generator start under load

MrWizard wrote:

LittleBill wrote:
ok i guess i will need to add this.

I am WELL aware of the normal startup procedure.

I am asking if a full load applied to a generator on a start will even start, or will the immediate load stop the engine from ever actually starting.

thats a double edge question
it really depends on the load
light bulbs, even halogen bulbs, are a resistive load
the will come on and brighten as the voltage comes up
so it might work

on the other hand , an inductive load like a transformer, compressor motor, pump motor, or large converter (aka transformer)
will overload the generator and choke it, because the instant start surge is greater than the load rating

you won't know until you try it

Correct.

Resistive load (heaters/lights) current & voltage peaks coincide
Inductive load (motors/transformers) current waveform lags voltage waveform so peaks are out of phase
Capacitive load (capacitors/wiring/cable) current waveform leads voltage waveform so peaks are out of phase

You can start a generator under resistive and capacitive loads

Inductive loads will pull generator down/stalling it due to voltage waveform leading the current. the 'mass' requires full voltage Plus which generator can not supply while it's mass is coming up to speed. (generator is just a motor until at full speed)

LittleBill wrote:
ok i guess i will need to add this.

I am WELL aware of the normal startup procedure.

I am asking if a full load applied to a generator on a start will even start, or will the immediate load stop the engine from ever actually starting.

thats a double edge question
it really depends on the load
light bulbs, even halogen bulbs, are a resistive load
the will come on and brighten as the voltage comes up
so it might work

on the other hand , an inductive load like a transformer, compressor motor, pump motor, or large converter (aka transformer)
will overload the generator and choke it, because the instant start surge is greater than the load rating

you won't know until you try it

Speculation... I think generator will start just fine if in good running condition.
Just do not expect any surge performance at startup.

LittleBill wrote:
...the immediate load *will* stop the engine from ever actually starting.

...would be my guess as well, though I've never tried it. Care to share why you're asking?

It probably would not stop it from starting, as the power generated is dependent on the alternator speed (at least within reason). For a traditional non-inverter portable generator, it would probably just take a longer time to get up to speed and the engine would be somewhat harder to crank. I don't think most of them have a lockout or time delay circuit.

An inverter generator probably wouldn't start powering the load until the engine is at least mostly running, and it might well kick out immediately. Incandescent lights have a pretty significant startup current surge for the first fraction of a second when they're started at full voltage. That's why light bulbs almost always burn out with a flash when you first turn them on.

As everybody else said, it's not a good idea to start a generator under load regardless.

ok i guess i will need to add this.

I am WELL aware of the normal startup procedure.

I am asking if a full load applied to a generator on a start will even start, or will the immediate load stop the engine from ever actually starting.

naturist wrote:
All the generators I am familiar with (an admittedly small sample) all say never try to start the generator under load, always start, then add the load. And to be sure, a load the size of the maximum rated wattage is going to be a load.

+1

All the generators I am familiar with (an admittedly small sample) all say never try to start the generator under load, always start, then add the load. And to be sure, a load the size of the maximum rated wattage is going to be a load.