Posted by Richard W. on June 20, 2009, 5:05 pm
> They also have enormously experienced and helpful folks with steam, it
> seems from Bruce's comments, just an all round good bunch.
> Curbie
Bruce is right Smokestak.com has a lot of good stuff. I like this link to
the forums best.
http://www.smokstak.com/forum/index.php
Another thing I wanted to say is that at work they build hydraulic
generators. They use baldor generator heads and usually one or two need
flashing. They us a 9 volt radio battery. They put 1 wire in the outlet. (I
don't know which side. I never paid that much attention.) Then touch the
other wire to the case. Once they see a few sparks, they remover the wires
and run the generator and plug in a light bulb. Works first time every time.
I would suggest for the novice that you go to Ebay and search for a "field
flasher". Usually there is one or two up for auction. Current auction is
item # 170331647420 . The seller name is Boskydog93.
Also I thought I would mention that my generator said to remove all loads
before shutting off the generator. Might this have something to do with a
generator not producing power?
Richard W.
Posted by harry on June 22, 2009, 7:54 pm
> I know that this has been asked (and answered) many times before, but
> as it did not effect me at the time, I did not fully absorb it.
> Here is the description that was passed on to me:
> My Craftsman 5600 watt generator (model 580.675610) uses a 10.0 HP
> Briggs and Stratton engine and it runs great. While the unit starts on
> the second pull after sitting for several months, it does not produce
> an AC. The last time I discovered this issue (October 2008), I
> contacted Sears and the technician who came out to service the
> generator did something called flashing the field coil with a small
> battery. Apparently the residual magnetism in the alternator weakens
> through lack of use and this simple procedure of flashing the coil is
> enough to excite the field and it resumes producing AC.
> Even though I didnt need to run the generator over the past winter, I
> thought it was important to drain the old fuel out of the tank and
> yesterday when I started the generator (for the first time since
> October 2008, it would not produce AC. I called Sears and a technician
> called me back to confirm the service call, but he told me I would
> have to run this unit more often to ensure the residual magnetism in
> the alternator didnt weaken in order to ensure it produces AC each
> time it starts.
> I find it odd that I would have to start this particular generator
> more often in order to ensure a constant flow of AC each time it is
> started. Is this a design fault with the unit or could there be
> something wrong with this particular generator?
> So, thanks in advance for assistance. Mainly the question is "Is this
> an indication of a fault in the unit, or just the design and is there
> a way to prevent this from happening if the generator sits for several
> months?
The advice given to you is exactly correct. It's almost like booting
up a computer. Your alternator needs them magnetic field in the field
before it can generate but this is an electromagnet that gets it's
power from the alternator.
So the alternator's not generating how can it get power?
The answer is there is a little bit of magnetism left in the field
from the last time is was running, just enough to get a little AC
which makes a little DC which boosts the AC which boosts the DC until
eventually it's up and running all out.
You can loose this "residual magnetism" as it's called and the answer
is indeed to "flash it up" with a car battery. You have to make sure
you connect the battery the right way round. If it's the wrong way,
the rectifier will put in power the "right way" an kill your residual
magnetism. It's not the end of the world, the answer is to repeat the
exercise, flashing it up with the battery connections reversed, it
should then work. Supposing that was the problem to start with!
Posted by Fred F. on June 23, 2009, 3:53 am
Thanks to all that replied. Not to single any one person out, but
thanks to Alska bruce. It sounds like you have a lot of experience.
The Sears tech is comming back out (warranty trip) and I am better
prepared to ask some questions.
Thanks again, Fred
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> seems from Bruce's comments, just an all round good bunch.
> Curbie