5505 - Odd behavior

[yucan2]

Encountered something today I'd not seen before.

Client calls and says he just encountered a power outage. He say's power is out and the generator is running but the lights are not on. Nothings on.

Its raining cats and dogs. He only got the unit for just such a time, to ensure that his sump pumps would never be without power.

His unit was installed about 2 months ago.

So I drop everything and head towards his location, all the time running failure scenarios thru my mind as to what could cause this behavior.

Transfer Switch malfunction? Main Breaker Off? I have a number of things to check upon my arrival.

Upon arrival I immediately verify that yes, there is no output. I did this from inside at the Transfer Switch in the home after checking to ensure that all breakers were in fact on.

Generator still running of course. Go outside, check main breaker. Breaker on.
Pop hood. Now from this point on its gets odd, at least for me.

I immediately look at the display and notice that it appears, if memory serves me correctly, that it was in a mode whereby it was asking to be setup. That is, the system asking for either the time, the date or the exercise settings.

In any case it was not displaying running as it should have.

I turned off the unit. Entered time, date, exercise info. etc. Placed the unit back in Auto. System timed down, started, load transferred, all is well. Proper voltage output, frequency, the works.

So what was it? How did the system lose its settings? BTW, the unit had still been exercising once a week like clockwork. Green owner's peace of mind LED illuminated. Battery good. Hood locked. I'm stumped. :mad:

[ohmslaw]

I have had dozens of these complaints. The simple answer is the unit was not producing power. The process of restarting the unit restored the output. I can not help you with the display being off.
This is the scary and weak spot to the Generac design. They should restart themselves when the unit does not produce power. How can you tell a customer that the unit will be there for them when they are sitting in a warm climate and there house is unoccupied for three or four months. I have not experienced broken pipes or flooded basements yet from this but that is a real possibility. Generac has never come up with a solution or explanation for me. I hope someone here with more experience with the units will shed some light on the problem.
Tim

[yucan2]

Thanks for the fast response Tim.

Knowing now that this is not an isolated phenomenon has just added an additional item to the already long list of concerns that keep me from a sound slumber at night. Like I didn't already have enough to be concerned about.

[ohmslaw]

I have not experienced this with your unit or any of the 08 models. When Generac rolled them out they told us the new units monitored voltage output.
Hopefully someone with more knowledge of the new units will respond.
Tim

[pcfrisch]

I have had dozens of these complaints. The simple answer is the unit was not producing power. The process of restarting the unit restored the output. I can not help you with the display being off.
This is the scary and weak spot to the Generac design. They should restart themselves when the unit does not produce power. How can you tell a customer that the unit will be there for them when they are sitting in a warm climate and there house is unoccupied for three or four months. I have not experienced broken pipes or flooded basements yet from this but that is a real possibility. Generac has never come up with a solution or explanation for me. I hope someone here with more experience with the units will shed some light on the problem.
Tim

I use a asco transfer switch. It also excersizes the generator. If the voltage/freq is not proper, it will shut down the generator within 30 seconds. even during excersize mode.

[ohmslaw]

But will it restart? A shut down saves fuel but not the home.
Tim

[Gman1]

I have had two of these units lose the memory as you stated. I sent an e-mail to the factory and they replied that they had never seen it happen. We have several of these units out there and only two ever had this happen, and it has not happened since.

[yucan2]

Thanks Gman1. That is somewhat encouraging. Nice to know the problem is not rampant.

To you or Tim, do you recall if this problem ever occurred twice or more on the same unit?

[yucan2]

Brief followup.

This customer has informed me that any power outage for any extended period of time would be catastrophic so I have ordered him a automatic 3 message dialer ($167.00). Powered by a combo 12V power supply/battery charger ($21.36), with a backup battery ($14.95).

First verbal message from dialer, "You have lost Utility power." Goodbye.
Second message upon closure of contact, "Generator running, normal output. Goodbye"
If second message never received, problem evident.
Third message. "Utility power restored. Goodbye".

I'll also be utilizing at least 1 Time Delay Relay.

Hopefully now, all will be right with his world. Phew!!!

[SkipD]

Brief followup.

This customer has informed me that any power outage for any extended period of time would be catastrophic so I have ordered him a automatic 3 message dialer ($167.00). Powered by a combo 12V power supply/battery charger ($21.36), with a backup battery ($14.95).

First verbal message from dialer, "You have lost Utility power." Goodbye.
Second message upon closure of contact, "Generator running, normal output. Goodbye"
If second message never received, problem evident.
Third message. "Utility power restored. Goodbye".

I'll also be utilizing at least 1 Time Delay Relay.

Hopefully now, all will be right with his world. Phew!!!Leroy, it might be helpful to many on the forum if you'd post the makes, model numbers, and where you got the equipment you listed.

[yucan2]

Leroy, it might be helpful to many on the forum if you'd post the makes, model numbers, and where you got the equipment you listed.

Here ya go Skip, sorry for the oversight.

1. (Dialer $167.43) http://www.safemart.com/Voice-Auto-Dialer/USP-AD-2000-Voice-Dialer.htm

2. (Power Supply $21.36) http://www.safemart.com/Elk-Power-Supplies-Accessories/Elk-Products-Power-SupplyBattery-Charger-6-12-or-24-Volts-DC-ELK-P624.htm

3. (Battery $14.95) http://www.safemart.com/Alarm-System-Battery/Alarm-System-Back-Up-Battery-12-Volt-4AH-12V4AH.htm

Forgot to mention that I also require a 16.5 VAC transformer at 45 VA.

4. (Transformer $12.14) http://www.safemart.com/Auxiliary-Power-Supplies/AC-Transformer-165-VAC-45-VA-with-circuit-breaker-ELK-TRG1640.htm

And though not needed, I decided to also purchase the separate ac transformer for the dialer (it comes with no power source), to ensure that battery stays fully charged rather than relying on the trickle charge to do the job.

5. (AC Transformer for Dialer $14.95) http://www.safemart.com/Voice-Auto-Dialer/USP-Auto-Dialer-Power-Supply-US-AC2P.htm

Total Parts $230.83 not including (1) 12x12x6 J-Box, (1) 11 pin relay and (1) Time Delay Relay with sockets.