Running gen with load

[bucko]

I've been a pro advocate in running the generator for about 30 minutes a month when the RV sits at home. I also keep the house and cab batteries in a trickle charger.

Why is it necessary to to run the generator "with a load" when it sits at home? Do these generators go bad (the part that produces current/electricity) if it is not used? Seems to me its a electric motor of sorts. I figured running the engine to lubricate the internals and keeping the fuel through the carb was nessesary, but why does it have to have a load? And how much load? Just some lights? A/C?

[Ttlanders]

In my opinion, the load is to just pull more fuel through carburetor to keep the cheap fuel from ruining carburetor.

[bucko]

My gen is the Cummings, which has an electric fuel pump to prime (and maybe supply fuel to carb?), so fuel to the carb is going to be a non issue. I remove the front cover of the gen, press the prime side of the switch for about 5 seconds, then press the toggle switch to the start/stop, then hold until it starts.

But I've not been going inside and operating electrical "things" to produce a load.

[cpd1343]

A generator needs to have residual magmatism in it to generate electricity. You can combat loss of residual magnetism by always running your generator with a load, once a month, and disconnecting that load before you turn the generator off. I use either the A/C or a small heater for 30 minutes. The load should be about 50% of the generating capacity. So if it is a 30 amp generator make the load about 15 amps.

You can also "Google" Generator Excitation.

[Learjet]

Load helps clean the brushes on the generator head and also heats up the windings to help remove moisture. Follow the manual.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Learjet

Load helps clean the brushes on the generator head and also heats up the windings to help remove moisture. Follow the manual.

X-2

[ARoamer]

Originally Posted by Learjet

Load helps clean the brushes on the generator head and also heats up the windings to help remove moisture. Follow the manual.

And X3.

[Ttlanders]

I have had to replace carburetor twice on Cummings gen because of ethanol!!

[dvspl]

Originally Posted by Learjet

Load helps clean the brushes on the generator head and also heats up the windings to help remove moisture. Follow the manual.

Here's what my Onan operator's manual says:

[Ttlanders]

dyspl same thing I was told after second carburetor! That was twenty years ago.

[RogerR]

We had a cabin in Minnesota for 30+ years. Same generator, a very tired Generac. End of season we ran it dry, took off the bottom of the carb and dried and cleaned it, took out plug and squirted in a tablespoon of oil then hand turned it over.

But I would not recommend this with more modern generators. Running it keeps it clean in the engine and the windings, etc.

[Yooper906]

Originally Posted by Learjet

Load helps clean the brushes on the generator head and also heats up the windings to help remove moisture. Follow the manual.

Learjet is right. Running a half load works well, I try to run a couple of either heat guns, toaster, any type of resistance load that will match a half or better of the generator output.
If you have a 3000W generator run something that uses 1500 W. Scale up or down accordingly.

[bucko]

Thanks for all the explanations. I will start up the generator this weekend with the A/C on, the TV on, then stretch out on the couch and take a 2 hour nap.

When the wife comes to check on me, I'll tell her I'm "exercising the generator".

Lets see how that goes over with her.

[pconroy]

Originally Posted by bucko

When the wife comes to check on me, I'll tell her I'm "exercising the generator".

Lets see how that goes over with her.

This is exactly what I do (well, except this time of year, it's running a 1500 watt heater). But I get an hour of "me" time.

I'm going to cut and paste that post about running it for TWO hours and see if I can double my "me" time.