I have a relatively new Westerbeke 4kw genset. It gets little use during most of the year then is depended upon for our annual vacation.
This year, I have had mixed results. sometimes it works properly. At other times, the voltage it puts out is too low for my Xantrex MS2000 charger. It won't accept the incoming voltage, so no charging occurs.
I called my mechanic, who did the original installation, and he said it likely has a defective voltage regulator. He was concerned to know the Hz it was putting out, as he was concerned that too low Hz would damage some or all of the equipment connected to it.
61 to 63Hz was consistently made when generating.
95 to 105 v was insufficient to get the Xantrex to turn on.
when the generator strayed above 105 v, the Xantrex would turn everything on, and as soon as that happened the voltage would go up to 125 and stay there for a while. After charging at 90 amps, declining slowly to 20 amps, everything worked spendidly. Occasionally, it would continue to work perfectly down into the low teens v, but more frequently, once below a charge rate of 20 v or so, the voltage would drop and the Xantrex would no longer accept the incoming voltage and would shut down.
Is this performance symptomatic of a lazy or defective voltage regulator in the Genset? If not, what is going on?
Despite all of this, we were able to enjoy 3 weeks on the hook between shore power hits. Prawning was great, weather was as well.
Pendrell Sound was as warm for swimming as I have ever seen it.
For those who have asked where the avatar picture was taken, we spent several days there this year and as we were earlier than usual, had it all to ourselves 5 nights, shared a few more, but never a crowd.
This year, I have had mixed results. sometimes it works properly. At other times, the voltage it puts out is too low for my Xantrex MS2000 charger. It won't accept the incoming voltage, so no charging occurs.
I called my mechanic, who did the original installation, and he said it likely has a defective voltage regulator. He was concerned to know the Hz it was putting out, as he was concerned that too low Hz would damage some or all of the equipment connected to it.
61 to 63Hz was consistently made when generating.
95 to 105 v was insufficient to get the Xantrex to turn on.
when the generator strayed above 105 v, the Xantrex would turn everything on, and as soon as that happened the voltage would go up to 125 and stay there for a while. After charging at 90 amps, declining slowly to 20 amps, everything worked spendidly. Occasionally, it would continue to work perfectly down into the low teens v, but more frequently, once below a charge rate of 20 v or so, the voltage would drop and the Xantrex would no longer accept the incoming voltage and would shut down.
Is this performance symptomatic of a lazy or defective voltage regulator in the Genset? If not, what is going on?
Despite all of this, we were able to enjoy 3 weeks on the hook between shore power hits. Prawning was great, weather was as well.
Pendrell Sound was as warm for swimming as I have ever seen it.
For those who have asked where the avatar picture was taken, we spent several days there this year and as we were earlier than usual, had it all to ourselves 5 nights, shared a few more, but never a crowd.
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