[RE-wrenches] Small Generators

[Dan Fink]

Hi Drake --

The biggest problems we see up here with small, inexpensive generators 
like Coleman are from altitude. Our community is at 8200 feet elevation, 
and on many such generators there is simply no adjustment on these 
machines to make them run well at this elevation (as per our local 
generator repair shop). Customers can usually get by with them for 
running power tools for home construction directly from the generator, 
but when put into service for backup charging of a large bank, low 
voltage at the 120VAC - xxVDC charger can cause burnout problems, both 
with the charger and with the diodes in the alternator. Dont' see too 
many problems with nice new inverter/chargers, but low voltage problems 
are common with old Todds, Statpower, hardware store chargers, etc.
DAN FINK



Drake Chamberlin wrote:
> Hello Wrenches,
> 
> Has anyone had problems with small generators, creating problems with 
> electrical or electronic equipment?  I'd like to incorporate Coleman 
> Powermate generators in backup systems.  They have units in the 5 KW 
> range that have engines that seem fairly sophisticated.  They do not 
> have electronic voltage regulators, but appear to have effective governors.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Drake