Generator help

[Robotstar5]

We've got a Clarke generator at the stables (no mains for miles!) new about this time last year, happily ran 6 fluorescent fittings, a couple of floodlights and boiled a few kettles.

A couple of weeks ago I started using the 12VDC output to charge a battery which powers the inverter "pilot" lights but noticed the (230V) output voltage drops from 200 to 130 when battery connected, so disconnected charge wiring.

Then one of the fluorescent lights stopped working, as it was an old one, I fitted a new 5' twin but when switching on voltage again drops to 130V, removed fitting thinking it was duff but it works fine on a plug at home.

Back to the stable with test gear and found 4 of the flourescents work fine, the 5th will only start if some of the others are on (no, it's not a wiring fault!) and the new one will also start but only when other fittings are on, if I try the new fitting on it's own, voltage drops and frequency rises

Anyone know if modern fluorescent fittings are generator friendly or has using the 12VDC function damaged the generator?

Sorry for the long post, but wanted to provide all history/symtoms.

 

[the snooper]

sounds like the generator could be running at the wrong speed especially under load and hence the wrong frequency do you have a meter with HZ on it

could be a governor problem

 

[madkayaker]

the frequency fluctuation might have upset the fluorescent control gear. we did a job using American kit and lots of it so we made the whole building 60Hz through a converter and used 60Hz kit. but someone forgot about the fluorescent lights and they went pop and set alight!

 

[Robotstar5]

sounds like the generator could be running at the wrong speed especially under load and hence the wrong frequency do you have a meter with HZ on it

Yes, it's running at about 51Hz off load and doesn't change much with most of the "good" lights on plus switching on the kettle doesn't cause it to drift, I can hear the engine tone change as it loads up, it's only the new fitting that causes the problem (and using the 12VDC output) causing frequency to rise and voltage to fall.

 

[madkayaker]

is the new one a high frequancy fitting or something daft like that?

 

[the snooper]

do you know if the generator has an avr or is it capacitor regulated, if its the later then capacitance might have something to do with voltage increase.
frequency rise has to do with engine speed 3000rpm = 50Hz

 

[Robotstar5]

is the new one a high frequancy fitting or something daft like that?

Probably, would that cause problems with the genny? works OK at home.

 

[the snooper]

i have a 2D light that wont run on the genny but there is nothing special about the light, usual choke and starter.

it could be down to a different waveform produced by a generator

 

[madkayaker]

the light might be mucking up the waveform from the genny which it carn't cope with. at home any back emf clears off into the grid

 

[Robotstar5]

Looks like a might be expensive trying to find a new light fitting that works then

 

[madkayaker]

or use incandesent light bulbs!

 

[Robotstar5]

or use incandesent light bulbs!

Well I did think of a couple of these but don't know if I would have the same problems.

 

[the snooper]

as the new light will start when others are on,
did you notice if the frequency is lower with the other lights on (genny already under load)

 

[madkayaker]

its just a fancy CFL fitting. you can get a normal fitting and use CFL bulbs. the only reason to use those it there building reg compliant probily not an issues for you

 

[brightspark]

Well I did think of a couple of these but don't know if I would have the same problems.

there crap pl bulbs in those fittings dont even go there bulbs are wired in series if ones of both go off

 

[Robotstar5]

as the new light will start when others are on,
did you notice if the frequency is lower with the other lights on (genny already under load)

Freqency is stable on and off load and stays stable when new fitting is added to load

 

[the snooper]

got to be a sensitive light fitting then as for your battery charge circuit that is also strange.
had a look at the manual and it doesnt give much away apart from the battery should only be connected once the genny is running.
it doesnt state the regulation type capacitor or avr or even altenator make

 

[Robotstar5]

Mrs Robo has just suggested we try the fitting on the same make/model generator the girl with the "next door" stables has, so got to wait 'til next weekend.

Clarke manual is really helpful I suspect spares costs would be dearer than a replacement genny

 

[the snooper]

check also if the invertor will run it

 

[Robotstar5]

check also if the invertor will run it

Had thought of that but genny/inverter wiring is totally seperate and battery only lasts a week running pilot lighting so extra load would probably mean 2 battery changes a week!


Thanks for all the replies by the way