Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Does the manual have a schematic, or can you google one up? It's quite possible the DC outlet is live while you're using the AC outlet and they just don't want you drawing on both at once. But an hourmeter draws an insignificant amount of current. Or if there's a switch to choose between the two, you can tap off 12V on the back of it.

Every inverter generator I've ever used puts out both AC and DC at the same time.

How does the generator know to put out AC or DC? Is there a toggle switch to pick one or the other? Maybe a sensor on the outlets?

Hook up a voltmeter and test/confirm only AC or DC is working...I'll wager they both run at the same time.

-Robert@Honda
Caveat: I work for Honda, but the preceding is my opinion alone.

Thanks for the input guys.

There's no switch to select AC or DC.  There are reset switches for both AC and DC outputs that's it. 
I checked the schematic and it appears that they're on separte circuits whith their own supply source.  I'll probably haul the machine up out of the basement and fire it up to take a reading with the multimeter.  

I tested the generator and it does put out AC and DC simultaneously.  What I noticed was that idle, it was producing approx. 13.5 volts DC, as I increased the AC load to about 50% rated output (1000 watts),  the DC current increased to 14.5% and when near full output (2000 watts) it was getting close to 15 volts DC.  I'm assuming that the reason they don't want to utilize both AC and DC at the same time is that the DC output might be higher than the manufacturer would like.  Personally, 15 volts isn't that bad for discharged battery.  However, as the battery gets to maximum charge, it would be a bit heavy, resulting in cooking off electrolyte.  Not that it would be a concern for me.  I'll likely use a regular AC charger to take care of batteries and just use the DC outlet to power the hour meter.  

Now to find a couple non LCD hour meters for a reasonable price.

Thanks again for your help.

Borat-I can't answer your question but have a meter suggestion for you. if you haven't bought the meter yet try to locate one from a manufacturer named Hobbs. They make them in both ac and dc in different voltages. I bought one and installed it on my Gillette and couldn't be happier. I opened up the panel and tapped into the back of one of the duplex plugs and mounted the meter on the frame using one of their available brackets.Couldn't agree more about the non lcd comment! Marc

As MML14 said Hobbs makes hour meters and I know for a fact that Hobbs hour meters are used on most if not  all military generators.  

The higher DC voltage when the engine is turning faster is probably normal.

While my experience is limited to Honda generators, I know other brands with DC charging often behave the same way, and nearly all are unregulated charging circuits. So it really depends on how well the hour meter tolerates these different voltages. Might be better to run it off the AC circuit, which is more regulated and steady.

-Robert@Honda
Caveat: I work for Honda, but the preceding is my opinion alone.

robertcoats wrote:
The DC hour meters can handle quite a wide range of voltage variances.  Some of the Redington units showed that they handle anthing between 10 to 80 volts.  That should be a wide enough spread to handle the purpose I need it for.  I kept the multimeter on the generator for an hour or more and other than when changing load on the machine, the voltage stayed quite consistent. 

Hey if you look at the Hobbs Meter,  be sure you price one for equipment use,   they are a very popular aircraft hour meter manufacturer... (All hour meters oin aircraft are referred to as "Hobbs" meters)... and the price jumps for Aircraft parts..

They are a good meter, and they make Analog meters...

Friiy

friiy wrote:
There's no way in HELL that I'm paing $150.00 plus for a Hobbs hour meter (loca Grainger price).  That's half the price I paid for the generator.  No going to happen.  I can buy a Redington for $35.00.

borat wrote:

Borat, do an ebay search with the words "Hobbs hour meter" and you will see plenty in your price range.

Thanks for the tip.  However, that's ebay USA.  Not Canada. 

I'd have to get it shipped to the border, drive there, pick it up and clear customs etc. then drive home (hour and a half round trip)  vs. buying another brand on this side of the border for the same amount.   Less BS to deal with.  I've got a nephew who's got a freebe for me and will arrange to pick me up a couple more for other applications.  He lives in a large center where there's lots of places that sell them at reasonable prices.  Better than being held hostage in this one horse town.  

borat wrote:

http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-other-hobbs-hour-meters-some-different-styles-W0QQAdIdZ213049252

I ran some tests with and without the exhaust extension on the 2000 watt Chinese built generator today.  

Ambient temperature was approx. 35 deg. F, overcast, damp moderate breeze.  Generator was put at the opening of the garage door with no obstructions near it to affect readings. 

Using a Kill-a-watt meter and an infrared thermometer, I tested the generator with no extension running at medium load (1150 watts) to a heavier load (1700 watts).  Temperatures in the area around the opening in the muffler were around 425 deg. F at medium load and closer to 500 deg. F at heavier load. 

I attached the exhaust extension which consisted of one 6" piece of 1" dia. copper pipe and another piece 12" long and two 45 degree couplers at each end of the 6" piece coming off of the muffler. 

Temperatures at moderate loads increased to around 450 degrees (approx. 25 deg. increase) while full load temperatures went up to as high as 530 degrees (approx. 30 deg. increase).  Accordingly, from initial readings, the exhaust extension does contribute to higher exhaust system temperatures.  If the temperatures do not become exessively high, this might not be a bad thing.  Increasing exhaust gas temperatures actually helps expedite exhaust gasses thus increasing efficiency of the combustion process.  At least that's what I've read in articles written about motorcycle engines.  If anyone knows anything to the contrary, I'd like to hear it.

After doing the tests, I drained the oil which had approximate 6 to 7 hours on it.  The original oil that came with the machine was no-name Chinese 10W30.  When drained, it was brownish black.  I drained the hot oil into a funnel lined with a filter I made from white paper towel similar to a coffee filter.  Other than discolouring the filter, there was virtually no observable engine debris.  This is one of the cleanest new engines I've owned.  I'm not surprised though.  A couple years ago, I bought a standard type Champion (Chinese) generator with a Honda 196cc clone engine.  It was remarkably clean as well.  That tells me that the Chinese appear to be making serious progress in construction and quality control building their small engines.   I filled the engine with a 50-50 blend of Shell Rotella T 15W40 and 10W30.  I'll run that for the next 50 hours or so before switching over to the 5W50 Castrol synthetic.

Another pleasant surprise was the fuel consumption.  On exactly one litre of gasoline, the engine was run for approx. 45 minutes at 1150 watts (57.5% load) and another 20 minutes at approx. 1700 watts (85% load).  That's 65 minutes at approx. 2/3rds load.  Considering that I'll be using on average less than 500 watts for hours of light load applications, I'm looking forward to very reasonable fuel consumption.  I'm guessing in the vicinity of 2 hrs. per litre give or take a few ounces.

Overall, I'm fairly impressed with this inexpensive little generator.

we tried to run an extension with a quieter muffler on our 4 hp coleman generator and it didn't run very well and started consuming oil.we put it back to original exhaust and parked the trailer with the generator 100 ft from the tent and ran a long extension cord with a remote kill switch.been like that for over 15 yrs working fine.here's a picture of the tent taken from the trailer where the generator is located.we use the tent 2 weeks a year for turkey and deer hunting that we have 110 volt lights in as well as a tv with remote control.