Generator quit working...Help

[.227]

I have a Powerboss generator.Motor runs perfect.Generator quit producing power,anyone have any suggestions?The breaker did not trip.It just quit working after about 1.5hrs of continous use.It does not get used very often.

 

[hdfinder47]

I'd call your dealer and get his input. Even if it's out of warranty he can probably help with suggestions.

 

[Richard in LA]

There is a part on the genset that has a pair of carbon brushes that went bad on mine. My buddies dad is a retired electrician, and works in his free time at home depot who diagnosed it for me. He said he has seen it on a bunch of em that have been returned to the store. I do not know the name of the part, just k ow that there are 2 carbon brushes that are soldered to a small circuit board, and one of the wires broke off where it was soldered.

 

[cajun 22]

Most generators are brushless today. The smaller ones might still have them. What size is it? Larger ones have a diode plate with no brushes. +1 on calling your dealer as he may know if this a common problem with your model and offer suggestions on troubleshooting.

 

[.227]

It is a 5500 watt 7000 surge,I bought used after Rita.Has served me well till now.Local mower shop was no help.Will try to find a Powerboss dealer to call.I have taken the plate off the back and didn't see anything burned or corrsion,plan on taking the generator off the motor tommorrow.
Thanks all for the input

 

[Magpie]

I heard something about if everything looks good but no power it may need to be re-polarized? Something involving extention cords and light bulbs as I recall. I'm sure our friend google has the answer.

 

[Quickdraw22]

I heard something about if everything looks good but no power it may need to be re-polarized? Something involving extention cords and light bulbs as I recall. I'm sure our friend google has the answer.

Nope. I hope my suggestion works, as I'd get a kick in the pants if it did.

Plug in an electric drill, and spin the chuck by hand. If one direction doesn't work, spin it in the opposite direction. This should re-polarize the generator and let it produce power again.

Let me know if this works!!!

-Dave

 

[dirk70301]

I'm not sure if yours is like the John Deere generators , but every year around hurricane season customers brought their gens. to us with the same problem , for some reason or another they loose their magnetic feild from sitting up . We just had to field flash them . Absolutely nothing wrong with the generators , its just a matter of plugging the flasher into the 110v plug and turning on the switch . Do a google search for (generator flashing) . Hope this helps

 

[cajun 22]

The armature can be flashed with a 6v battery. That is how we used to do it in the shop.

 

[.227]

drill method did not work,still searching for 6v battery method.thanks for all the input guys

 

[Quickdraw22]

drill method did not work,still searching for 6v battery method.thanks for all the input guys

Did you do this while the generator was running? If not, then that sucks

 

[machinedrummer]

Pay the light bill and put the generator back in the shed. Just joking. Does it have an auto shut down if the oil gets low or heath up to hot? Check out the trouble shooting section in the manual. good luck with it.

 

[sksshooter]

if flashing it didn't work and you see no visible burn spots on the windings i would bet its either the voltage regulator or brushes.(if it has brushes) my dads did the same thing after attempting to flash it with no luck i narrowed it down to the vr changed it out and it was good to go.

 

[.227]

oil level is fine.tried while running and not,instructions online said to try while running.Next step is to take apart and check brushes,I do not have a owners manuel for a troubleshooting guide.Still going to try a few things not ready to give up yet

 

[Richard in LA]

the part that went bad on mine was # A6 in the first diagram on this link. My buddies dad told me that most of the gensets were very similar in design. I think there is just a plastic cover with a few screws that cover that end of it up.

http://www.ereplacementparts.com/br...able-generator-parts-c-16758_24390_25041.html

 

[.227]

after alot closer inspection the capacitor appears to be bad,there is some swelling.I am going to try a new one.Did not see a part like #a6 on mine but looking for it is what lead me to pulling the capacitor to get it out of the way.when I grabbed it I could feel the swelling.Thanks Richard

 

[.227]

Got It Fixed!!! Thanks for all the help guys

 

[themcfarland]

was it your cap? what function does the cap serve? voltage rectifier? or ?

 

[kibb]

Try this link.

http://www.alpharubicon.com/altenergy/colemanpenwu.htm

 

[.227]

Yes,it was the capacitor. $25 and it works fine now. not exactly sure of the purpose but it works now.I think it has something to do with consistency of the voltage.