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Home > Archive > Electrical Engineering > June 2006 > generac 5244 DOA
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| jbgreig@gmail.com 2006-05-31, 1:21 am |
| I have just installed a Generac 5244 generator. I bought it from a
dealer that does not service in my area (I know, I know....).
I hooked it up (and made absolutely sure everything was done according
to the specs...)
About two hours into the break-in phase, it failed. The windings
apparently failed (according to a service tech I talked to on the
phone). The breaker on the genset never tripped, and I had a Fluke
Clamp meter on it the whole time. It is a 16kw LP and 15kwNG unit. I
never got above 7.5kw. The generator produces no AC output, and in the
bottom of the unit there are pieces of copper wiring that have
apparently been burned off.
I live in an area hit by hurricane Rita last year, and the local
Generac service people I have had contact with have waiting lists of up
to 6 months. The only company that has agreed to take a look at it
wants a credit card on file for trip charges ($75 and "fuel surcharges"
just to take an initial look at it) and estimates it will take 6 weeks
to get it operational (2 weeks to make the initial service call, part
needs to be sent to Generac, tested, sent back, schedule follow up).
The dealer, who will remain unnamed at this point, has been of little
help. It seems to me that a brand new generator that fails initially
should be replaced. I purchased the unit on May 2nd, and still have no
resolution. Has anyone had a similar experience, or does anyone have
any advice? I just get the runaround with the dealer...
Thanks,
Brad
| |
| TimPerry 2006-05-31, 7:21 am |
| jbgreig@gmail.com wrote:
> I have just installed a Generac 5244 generator. I bought it from a
> dealer that does not service in my area (I know, I know....).
>
> I hooked it up (and made absolutely sure everything was done according
> to the specs...)
>
> About two hours into the break-in phase, it failed. The windings
> apparently failed (according to a service tech I talked to on the
> phone). The breaker on the genset never tripped, and I had a Fluke
> Clamp meter on it the whole time. It is a 16kw LP and 15kwNG unit. I
> never got above 7.5kw. The generator produces no AC output, and in
> the bottom of the unit there are pieces of copper wiring that have
> apparently been burned off.
>
> I live in an area hit by hurricane Rita last year, and the local
> Generac service people I have had contact with have waiting lists of
> up to 6 months. The only company that has agreed to take a look at it
> wants a credit card on file for trip charges ($75 and "fuel
> surcharges" just to take an initial look at it) and estimates it will
> take 6 weeks to get it operational (2 weeks to make the initial
> service call, part needs to be sent to Generac, tested, sent back,
> schedule follow up).
>
2 weeks doesn't sound so bad to me. i had to threaten mass homicide to get
someone out for an initial startup on a $40,000 install. (different company)
likewise the service charge is much smaller then what i get stuck for.
> The dealer, who will remain unnamed at this point, has been of little
> help. It seems to me that a brand new generator that fails initially
> should be replaced. I purchased the unit on May 2nd, and still have
> no resolution. Has anyone had a similar experience, or does anyone
> have any advice? I just get the runaround with the dealer...
>
> Thanks,
> Brad
the way it looks from my viewpoint is once you get above lawnmower sized
engines the whole generator sales/install/service industry turns goofy.
sorry to hear of you misfortune. lets hope that the bulk of the repair is
covered under warranty.
| |
|
| How did you pay for this generator? Some credit card companies provide
assitance/ relief for such situations (buyer protection plan), also if you
bought it from a dealer...did it have a warranty? If you have a Fluke Clamp
meter....what is your proffession?
"TimPerry" <timperry@noaspamadelphia.net> wrote in message
news:lMKdnS8zRNDn-uDZnZ2dnUVZ_tednZ2d@adelphia.com...
> jbgreig@gmail.com wrote:
>
> 2 weeks doesn't sound so bad to me. i had to threaten mass homicide to get
> someone out for an initial startup on a $40,000 install. (different
company)
>
> likewise the service charge is much smaller then what i get stuck for.
>
>
> the way it looks from my viewpoint is once you get above lawnmower sized
> engines the whole generator sales/install/service industry turns goofy.
> sorry to hear of you misfortune. lets hope that the bulk of the repair is
> covered under warranty.
>
>
| |
| jbgreig@gmail.com 2006-06-01, 12:21 pm |
| I payed with a credit card. I had thought about contesting, but wanted
to try and work with the dealer. It does have a warranty, but I was
concerned about having a lemon. I would have little faith in something
that failed right off the bat. The turnaround time on a repair, I was
told, would be up to 6 weeks, and hurricane season starts today!
Got great news last night. After going at it with Generac for a week,
my dealer called me and said Generac has agreed to ship me a brand new
generator today. Hopefully I will see it soon, but that's the best
news I have had in a while.
As for my profession, I'm in IT. I do data networks, network security,
etc. But I like nice instruments, and am beginning to wish I had taken
the EE route in school. But if I had I'd probably wish I was in IT.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Hopefully I'll have a new
generator soon, and I hope this one lasts a bit longer...
Brad
beard6801@bellsouth.net wrote:[color=darkred]
> How did you pay for this generator? Some credit card companies provide
> assitance/ relief for such situations (buyer protection plan), also if you
> bought it from a dealer...did it have a warranty? If you have a Fluke Clamp
> meter....what is your proffession?
> "TimPerry" <timperry@noaspamadelphia.net> wrote in message
> news:lMKdnS8zRNDn-uDZnZ2dnUVZ_tednZ2d@adelphia.com...
> company)
| |
| TimPerry 2006-06-03, 5:21 pm |
| jbgreig@gmail.com wrote:
> I payed with a credit card. I had thought about contesting, but
> wanted to try and work with the dealer. It does have a warranty, but
> I was concerned about having a lemon. I would have little faith in
> something that failed right off the bat. The turnaround time on a
> repair, I was told, would be up to 6 weeks, and hurricane season
> starts today!
>
> Got great news last night. After going at it with Generac for a week,
> my dealer called me and said Generac has agreed to ship me a brand new
> generator today. Hopefully I will see it soon, but that's the best
> news I have had in a while.
>
> As for my profession, I'm in IT. I do data networks, network
> security, etc. But I like nice instruments, and am beginning to wish
> I had taken the EE route in school. But if I had I'd probably wish I
> was in IT.
>
> Thanks for taking the time to reply. Hopefully I'll have a new
> generator soon, and I hope this one lasts a bit longer...
>
> Brad
I'd suggest having a master electrician look over the install before
starting up the new one. it would be worth at least $100 to me to know the
wiring was right.
| |
| alt.google@Kryder.com 2006-06-05, 5:21 am |
| that is good news.
Keep us posted.
jbgreig@gmail.com wrote:[color=darkred]
> I payed with a credit card. I had thought about contesting, but wanted
> to try and work with the dealer. It does have a warranty, but I was
> concerned about having a lemon. I would have little faith in something
> that failed right off the bat. The turnaround time on a repair, I was
> told, would be up to 6 weeks, and hurricane season starts today!
>
> Got great news last night. After going at it with Generac for a week,
> my dealer called me and said Generac has agreed to ship me a brand new
> generator today. Hopefully I will see it soon, but that's the best
> news I have had in a while.
>
> As for my profession, I'm in IT. I do data networks, network security,
> etc. But I like nice instruments, and am beginning to wish I had taken
> the EE route in school. But if I had I'd probably wish I was in IT.
>
> Thanks for taking the time to reply. Hopefully I'll have a new
> generator soon, and I hope this one lasts a bit longer...
>
> Brad
>
> beard6801@bellsouth.net wrote:
| |
| jbgreig@gmail.com 2006-06-05, 11:21 pm |
| TimPerry wrote:
> jbgreig@gmail.com wrote:
>
> I'd suggest having a master electrician look over the install before
> starting up the new one. it would be worth at least $100 to me to know the
> wiring was right.
Well, it's really pretty simple. I have a 70 amp breaker powering the
transfer switch, which basically acts as a subpanel. The setup is
actually less complicated than I had with a manual transfer switch
which I used previously.
My 70 amp breaker powers the 16 circuit transfer switch. If I kill the
power to the 70 amp breaker, my generator starts up. Load is not
transferred since there is insufficient voltage from the generator.
All worked fine for the first couple of hours it ran. Are there really
any wiring problems that would surface a couple of hours into the
break-in period?
If there are, I would appreciate a heads-up. It seems to me to be
fairly straight forward, but I certainly do not want to go through this
headache again...
I got my RMA papers from Generac today. I must say I have been
impressed with their service. Should have the new generator in a few
days.
I do have one additional question. Generac claims the unit will start
a 5 ton AC, which I happen to have. I have seen people talk of using
KickStart hard start devices to help in starting AC units when powered
by generators. This is a link to their website:
http://www.kickstartoem.com
I have purchased one but have not installed it. Does anyone have any
experience with these or opinions as to their usefulness?
Thanks again for the replies. I appreciate all of the responses.
Brad
| |
| **THE-RFI-EMI-GUY** 2006-06-06, 1:21 am |
| Are you sure your transfer switch is connected properly? They are very
complex beasts.
Be sure to do it right, and have an electrician look at it if you are
not 100% sure.
Joe
jbgreig@gmail.com wrote:
>TimPerry wrote:
>
>
>
>Well, it's really pretty simple. I have a 70 amp breaker powering the
>transfer switch, which basically acts as a subpanel. The setup is
>actually less complicated than I had with a manual transfer switch
>which I used previously.
>
>My 70 amp breaker powers the 16 circuit transfer switch. If I kill the
>power to the 70 amp breaker, my generator starts up. Load is not
>transferred since there is insufficient voltage from the generator.
>
>All worked fine for the first couple of hours it ran. Are there really
>any wiring problems that would surface a couple of hours into the
>break-in period?
>
>If there are, I would appreciate a heads-up. It seems to me to be
>fairly straight forward, but I certainly do not want to go through this
>headache again...
>
>I got my RMA papers from Generac today. I must say I have been
>impressed with their service. Should have the new generator in a few
>days.
>
>I do have one additional question. Generac claims the unit will start
>a 5 ton AC, which I happen to have. I have seen people talk of using
>KickStart hard start devices to help in starting AC units when powered
>by generators. This is a link to their website:
>http://www.kickstartoem.com
>
>I have purchased one but have not installed it. Does anyone have any
>experience with these or opinions as to their usefulness?
>
>Thanks again for the replies. I appreciate all of the responses.
>
>Brad
>
>
>
--
Joe Leikhim K4SAT
"The RFI-EMI-GUY"©
"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."
"Follow The Money" ;-P
| |
| TimPerry 2006-06-07, 2:21 am |
| jbgreig@gmail.com wrote:
> TimPerry wrote:
>
> Well, it's really pretty simple. I have a 70 amp breaker powering the
> transfer switch, which basically acts as a subpanel.
im having a hard time picturing a transfer switch that acts as a subpanel.
maybe this is a companion unit that came with the generator?
The setup is
> actually less complicated than I had with a manual transfer switch
> which I used previously.
>
> My 70 amp breaker powers the 16 circuit transfer switch.
can you describe this a little more?
> If I kill
> the power to the 70 amp breaker, my generator starts up.
OK so far... on loss of power the generator auto starts.
Load is not
> transferred since there is insufficient voltage from the generator.
you lost me here... once the generator comes up to speed the switch should
transfer... then when power is restored, after a timed delay, switch back
and shut off generator.
>
> All worked fine for the first couple of hours it ran. Are there
> really any wiring problems that would surface a couple of hours into
> the break-in period?
>
> If there are, I would appreciate a heads-up. It seems to me to be
> fairly straight forward, but I certainly do not want to go through
> this headache again...
>
> I got my RMA papers from Generac today. I must say I have been
> impressed with their service. Should have the new generator in a few
> days.
>
> I do have one additional question. Generac claims the unit will start
> a 5 ton AC, which I happen to have. I have seen people talk of using
> KickStart hard start devices to help in starting AC units when powered
> by generators. This is a link to their website:
> http://www.kickstartoem.com
>
> I have purchased one but have not installed it. Does anyone have any
> experience with these or opinions as to their usefulness?
>
> Thanks again for the replies. I appreciate all of the responses.
>
> Brad
| |
| jbgreig@gmail.com 2006-06-07, 1:21 pm |
|
TimPerry wrote:
> jbgreig@gmail.com wrote:
>
> im having a hard time picturing a transfer switch that acts as a subpanel.
>
> maybe this is a companion unit that came with the generator?
>
>
>
> The setup is
>
> can you describe this a little more?
>
>
> OK so far... on loss of power the generator auto starts.
>
>
> Load is not
>
> you lost me here... once the generator comes up to speed the switch should
> transfer... then when power is restored, after a timed delay, switch back
> and shut off generator.
>
Yes. It should. But there is a problem with the generator (It's not
generating any power). It was working fine for a couple of hours, and
then the output dropped to .1 volts. I have been told the windings are
likely bad.
And yes, the transfer switch came packaged with the generator. It's a
Generac 100AMP that powers 16 circuits.
[color=darkred]
>
| |
| TimPerry 2006-06-08, 12:21 am |
| >>
ok i got it... the transfer switch does not operate now because the gen is
bad.
[color=darkred]
> Yes. It should. But there is a problem with the generator (It's not
> generating any power). It was working fine for a couple of hours, and
> then the output dropped to .1 volts. I have been told the windings
> are likely bad.
>
> And yes, the transfer switch came packaged with the generator. It's a
> Generac 100AMP that powers 16 circuits.
>
OK, just double and triple check that line and load connections are not
reversed.
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