okrobie
Explorer
Joined 10 years ago
User Profile
User Widgets
All Activity
Re: Generator or Inverter?
smkettner wrote: All non-inverter generators produce a natural sine wave as part of the electromechanical conversion process. Although the wave can get distorted depending on voltage regulation and the type of load. The refrigerator (absorption or compressor) will work fine. I'm not so sure that is correct. I once had a mission critical computer setup and I bought a contractor grade generator to take care of power outages. I didn't have time to test it out before a power outage came along. I hooked it up to my computers, which were supported by heavy duty UPS's. Well was I ever surprised when the UPS's wouldn't run off of the generator. I was told later that contractor grade generators don't have a clean sine wave, and UPS's need a clean sine wave to operate. Cheap generator output is more like a square wave. I'm not an RV'r but I came to this forum because you guys and gals are the experts on generators. I once suffered through a 9 day power outage in the middle of winter in Tulsa Oklahoma. Thus I learned through personal experience that my point of vulnerability was the refrigerator and furnace. I wasn't into computers at the time. The purpose of my generator will be to provide emergency power for my home during power outages. I want to have enough juice to run my refrigerator, my gas powered furnace and my Ham Radio rig, which includes several computers and UPS's. (Ham Radio is a lot more sophisticated than it used to be). Most of that should run on the generator, but I may have to purify the sine wave for the computer stuff. I can install a small bank of batteries and a Charger/Inverter for that purpose. The Ham Radio gear runs from 12VDC so there will be several options there. that's where THD applies to electrical power, not just audio. Here is a link to a very good article on THD. http://powerupgenerator.com/total-harmonic-distortion-portable-generators/ Problem is that it's not always easy to get THD spec's for Portable Generators.844Views0likes0CommentsRe: Generator or Inverter?
Thank you all for straightening that out for me. I know that "Quality" Generators have low THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) The ones with low THD can run sensitive electronics and have a prettier shaped sine wave output. Is there a way to determine the THD of a generator before you buy it. I haven't seen the THD listed in the specs of most generators. Is it safe to run a refrigerator on a plain old contractor grade generator? Thanks for your help. Regards, Jim844Views0likes0CommentsGenerator or Inverter?
I'm shopping the "used" market (Craigslist) for a generator or inverter. I'm finding that often, sellers don't know what they have. And, more often I don't know how to distinguish between an inverter and a generator. For example I looked at a 4KW Briggs & Stratton which had a DC output connector 12V 10 Amp. Does the presence of DC output prove that it is an inverter type? Thanks, Jim3.1KViews0likes17CommentsRe: Magnetek 6345 DIY Upgrade
Hi all, thanks for the ideas. I have been Googling Automated Battery Chargers and found a few circuits I can build. Here is a link to one of them. ***Link Removed*** Does anyone have comments on this article. Thanks, Jim I guess I'm too new to publish links. Just go ahead and Google and you will find plenty of circuits.372Views0likes0CommentsMagnetek 6345 DIY Upgrade
Hi all, thanks for having this forum. I'm not a Gypsy, just a landlubber. I don't have a Motor Home. I am working on a project to charge a battery bank (which I don't have yet) and run my 12V. Ham Radio gear from my Winco Gas/Natural Gas generator. So I thought the Magnetek 6345 would be ideal since I got it dirt cheap. Anyway, before I wreck any batteries, I would like to modify the 6345 to back off when the batteries are charged. I know there are upgrade kits to accomplish that goal but I'm on a budget and since I have been messing with electronics since I was 14 and I am now 74, I am not bashful with a soldering iron, I would like to get some advice on a way to modify this 6345 with a handful of diodes and resistors, if that is possible. Anybody got any ideas? Thanks, Jim W3FAW1.4KViews0likes7Comments
