John Colby
June 14th, 2007, 02:20 PM
Kelly,
I just wanted to post and let you know I got my 16KW unit installed and fired it up this morning. The first start took some cranking, something that I would guess is normal. It took about 3 minutes of cranking for 15 seconds, resting for 15 seconds, repeat, then it fired up, died a couple of times, then fired up and ran. I ran it 7 minutes and then shut it down.
I then performed the tests, applying load etc. I am happy to relate that it even started the air conditioner, something I was holding my breath on. The air conditioner is supposed to pull 25 amps but is pulling 33 (according to an ammeter they put around the wire). The electrician who did the install said it is probably just "advanced age", the AC is original equipment for the house, from about 1992 AFAICT. But the genset handled the load when the AC kicked in, just a little light dim/flicker. BTW, it took the AC kicking in to cause a change in the sound of the genset. I won't say that the RPM changed, but the "sound" of the engine changed. And BTW it is also running an 8K btu window air conditioner plus all of my office computers. I wandered around turning on lights in all of the rooms and stuff.
I then applied the mains again and observed the genset power down correctly. Then a few minutes later, cut the mains again to simulate power loss. The genset correctly fired up and assumed the load. The central AC was running when I interrupted the mains, (trying to run on genset startup) and the generator "struggled" to supply the load. The sound was as if the genset was running at a lower speed (Power?) and then abruptly I could hear a significant difference in the sound and all the lights came on (and the AC as well). I would say it took about 3-5 seconds to get the voltage up and stable.
Also, the startup does take about 5 seconds of cranking before the engine fires up.
Now I have to do some tests to make sure my office computers (UPSes) handle the power off time until the genset powers up and assumes the load.
So all in all I am very happy. I am pretty sure that I have an AC on the way out (I'll just replace it next summer I think) but in spite of all that the genset started and assumed the load, even if it struggled a bit to "get up to speed" due to the central AC.
I have the standby power, which is a nice feeling.
So anyway, nice product and fast shipping. And thanks for the forums and support on the forums, that is a nice touch.
John W. Colby
Colby Consulting
www.colbyconsulting.com
I just wanted to post and let you know I got my 16KW unit installed and fired it up this morning. The first start took some cranking, something that I would guess is normal. It took about 3 minutes of cranking for 15 seconds, resting for 15 seconds, repeat, then it fired up, died a couple of times, then fired up and ran. I ran it 7 minutes and then shut it down.
I then performed the tests, applying load etc. I am happy to relate that it even started the air conditioner, something I was holding my breath on. The air conditioner is supposed to pull 25 amps but is pulling 33 (according to an ammeter they put around the wire). The electrician who did the install said it is probably just "advanced age", the AC is original equipment for the house, from about 1992 AFAICT. But the genset handled the load when the AC kicked in, just a little light dim/flicker. BTW, it took the AC kicking in to cause a change in the sound of the genset. I won't say that the RPM changed, but the "sound" of the engine changed. And BTW it is also running an 8K btu window air conditioner plus all of my office computers. I wandered around turning on lights in all of the rooms and stuff.
I then applied the mains again and observed the genset power down correctly. Then a few minutes later, cut the mains again to simulate power loss. The genset correctly fired up and assumed the load. The central AC was running when I interrupted the mains, (trying to run on genset startup) and the generator "struggled" to supply the load. The sound was as if the genset was running at a lower speed (Power?) and then abruptly I could hear a significant difference in the sound and all the lights came on (and the AC as well). I would say it took about 3-5 seconds to get the voltage up and stable.
Also, the startup does take about 5 seconds of cranking before the engine fires up.
Now I have to do some tests to make sure my office computers (UPSes) handle the power off time until the genset powers up and assumes the load.
So all in all I am very happy. I am pretty sure that I have an AC on the way out (I'll just replace it next summer I think) but in spite of all that the genset started and assumed the load, even if it struggled a bit to "get up to speed" due to the central AC.
I have the standby power, which is a nice feeling.
So anyway, nice product and fast shipping. And thanks for the forums and support on the forums, that is a nice touch.
John W. Colby
Colby Consulting
www.colbyconsulting.com