I don't think this is a power factor problem. My guess is that that the generator is "seeing" some of the switching as on-off, particularly at the lower power outputs while the batteries are topping off. The repeated intermittent "load drops" may be creating voltage spikes, "frying" the voltage regulator on the generator.
I would try wiring up a load of say 300 watts of light bulbs and put them online as a base load for the generator while it is running, so it will never see a no load situation. There will still be plenty of watts for battery charging. Oso --- In [email protected], [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > I agree with Graeme regarding the hash the switched-mode/pwm power supplies > make of many generator outputs. The caps are a appropriate solution to the > problem. If the generator is oversized by about 75-100% the generator generally > manages to overcome the problem through brute force. Thus if you are using a > 2500 watt generator to provide, say 6 amps/240V worst-case reactive power to > the charger then I think something else may be amiss as well. For instance, are > you sure you do not have other loads running at the same time? Washing machine, > fridge, pump? > > Rob > > > > > Quoting Frank Leslie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > > > > > > > > > > Graeme, > > > > > > > > Consider the difference between volt-amps that express complex power in > > > > which generators are rated. Driving a resistive load, it will supply the > > > > same number of watts of real power. A reactive load, usually inductive (like > > > > motors or transformers), will require imaginary power at phase right angles > > > > to the real power. The square root of the sum of the squares of real and > > > > reactive powers yields the complex power that the generator must supply. > > > > > > > > If the Truecharge has a low power factor, say 0.7 (1.0 is resistive), then > > > > the generator may be overloaded if it can't supply the complex power. > > > > Capacitors added in parallel with the input can restore the power factor to > > > > near 1.0. > > > > > > > > This is just a guess, as I don't know what the Xantrex power factor value > > > > is. These are sharp guys -- ask them. > > > > > > > > Frank > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Behalf Of Graeme > > > > Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 11:38 PM > > > > To: [email protected] > > > > Subject: [microhydro] petrol generator problem - low voltage > > > > > > > > > > > > I am setting up my micro hydro system. Until I get the generator installed > > > > at > > > > the waterfall and the transmission line in place I am using petrol > > > > generators > > > > to provide power to charge the batteries. > > > > > > > > The only load on the generator is a Xantrex Truecharge 40i+ > > > > > > > > So far I have had a Scorpian DY2500L replaced and the replecement repaired > > > > because of low output voltage (ie less than 200v instead of 230v). I also > > > > have > > > > two GMC 850W units that have the same problem. > > > > > > > > I have contacted Xantrex asking if the Truecharge puts a strange load on > > > > the > > > > generator but they didn't answer the question. > > > > > > > > I can keep having petrol generators replaced / repaired while under > > > > warrenty > > > > but I need to know the likely fault and how to prevent it. > > > > > > > > I do not want to have my hydro generator fail as it is not convienient to > > > > pull > > > > out. > > > > > > > > If any-one has suggestions on likely cause and how to prevent it please > > > > let me > > > > know. > > > > > > > > Cheers > > > > Graeme > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________ > > > > Do you Yahoo!? > > > > Never miss an Instant Message - Yahoo! 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