I have a GRIP 7.5kva generator - the engine starts properly but produces no power and the vft meter digital display is off and showing no reading. Is this an AVR issue or circuit breaker issue?

SOURCE: generators

My answer:

Not much in your original ? to go by as far as any history background of the Genset - if it indeed is a Powermate? Is it? And if so - is it already USED or is it BRAND NEW right out of the box - like many others here who I've already helped out and solved their problem(s)?

If this Genset is USED how many hours are on it. Try to be as accurate as you can - if known? Also - If this is not YOUR originally purchased Genset, but rather bought 2nd hand - did it work right when you first bought it?

Is so BRAND NEW or even USED - then I minds well tell you this first (if you don't already know this). After which I have some tech troubleshooting ??'s I need answered so I can pinpoint the problem.


As you are now hopefully but painfully aware - Powermate has gone totally Bankrupt, and is no longer in business as of this past year or so.

There is hope though - as I state below in the previous Footnote I posted to many having similar problems.

Previous Footnote: It's too late now for all those out there that unfortunately bought these now still Brand New "unserviceable" Powermate units that won't start for whatever, whether still Brand New "NIB", or whether taken out of the box and still not used, and are now seeking some kind of service on them (btw it's a sign of the present day GOP ran economic woes we are in AND it will only get worse - CHINA is going on the very same downward skid right now thanks to you know who - W!). If you buy anything today "made in China" - esp their cheap knockoff Gensets - you better be making a GOOD buying decision - otherwise you will be in the very same situation you are in now with your Powermate Gensets - as China is starting to collapse from within just like this USA economy of ours has been doing for the last 5-6 years to no end! All politics aside as well - as blame is put where it is deserved in my books and we can only blame YOU KNOW WHO! Sorry but true!

NOW -

Any inventory stock of their (Powermate) Gensets - that were once formerly sold in the USA & Canada - have been totally liquidated out to a company in Georgia I was told, and it was said to be true.

I was able to get this NEW added info through another source said to be VERY accurate btw - so hopefully it is.

That Company's name is PRAMAC, and their address and phone # info is:

PRAMAC INDUSTRIES, Inc.

* Regional head office:

1100 Cobb Parkway North C
30062 Marietta, Georgia

Phone: 770-218-5430
Fax : 770 218 2810

or:

* International sales office:

10100 NW 116 Way, Suite 10
33178 Medley, Florida

Phone: 305-888-9911
Fax : 305-888-3711

Site info:

PRAMAC Global Gateway

BUT -

Before you blame me for any possible incorrect Powermate info posted above in regards to that PRAMAC Co, or their contact info - read the GOOD NEWS below first, unless the BRAND NEW part doesn't apply to you here.

The GOOD NEWS is that I spoke with a very close contact inside Home Depot (not saying who so don't even ask), and that person gave me some very GOOD NEWS for those that act on it NOW!

Not tomorrow - Not next week - Not next month - and certainly NOT NEXT YEAR!

DO IT RIGHT NOW!!

I spoke with my Home Depot Corp contact today (using your "not starting" dilemma - as my own - to get a response) to see if anything could be done from their point of view and here's what I was told to do.

What I was told is that if I (you) bring in my (your) ORIGINAL HOME DEPOT CASH REGISTER DATED RECEIPT and speak to the (whichever Home Depot store applies here) Home Depot Store Manager there, and explain to them that the brand new never used Powermate Genset they sold me (you in this case) won't start - they would send your Genset out to their local Genset Service Vendor FREE OF CHARGE BTW, and hopefully get it started for you.

Anything more then that - you would be on your own if it was damaged by you or someone else that tried using it improperly.


NOW - as for your Genset there and the OVER-VOLTAGE condition you say you are experiencing.

I guess my first ? is - Which volt meter are you reading?

The one on your Genset possibly, or from a known Good Quality & good working hand-held DVM meter? If your AC panel meter is defective then that is not going to help matters at all. If your Genset control board is shot most likely something caused that condition from an electrical/electronics standpoint either on the board itself inside the "front panel control box" or else inside the "Gennie power head".

Usually an OVER-VOLTAGE condition occurs when a modification has been done to the Genset, such as say a new (or possibly a bigger wattage) replacement "Gennie power head" that is not rated properly to your engine speed (which btw should be ~ 3600 RPM max). Did you make any such modifications to your stock Genset recently?

If not - then we need to make sure you are getting the proper AC output measurements using a known good DVM meter set to the AC scale and either on 400 or 1000 volts depending on your meter's settings. Hopefully you're not using one of those defunct $3 cheapy Harbor Freight Tools meters either?

With the Genset running at normal idle what voltages are you reading at the 120VAC & the 240VAC outlets - from HOT to NEUTRAL only? Low - High - Sporadic - what? Be precise here - very important!

If you increase the Genset speed up to 1/2 Load speed what voltages are you now reading as well? Try not to run at Full Speed if indeed something had smoked inside the Control Panel such as the Control Board. Check that board out first for signs of damage. Does it look OK?

If this Genset has had HIGH HOURS of run-time on it have you check the "brushes" and/or "slip rings" on the ROTOR it as of yet? If it has brushes are they within factory spec? Are the SLIP RINGS clean and not arched and dirty looking? If the latter is found to be true then the SLIP RINGS need to be cleaned and polished bright again!! Very important!!

If the end plate (cover plate) is taken off (if you feel capable to do this yourself) is the inside fairly clean inside and around the SLIP RINGS & BRUSHES area? Do you smell any BURNT smell inside? If so then possibly either the STATOR or the ROTOR has gone bad! If not take an air hose and thoroughly blow out all the carbon dust & dirt and replace the "end plate" securely.

Unless it's a BRUSHLESS type Genset you have (which I doubt) then the problem possibly lies within the "power head".

Let me know what you find now that you know what to look for?

Based on that we can look still further is it's not covered above.

Best regards to all with the same problems, and hope I helped you out 100% - all political humor/truth aside.

Please post me a reply as to finding this solution being the best resolve to your Powermate problem there by following my recommendations above. Also please rate my troubleshooting fix as well.

Keep me posted and I'll follow up as well.

Best regards,

Frank

SOURCE: generator runs producing no power

Hi, remove the electric control panel & check the wiring as sometimes we have seen the wires coming off the voltage change over switches.
Also some of these units you can check the connections in the rear of the alternator & if it has brushes that they are not stuck.
Another problem we have had is the trip switches have went faulty but still switch operates ok, they need to be checked with a probe type tester for conductivety.

mamicheddy

• 79 Answers
• Posted on May 20, 2009

SOURCE: Does not generate electric power at 110V or 220V.

To flash fields the genset has to have rings and brushes. The ring towards the bearing or towards you is positive and the back ring is negative. The rings and brushes are on the rotor, which is the part that spins on the generator end. Place a volt meter on the outlet, start the genset, with a 12V battery apply the positive to the front ring and the negative to the back ring. The voltage should climb up to about 50 - 100Volts or more. If this happens then you will need a Voltage regulator. If voltage does not climb up, then check the rings and brushes. Make sure the brushes have a good length and that they touch the rings and make sure the rings have a shiny copper color to them, if they're black clean them with emory cloth until there is a nice copper color and try flashing the gen again. If nothing happens then you need a new generator end or new generator, which ever you prefer. Make sure to use rubber gloves when flashing and look out for rotating parts.

SOURCE: Generator stopped producing electricity

if the generator has been sitting for a while you might have to excite the magnets to start producing power. plug in a reversible drill and with the generator running turn the drill in the reverse direction by hand while holding the trigger in the forward position.

SOURCE: have a gg3500 gas generator that give no current

you need to check to make sure you have no power out put, check all receptacle. if none check your owner Manuel on how to flash your unit. you may want to check all breakers. if flashing don't work take it to repair center to check stator and rotor