|
|
10-04-2018, 14:03
|
#1
|
S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
|
Generator AVR
My generator has a capacitor for voltage control and when loaded the voltage drops a lot. Does anyone know it it is reasonally possible to change it to an AVR or even a manual one?
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
|
|
|
11-04-2018, 04:47
|
#2
|
S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
|
Re: Generator AVR
No one, on an electrical question?
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
|
|
|
11-04-2018, 06:32
|
#3
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 117
|
Re: Generator AVR
What type of generator?
Several AVR's are available off the rack. I am in the process of changing out an aftermarket AVR in a Westerbeke 8kw that has become intermittent when it heats up. Just 2 120v wires, 2 field wires, no big deal, but you need an AVR that matches your field voltage range. The field voltage on that unit is in the 10-12v range. Marathons are more like 60-70v.
PM me and I'll give you the phone no of a guy in Miami who can probably get you the right one.
|
|
|
11-04-2018, 09:53
|
#4
|
S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
|
Re: Generator AVR
It’s a Lombardini LMG4000. I think I’m the US test case of this thing even through I’ve had it two years now. I asked the distributor how to increase the voltage and they said to speed it up. But ti speed it up more than it is now I would need to remove it and modify the linkage for the throttle.
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
|
|
|
11-04-2018, 12:08
|
#5
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Houston
Boat: '76 Allied Seawind II, 32'
Posts: 9,626
|
Re: Generator AVR
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailorboy1
It’s a Lombardini LMG4000. I think I’m the US test case of this thing even through I’ve had it two years now. I asked the distributor how to increase the voltage and they said to speed it up. But ti speed it up more than it is now I would need to remove it and modify the linkage for the throttle.
|
If your frequency is low, it may need to be sped up. But if it’s holding steady @ 60hz there should be no reason to speed it up. Have you checked the cap with a meter to be sure that the cap value is what the label on the cap says it is?
|
|
|
12-04-2018, 04:45
|
#6
|
S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
|
Re: Generator AVR
I notice it does a better job of holding voltage if on a resistance load (water heater) than on a reactive load (the air conditioner) even though both are about the same wattage.
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
|
|
|
26-05-2018, 16:53
|
#7
|
S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
|
Re: Generator AVR
So right now I’m running the generator powering the air conditioner and battery charger. It’s running about 1/2 rated load but the voltage is hanging at 99V. Even though I just got a mew battery charger partly for this problem, it still doesn’t like this.
So bumping the question again as I try to dig through the Internet info.
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
|
|
|
26-05-2018, 19:04
|
#8
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Houston
Boat: '76 Allied Seawind II, 32'
Posts: 9,626
|
Re: Generator AVR
What is your output frequency when the voltage is in the 99volt range?
|
|
|
27-05-2018, 04:18
|
#9
|
S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
|
Re: Generator AVR
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailmonkey
What is your output frequency when the voltage is in the 99volt range?
|
don't know
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
|
|
|
27-05-2018, 04:27
|
#10
|
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denmark (Winter), Helsinki (Summer); Cruising the Baltic Sea this year!
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 33,750
|
Re: Generator AVR
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailorboy1
don't know
|
I suggest that you should keep an eye on frequency.
A pair of panel meters showing hz, v, and a is a good investment of $80 or so ( https://www.ebay.com/p/Yeeco-Digital...d=292579049615). One on power into the I/C and one for power out.
Alternatively, most mid market multimeters will give you hz.
__________________
"You sea! I resign myself to you also . . . . I guess what you mean,
I behold from the beach your crooked inviting fingers,
I believe you refuse to go back without feeling of me;
We must have a turn together . . . . I undress . . . . hurry me out of sight of the land,
Cushion me soft . . . . rock me in billowy drowse,
Dash me with amorous wet . . . . I can repay you."
Walt Whitman
|
|
|
27-05-2018, 05:29
|
#11
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Houston
Boat: '76 Allied Seawind II, 32'
Posts: 9,626
|
Re: Generator AVR
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailorboy1
don't know
|
You really need to measure the frequency before doing any other repairs/mods. If the generator is only turning 50hz. The low voltage would make sense.
|
|
|
27-05-2018, 05:47
|
#12
|
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Long Island, NY
Boat: Cal 33-2
Posts: 448
|
Re: Generator AVR
In a standard (not an inverter type) generator, the speed controls the frequency and field voltage/current controls the output voltage. So the suggestion to check the frequency is a good one. If it's low, adjust the governor. And as has been stated, many decent multi-meters have a frequency function.
__________________
S/V First Tracks
1985 Cal 33-2
|
|
|
27-05-2018, 05:53
|
#13
|
S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
|
Re: Generator AVR
The engine speed is at its max setting. It originally is a 50hz unit and the only way to speed it up I would need to remove the unit to be able to get to to the linkage well enough to modify it.
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
|
|
|
27-05-2018, 05:59
|
#14
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Houston
Boat: '76 Allied Seawind II, 32'
Posts: 9,626
|
Re: Generator AVR
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailorboy1
The engine speed is at its max setting. It originally is a 50hz unit and the only way to speed it up I would need to remove the unit to be able to get to to the linkage well enough to modify it.
|
Do you have a photo tach? All you need to know is if the engine is spinning 3600 rpm when you are experiencing low voltage.
|
|
|
27-05-2018, 06:30
|
#15
|
S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
|
Re: Generator AVR
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailmonkey
Do you have a photo tach? All you need to know is if the engine is spinning 3600 rpm when you are experiencing low voltage.
|
No but I could get one.
But
If I run the water heater and the battery charger together off the generator the voltage will be 105-109. But with the air conditioner and battery charger it drops to less than 100. Yet each of these is the same loaded amps and this to me suggests it isn’t a speed issue, it’s a voltage regulation circuit issue.
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Advertise Here
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vendor Spotlight |
|
|
|