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10 MOST OFTEN ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ALTERNATORS AND GENERATORS
2. What size generator do I need to rung electric items in my house?
3. How do I go about wiring the set to my home wiring installation?
4. Will I damage the generator if I accidentally overload it?
5. Are there any specific electric loads that may be particularly harmful to the generator set?
6. Are there any specific electric loads that may become damaged when connected to the generator set?
7. How safe is the set to use, and can I possibly get a shock from it?
8. What should I do if I purchase a generator set, and it stops working?
9. What can I expect for an average useful life of the portable generator set before major repairs are required?
10. Can I purchase a custom-made generator set?
Basically a generator consists of a stationary field and a revolving field armature. The load currents are produced on this revolving member, pass through slip rings or commutator, on through the brushes, and finally to the output receptacle. This design was the first type offered and has since proven to be less efficient, heavier, and more costly to build than the latest design, the alternator. The revolving field alternator design has the load current producing windings on the stationary (stator) outside the element. The load currents are connected directly to the outside receptacles allowing no losses through friction devices. This design also permits greater voltage regulation, approximately 30% less eight, superior electrical performance with approximate 50% surge capacity over standard alternator rating for induction electric motor starting, less maintenance, and less costly to produce. Most manufacturers are offering the alternator design: and in time, it will completely replace the revolving armature generator. However, we will use the term “generator” when referring to out alternator throughout this information sheet as “generator” is the common, accepted term.
Most average homes of 1200 to 3000 square feet can use a 5000, 7000, and 9000 watt generator. The most common and important items to power during a commercial power black-out is the furnace blower motor, refrigerator, freezer, a few lights, TV set, sump pump, and water pump. It is recommended that all other items be turned off when operating the water pump. This has the largest size horsepower motor; therefore, will be the hardest item for generator to start. Always take extreme caution in sizing the generator if a submersible water pump is involved. This device has an extremely high amperage starting requirements. It is recommended to consult either the generator manufacturer or licensed electrician for help in sizing the generator when the load consists of submersible water pumps, air conditioners and air compressors, all which have hard starting, Code L electric motors.
The user should consult his local, licensed electrician for these answers. There are specific and varying codes and regulations throughout the country that must be adhered to, and it is impossible to know them all. Never try to do this installation, if you’re a novice.
No. All generators have automatic trip circuit breakers that will disconnect electric overload when this condition occurs. These circuit breakers have a built-in time delay lag of approximately 30-45 seconds to allow electric motors to start up during their initial 3-4 second extremely high amperage without the nuisance trip of the circuit breaker. The main line circuit breakers protect the generator windings form electrical overloads, short-circuited loads, and grounded loads.
Yes. Air compressors, air conditioners, submersible sump pumps and submersible water pumps will present an extremely heavy starting demand on all generators due to the design of the electric motor. A generator should have and amperage output capacity equaling 3 to 4 times the amperage rating of any standard Code G, electric motor. In applications, as mentions above, it is very possible that the generator would require amperage output capacity of up to 8 to 10 times these special Code L motor name plate amperages just to start them. When in doubt, the user should consult either his local electrician or electric motor repair firm to determine the correct generator size, and therefore, guard against purchasing a set that may not start the electric motor. Modern designs helps to eliminate these problems because the amount of electrical grade steel (the largest lamination diameter in the industry) coupled with heavy gauge all copper windings will enable the set to create a 50% surge over normal name plate wattage ratings to help in starting troublesome electric motors.
No. Most modern generators allow no more than an average 7% harmful harmonic distortion on its generator waveform. The most voltage sensitive electrical equipment, such as computers, amplifiers, microprocessors that all require less than 10% harmonic waveform distortion, with power factor of 1 is safe to use with these generators. However, some portable brushless generators may produce between 20-40% a harmful harmonic waveform distortion that is detrimental to voltage sensitive equipment.
Modern generator sets conform to NEC, NEMA, ASA, and IEEE standards. With the use of common sense and by following the recommendations set forth in the Owners Guide, it will prevent accidental mishaps. Never operate your generator in the rain, snow, outdoor wet areas and on damp cement.
The Owners Guide provides a list of simple checks that may provide answers to most operating problems. Warranty is provided by the equipment manufacturer and they are responsible for its warranty and repairs. Consult you Owners Guide for conditions of their warranty and instructions on how to obtain service. LMC cans assist in locating the nearest repair shop and/or obtaining repair parts for out of warrantee repairs.
Most high speed engines will yield about 2000 hours before major repairs are required, providing the crankcase oil is checked every 25 hours, service air cleaner every 50 hours and generally maintain engine in a proper fashion as outlined in Owners Guide. Special care should be used for applications of fuels other than gasoline, such as either natural gas or propane which may lend to shorten the engine service life. The generator copper and insulations system exceeds Class H, which is defined by NEMA as burn-out protection up to 200° Centigrade. This is excellent protection on a set that has normal operating temperatures of 55° C rise over 40° C ambient temperature. Two individual dippings of copper windings, in an electrical insulation varnish with individual baked curing cycles, have created an encapsulation system that is impervious to dirt, oil, water, and other elements that could break down the system’s insulations causing defective windings.
Yes. We have a wide variety of optional equipment available plus your choice of several gasoline and diesel engines. Complete packaged standby sets are available that automatically start the set, transfer the normal load to the emergency source during a power outage and shut themselves down when normal power returns. Consult either your distributor or the factory for any special application that you may desire.