Clifford recommended a new fuel filter as my generator might be starving for fuel. I replaced both the fuel and the air filters and now the voltage is much better, but still not great. I get about 127 volts at no load. I had three rooftop A/C units and a 1,500 watt heater running and it dropped to around 113 volts initially. After a bit I checked again and it was at 117 volts. (I verified the compressors were all still running.) I also checked at the generator and no difference.
A 10 volt drop seems high to me. Should I still replace the regulator, or do I need to have the Cat 3011C engine checked at the Cat dealer? It is better than it was.
Quote from: belfert on October 06, 2019, 10:44:39 AM
Clifford recommended a new fuel filter as my generator might be starving for fuel. I replaced both the fuel and the air filters and now the voltage is much better, but still not great. I get about 127 volts at no load. I had three rooftop A/C units and a 1,500 watt heater running and it dropped to around 113 volts initially. After a bit I checked again and it was at 117 volts. (I verified the compressors were all still running.) I also checked at the generator and no difference.
A 10 volt drop seems high to me. Should I still replace the regulator, or do I need to have the Cat 3011C engine checked at the Cat dealer? It is better than it was.
Your readings sound good to me!
Similar readings to what I have with my Perkins/Kohler 12.5kw
Don't forget that the meter measuring the voltage might be off a bit, depending on its quality. Harbor Freight level, who knows; Fluke, probably dead-on accurate.
The meter is about a $40 Greenlee meter purchased probably a dozen years ago. Even if the actual numbers are a bit off I still don't like a 10 volt drop.
I had to replace the regulator previously because I was only getting about 56 volts. That time the regulator was definitely at fault. I set it to 127 volts at idle because it was dropping so bad. If I had set it to 120 volts it would drop way too low. I'll probably just send the new regulator back and live with what I have.
You have 3 things in play here. The first would be the engine itself. Checking the frequency with a good meter will rule out engine problems. Standard A/C in the US is 60 Hz. On a generator, that is controlled by the RPM of the engine. Most gennies are either 1800 or 3600. A lot of people will set the no load frequency at 61 Hz. It should drop no more than 2 Hz under full load. That would put you at 59 Hz. under full load.
The next component is the generator (including the regulator). A good quality generator will drop 2-7 volts under full load WHEN MEASURED AT THE GENERATOR.
The final component is the wiring. You can get a lot of voltage drop across the wiring, especially in a motor vehicle. If the first two checks read good, check the wiring for abraded or low capacity components.
TOM
I measured at the generator too and the difference between the generator and an interior outlet was less than one volt.
I don't think the meter I have can measure frequency good enough to try to check the frequency of the generator. I don't know how to change the governor settings if frequency is off.
Thanks everyone for your help. I have a number of things to check yet.
Get a kil-o-watt from amazon.
Hz, amps, volts, killowatts used.
Every busnut should have one, or more of them.
Very useful measuring device.
https://www.amazon.com/P3-P4400-Electricity-Usage-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
I talked to Jeff at Powertech today and he thinks my 10 volt drop under a fairly heavy load is normal. I have made arrangements to return the regulator I bought for $350. The voltage issues turned out to be a combination of loose wiring and not changing the fuel and air filters in over 1,000 hours. (Oil has been changed every 250 hours or once a year.)
I am still planning to check the frequency and a few other things.
Quote from: buswarrior on October 07, 2019, 05:47:31 AM
Get a kil-o-watt from amazon.
Hz, amps, volts, killowatts used.
Every busnut should have one, or more of them.
Very useful measuring device. ...
Yep, I use mine just about every day. When you have a total-carp Outback inverter, you have to.
We got this one which is similar to the BW put up but it also has a menue, ad you can put in what you pay for your electric and see what each device is costing you. You set the rate, hours you want it to monitor etc. I find the onlyproblem with all these devices is that so far none of them take a 220 plug like for the dryer or AC units.
https://www.amazon.com/P3-International-P4460-Electricity-Monitor/dp/B000RGF29Q/ref=pd_sbs_60_1/142-0085577-1944600?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000RGF29Q&pd_rd_r=e6e2ef22-00f7-4311-bfdb-61c0d93298e7&pd_rd_w=JeJrS&pd_rd_wg=WGMkN&pf_rd_p=d66372fe-68a6-48a3-90ec-41d7f64212be&pf_rd_r=NM6QDJ9K1Q5CHQBVZT8P&psc=1&refRID=NM6QDJ9K1Q5CHQBVZT8P
I have 2 of these . one on each leg so I can keep track of how much power I am using . they work great
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B014W3D1OC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
on amazon.com they are a lot cheaper
dave
Quote from: buswarrior on October 07, 2019, 05:47:31 AM
Get a kil-o-watt from amazon.
Hz, amps, volts, killowatts used.
Every busnut should have one, or more of them.
Very useful measuring device.
https://www.amazon.com/P3-P4400-Electricity-Usage-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
The reviews are not always good; there are complaints of meltdowns and failures even when used below the rated capacity. It might be handy for light loads, only.
Does a Kill-A-Watt help measure the big loads like the inverter battery charger or the rooftop A/C units? The amp gauges others mentioned would seem like a better option.
Kill-o-watt is for anything you plug in.
It is NOT for whole coach system measuring.
Inexpensive (around $20 online) way to measure how much power the things you want to put in the bus use, while they are still in the house.
Great for real world planning what your boondocking loads might be.
For instance, plug your house refrigerator into it for several days to get some real measurements of power used in your operation.
Sizing a battery bank and inverter is confidently approached when one really knows how much power devices use.
And it has a hz meter to check the generator.
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
the amp meters that I posted will measure any power that goes through the coach , from very low watts to very high amps on everything . I put 1 on each 120 volt line , I have a 50 amp system . If you have a 30 amp system you only need 1 meter
dave
pic
https://photos.app.goo.gl/kCDTfRURHXUKBNJs5
Quote from: buswarrior on October 10, 2019, 05:17:21 PMKill-o-watt is for anything you plug in.
Right. It is for simple plug-in, but it shows volts, amps, watts (in case you don't want to figure it yourself), cycles, and Kwatt/hours. Very handy, I've found.
Quote from: buswarrior on October 10, 2019, 05:17:21 PM... For instance, plug your house refrigerator into it for several days to get some real measurements of power used in your operation.
And it has a feature to record and show a running tally of the Kwatt/hours being used. You can "zero" it, as BW says, and then see how much power you use in a day, or two, or a week, etc.
But it's not a clamp-meter. I think everyone with a bus conversion needs both (unless you're just going to drive it into a shop and pay for everything to be done.)