Forum Discussion

path1's avatar
path1
Explorer
Sep 11, 2021

Dirty Electric

How would I know or test if a generator was putting out the wrong frequency or "dirty" electricity?

(recently changed oil, new plug, new air filter, cleaned out carburetor best I could... wondering if there's anything else I could do to see if this thing running right. Eu2000iHonda...unknown model year.
  • Thank you everybody. Electricity is a mystery to me, the last couple Harbor Freight volt meters (linked to in reply) I got, bit the dust, so I dug deep in my back pocket and got a fluke 117, turns out to be a mistake on my part. I have to look in it's manual every time I use it becauce it's does so much. But has a Hz button but only goes to 50. So much for expensive meters. Then Remembered my "kill a watt" measuring device thing with a hz button.
    Then after reading replies I'm okay... it either works or it don't work.
  • Inverter gens are about as clean as it gets. Often better than shore power.
  • Path,

    That is supposed to be an inverter generator. That means that it uses a computer to artificially create the power wave shape. If it is working at all, it is probably in spec, but it is probably not "clean" power. The instruments to tell if it is clean are both rare and expensive.

    Matt
  • Many gensets the frequency and voltage is set by engine RPM. a meter such as this that has a frequency range.Meter
    Normally with no load frequency will be around 62. It should fall to 60 Hz when under some load.

About Technical Issues

Having RV issues? Connect with others who have been in your shoes.24,203 PostsLatest Activity: Feb 22, 2025