ECN Forum Forums Photo Discussion Forums Photos for General Discussion George C's HotSticks

Like I said, George, I meant no disrespect. It's good to know that you have the lineman's view. All along, I thought you were like me, just a sparky.

Keep up the great posts on this forum. I will try to direct more lineman type questions your way!

Rick

Per the Cornpacitor, I was thinking of the Cap that clamps Ignition Points (Surge Reduction Cap) - but does any Gasoline Engine produced in the last 10 Years use a Brute Force Ignition system, as opposed to Electronic Controlled items?

So obviously this is not the Ker-paciderr failure I invisioned, so on to the next!

The Cap on the Exciter - is this being failed open or closed?
Would changing to a more heavy abuse type Electrolytic Cap be possible?

That would really suck to lose a Genny's output in the middle of a serious situation!
Guess the Back-up power source needs a Back-up power source!


I have only dealt with a few Gennys using Gasoline Prime Movers, and these were in the power range of only 5 KW - and used only for personal "Temp Power" (in the woods, on a project during service shut down, to run a power tool where there is no AC power available, and such).

Dealt with more Gennys that had Diesel Prime Movers, and were rated power >10 KW.
Was also involved on a Go-Generation install which used Gas-Turbines for Prime Movers (Fuel = Natural Gas).

In High School Advanced Automotives / Diesel Mechanics, we had a few donated Army Surplus Gennys, which were used as "Working Models".
On these, we (in groups) would take the Prime Mover out of the Assemblage, dismantle the entire Diesel Motor, Gage everything, Identify everything to the Instructor, then re-assemble the Motor and re-install it as a complete unit once again.

Once this was accomplished, the final grading point was to Smoke Test it (in this case - more like "Flying Parts Test"!).
Successfully getting the Motor started, rev'ed to 1800 RPMs, held steady for no less than 1 Minute, then shut down - all without a loss of parts, or call to the Fire Department - was target goal and success in passing that task.

Was very nice working on those big Diesels!
Had two flavors of Prime Movers - 6-71 and 8V92 (of course, from the designations shown - Detroit Diesels!...GM Diesels).
Looking back, I wish that one of us took the time to find out the Gennys' Output Stats! Never thought about that when I was 17-18, probably tarnished from the idea of getting inside a big Diesel!

Thought those were large - until seeing some really big Diesels!
The Gennys at the Playboy Mansion are not very small! One is rated at something like 300 KW, and the other one is 750 KW!
Last I heard, there's another one on its way! This is rumored to be in the Megawatt range.
(whaddaheck Hef' needs so much power for is anyones guess! Maybe they are moving into the Co-Generation direction too!...highly doubtful, as they have plenty of $$$ already!).

For me, the Prime Movers I have seen which truly classify as "Big Diesels" would be the Prime Movers in Diesel-Electric Locomotives.
Large 24 Cylinder, 14,000 CID, Blown and Turbocharged Two-Stroker Prime Movers, driving a Godzilla-Sized 3Ø Alternator is something nice to me!
(The Alternators are 8 Pole Animals).

For Locomotives incorporating "Hotel Power" / HEP (AC power for the Passenger Cars), the Prime Mover will be Governed for 900 RPMs.
I'll tell 'ya, driving a Two-Stroker with 16 - 20 Cylinders at 900 RPMs sounds like it's running at 90,000 RPMs!!!


Haven't had the chance to touch any larger Diesels than these, but if the opprotunity arises - I'm there!

Thanks for the stories.

Scott35

Scott,
Easy diagnosis. On the exciter circuit, you can see the diodes and the cap at the rear of the little genny, take 4 bolts out, your done. I've only seen one diode fail, but these caps are fairly common.

This genset was about 12 years old, so he got good service out of it. The cap was shorted.

We had one at the prison that was a KTA50 cummins. It was developed as a train engine, I can't remember the HP rating of this moose, but it was pretty high. Danged nice engine. We had 1.2KW gensets powered by 3516 Cats that were pretty nice also.

All our stuff was 4,160. These were the biggest gens I ever had to work on, maintain.

I really enjoy working on an engine you walk up to with your tools , creeper???? Heck, I need a ladder.

And everyone wonders why I drive a diesel (Cummins - Thank you) and wear the Tee shirt that says "I AM my own warranty station"

George,
Ahh, I hear you there,mate!.
I've never had problems with pulling live cut-outs, what I have had problems with in the past is, removing the old links form the holder and putting new links back in.
Add into the equation, the fact that it is usually dark and windy when you want the hot-stick to behave itself!.

as speaking about coleman generators the capatior is most common failuare i do get fair share of failuare with open capatiotor usesally caused by hevey surge espcally with starting med to large electric motors with small genney [ 8 KW or less] but larger one useally didoe failure that do including big 2 MW aka 2000 KW generator [ btw it was brand new one with failed didoe] and i do work on all size of generator from small 1 kw diesel and gas unit to monster multi megawatts unit [ useally diesel or dual fuel engines] some engine you actally need a extison ladder just to get up to the valve cover some engines are so huge that they are bigger than average sized pick up truck like scott say about huge EMD's GE's ohh yeah with few oddballs i can add to this listing like Fairbanks Morse opposion piston engine [ smooth but hard to time it lol]

i will explain more other time

thanks ,, marc


Scott35 some HEP locos are governed at 720 rpm also like older FM units and some Alco units too

[This message has been edited by frenchelectrican (edited 09-22-2004).]