Electrical Engineering - Generac generator has no AC output

Author

Generac generator has no AC output

Gene

2006-06-09, 8:21 pm

Hi all,

I have a 5000 watt portable Generac generator model PP5000T and it
does not have any AC output. The engine starts right up but I can not
get any AC out of it. I have only used it for about 20 days in two
years. ( I live in FL and it is for hurricane season. ) I have checked
the circuit breakers and all the connections to the front panel where
the AC outlets are. Everything is OK. I tested the connector plug that
connects directly into this front panel and it does not have any
voltage.

I have read many differnt posts about troubleshooting no AC output but
have a couple questions.

I have read that a generator can become demagnatized and may need to
have the core remagnatized or flashed. I have seen a couple posts
about how to do this and just want see if I can get an answer on how
to do this. As i understand it I need to provide a quick DC voltage to
remagnatize the core and jump start things. but I have a couple quick
questions on how to do this.

Can I use the connector coming to the front circuit breaker panel to
do this? This is a plug with three wires which connects directly into
the circuit breaker panel. The connector has a blue, gray and red
wire. Which wires would I use?

Do I need to use 12 VDC or would a 9 VDC battery do the trick?
I read one post which said a simple 9 VDC battery like you use in a
smoke detector is just fine to use but most other posts talk about a
car battery.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? Yes, I know I can take it to
a service center but getting it there is difficult and I would like to
do that as a last resort.

Thanks so much for your time and any suggestions would be appreciated
as hurricane season is once again upon us and I would like to see if I
can get this running.

regards,
Gene

TimPerry

2006-06-10, 9:21 am

Gene wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I have a 5000 watt portable Generac generator model PP5000T and it
> does not have any AC output. The engine starts right up but I can not
> get any AC out of it. I have only used it for about 20 days in two
> years. ( I live in FL and it is for hurricane season. ) I have checked
> the circuit breakers and all the connections to the front panel where
> the AC outlets are. Everything is OK. I tested the connector plug that
> connects directly into this front panel and it does not have any
> voltage.
>
> I have read many differnt posts about troubleshooting no AC output but
> have a couple questions.
>
> I have read that a generator can become demagnatized and may need to
> have the core remagnatized or flashed. I have seen a couple posts
> about how to do this and just want see if I can get an answer on how
> to do this. As i understand it I need to provide a quick DC voltage to
> remagnatize the core and jump start things. but I have a couple quick
> questions on how to do this.
>
> Can I use the connector coming to the front circuit breaker panel to
> do this? This is a plug with three wires which connects directly into
> the circuit breaker panel. The connector has a blue, gray and red
> wire. Which wires would I use?
>
> Do I need to use 12 VDC or would a 9 VDC battery do the trick?
> I read one post which said a simple 9 VDC battery like you use in a
> smoke detector is just fine to use but most other posts talk about a
> car battery.
>
> Does anyone have any other suggestions? Yes, I know I can take it to
> a service center but getting it there is difficult and I would like to
> do that as a last resort.
>
> Thanks so much for your time and any suggestions would be appreciated
> as hurricane season is once again upon us and I would like to see if I
> can get this running.
>
> regards,
> Gene

a knowledgeable service technician is your very best option.

unless exposed to a nuculear EMP pulse your 2 year old magnet is probably
just fine.

shorting a 9V 'transistor' battery while holding it is not recomended. at
best it gets very hot. the amount of energy needed to magnitize a 5k
generator magnet will be more then a 9V can supply.

if you can get at the circuit breaker terminals, check for continuity with
an ohmmeter.

Gene

2006-06-11, 3:21 pm

On Sat, 10 Jun 2006 08:06:53 -0400, "TimPerry"
<timperry@noaspamadelphia.net> wrote:

>Gene wrote:
>
>
>a knowledgeable service technician is your very best option.
>
>unless exposed to a nuculear EMP pulse your 2 year old magnet is probably
>just fine.
>
>shorting a 9V 'transistor' battery while holding it is not recomended. at
>best it gets very hot. the amount of energy needed to magnitize a 5k
>generator magnet will be more then a 9V can supply.
>
>if you can get at the circuit breaker terminals, check for continuity with
>an ohmmeter.
>

Thanks Tim.

I did check the circuit breakers and also the AC output directly via
the main wiring going to the circuit breaker panel with a digital
meter and had no output from the generator to the panel. My first
thought was that the wiring harness or plug was loose but this does
not seem to be the case.

Do you have a suggestion as to how I could test the magnet? Could I
test with a metal screw driver for example?

If the magnet does need to be re magnatized is it done via the output
cable to the circuit breaker panel? (red grey and blue wires coming
from the generatog to the plug in the back of the circuit breaker
panel)

thanks....

TimPerry

2006-06-11, 11:21 pm

Gene wrote:
> On Sat, 10 Jun 2006 08:06:53 -0400, "TimPerry"
> <timperry@noaspamadelphia.net> wrote:
>
>
>
> Thanks Tim.
>
> I did check the circuit breakers and also the AC output directly via
> the main wiring going to the circuit breaker panel with a digital
> meter and had no output from the generator to the panel. My first
> thought was that the wiring harness or plug was loose but this does
> not seem to be the case.
>
> Do you have a suggestion as to how I could test the magnet? Could I
> test with a metal screw driver for example?
>
> If the magnet does need to be re magnatized is it done via the output
> cable to the circuit breaker panel? (red grey and blue wires coming
> from the generatog to the plug in the back of the circuit breaker
> panel)
>
> thanks....

first im not a generator expert. i would highly recommend contacting the
manufacturer at this point.

next. you should not put DC in the wires where the AC comes out of. in fact
i would say forget about flashing altogether. i feel you are being led
astray.
according to the manual
http://www.generac-portables.com/da.../1140_0en2w.pdf
this unit seems to use electromagnet excitation (not permanent magnet
excitation)

if you can locate and test the bridge rectifier you might be able to replace
it yourself if you find it is bad.

lost fisherman

2006-06-19, 1:25 pm

I had the same problem with the same model, under warranty. I
purchased it to replace a very unreliable off-brand unit that I bought
for an emergency. I took that one back, bought the Generac, only had
it for a days before it stopped providing current within the first hour
of the first time I hooked it up to test it.

I took it to a certified repair center, learned that it blew the rotor.
By the way, the technician, as I wheeled it into the store, looked at
me and said "Oh look, another Generjunk victim!".

Took it back, replaced it with a Makita, which is made by Robin.
Strong running, easy starting, reliable. Only complaint: noisy, but
still quieter than either the Generac or the off-brand unit.

Gene wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I have a 5000 watt portable Generac generator model PP5000T and it
> does not have any AC output. The engine starts right up but I can not
> get any AC out of it. I have only used it for about 20 days in two
> years. ( I live in FL and it is for hurricane season. ) I have checked
> the circuit breakers and all the connections to the front panel where
> the AC outlets are. Everything is OK. I tested the connector plug that
> connects directly into this front panel and it does not have any
> voltage.
>
> I have read many differnt posts about troubleshooting no AC output but
> have a couple questions.
>
> I have read that a generator can become demagnatized and may need to
> have the core remagnatized or flashed. I have seen a couple posts
> about how to do this and just want see if I can get an answer on how
> to do this. As i understand it I need to provide a quick DC voltage to
> remagnatize the core and jump start things. but I have a couple quick
> questions on how to do this.
>
> Can I use the connector coming to the front circuit breaker panel to
> do this? This is a plug with three wires which connects directly into
> the circuit breaker panel. The connector has a blue, gray and red
> wire. Which wires would I use?
>
> Do I need to use 12 VDC or would a 9 VDC battery do the trick?
> I read one post which said a simple 9 VDC battery like you use in a
> smoke detector is just fine to use but most other posts talk about a
> car battery.
>
> Does anyone have any other suggestions? Yes, I know I can take it to
> a service center but getting it there is difficult and I would like to
> do that as a last resort.
>
> Thanks so much for your time and any suggestions would be appreciated
> as hurricane season is once again upon us and I would like to see if I
> can get this running.
>
> regards,
> Gene

LinkBot