed RE system these small generators make great
sense. A back up generator should not have to run very much, again in a well
designed system, even in Vermont in the winter. So why should most off grid
homeowners need anything more than this?

Honda makes a nice inverter generator with impressive performance also. The
Honda offers electric start.

Dave Palumbo
IP&L

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Perez, Home Power magazine
[mailto:richard.perez at homepower.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2002 11:07 AM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: Re: Onan 3.6kw 120vac generator. [RE-wrenches]

Hello Wrenches

I'd second Ezra's opinion that a minimum of a 6.5 KW generator is
need to obtain full output from the Trace SW series chargers. I think
that we are getting bitten by the reality of power factor here. While
power factor isn't "real" on grid since the utility just supplies the
reactive component, it's very real for generator users. Some
chargers, such as those built into the Statpower ProSine series
inverters, have unity power factor and are much easier to power with
smaller generators.

Richard

>Hi,
>
>Having just had to listen to my darn old Honda for hours yesterday I want
to
>chime in on this one.  I agree with Frank, my experience shows me that you
>really need about 6.5 kW of good generator to get max charging performance
>from the SW.  My 3.5 kW (sort of) Honda has a plug rated 30 amps and a 30
>amp breaker but if I set my max AC amps any higher than 23 it actually
>stalls the Honda.  With that generator I get the best performance at about
>16 AC input amps, any higher I lug the generator down and it really
labours.
>
>Ezra Auerbach
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Frank Fowler, Crystal Pines Alt. Energy " <cpae1 at aol.com>
>To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
>Sent: Monday, September 16, 2002 6:23 PM
>Subject: Re: Onan 3.6kw 120vac generator. [RE-wrenches]
>
>
>>  In a message dated 9/16/2002 11:21:57 AM Pacific Standard Time,
>>  cvsolar at aol.com writes:
>>
>>
>>  >  I just installed an SW4024 system with 8 L16 batteries and an Onan
>3.6kw
>>  > generator.  It will only produce 10-12 amps AC input charging the new
>>  > batteries.
>>
>>  In my experience with generators for charging battery banks using an
>>  inverter/charger
>>  from Trace/Xantrex, nothing less than a quality  5kw generator will
>suffice.
>>
>>  SUNcerely,
>>  Frank Fowler
>>  Crystal Pines Alternative Energy
>>  530-532-1972
>>  cpae1 at aol.com
>>  www.solarenergy-alt.com
>>
>>  --
>>  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
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