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Are there down-sides to running portable power tools off of a generator?
What is the proper procedure for checking the voltage delivered by a generator (e.g. in the case where the throttle (speed) may have been changed)?
Many Thanks in Advance
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I found out the hard way that you shouldnt plug a battery charger into one. 14.4v charger and battery melted. Ever have one of those days.
JonC
*Most generators (maybe all now) have solid state voltage regulators. They will produce the correct voltage regardless of throttle position as long as they're running above a threshold speed.You'll hear your generator run harder under load. Don't sweat it, the generator knows what to do.If you want to check it, put a voltage meter on it. But keep in mind, when you're using a tool, the voltage reading will be off alittel because of the high resistance short through the tool.
*I've been charging my Dewalt 14.4 on my generator a lot lately, and haven't had any problems. I tried to contact Dewalt about it, but they never bothered to get back to me. Perhaps my gen (newer model), has the voltage regulator that Ryan talks about; or maybe I finall get a chance to replace my aging 14v with something a little newer! And wouldn't the wife love that!
*Some of it may have to do with the quality of the generator. I've seen equally rated generators selling for 50% the price of my 5000W Honda. Maybe I paid too much for the quality name, but I don't really think so... I want this thing to start, run and provide service. Some corners must be cut to come up with the bargain basement products with the same ratings. I saw some generators at the big boxes right before the Y2K flap which did not appear to be endowed with quality components.I've read, too, that some solid state devices (i.e., computers) are not well suited to the semi-stable voltage and wave form of portable generators. A battery charger might fit into this catagory.Hope this helps, Steve
*I don't see why you can't check the voltage like you check it in a regular wall outlet. Fire it up, wait 30 seconds or a minute for everything to stabilize, and poke the probes of your multimeter in the sockets.Regarding battery chargers going south with generator use, I see two possible causes. One, the chargers are left plugged in when the generator starts and stops. That's a big no-no, because the voltage is all over the place during start up and shut down. Second, and more likely, is that some less expensive generators don't supply very clean power. The electronics in battery chargers are picky about their power diet, and if it isn't a real nice sine wave, a lot of them will blow up. Coleman and Winco are two brands I've seen problems with, but there are probably more. I haven't seen a problem with Hondas or Onans.
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As far as checking the voltage, I inquire whether or not you make the voltage check
b with or without a load.
Being as the power plant (of the generator) is not quite the same size as my power company's I didn't think a straight plug-in of my multimeter would be proper. But, then again, it could be that easy. Guess that is why I'm asking.
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As a guy who has a bunch of hours running generators for primary power maybe I can help. First of all visit your local electronics supply store to purchase a Digital Multimeter with a Cycles measuring capability. Then measure your generator's voltage and cycles at both idle and max power. Adjust the full load rpm to give full voltage(120/240) and correct cycles(60). Now, don't overload the generator and keep sensitive gear from drawing power except when the generator is producing the correct volts and cycles.
A good idea is to also put a surge suppressor between any sensitive load and the generator. Motors don't need this precaution but things like radios, rectifiers, computers and such seem to.
The key is to make sure your generator is putting out the correct voltage and cycles at the load you are using. As long as it is most stuff will work just fine. By the way many generators do not produce true sine wave electricity so if that is required by your load that will be a problem. Everything else can be run off a generator just like off the electric grid.
*IF the question is power tools to build a home...A Honda does the job beautifully...Yamaha too...Ya get what ya pay for...near the stream not needing to check voltages on my Honda 3500,ajI may have a home to build coming up shortly and if I do, I plan on installing main service as I have done in the past, on my second day of work...First day will be to build the deck as required by our utility in order to get hooked up to grid. So the generator may not get used or it may be run for a day or two...Never have liked the noise they make and do everything to keep it away from me.
*Actually the generator I experienced my DeWalt meltdown with was a Honda powered Coleman. The idle control got turned on while the charger was plugged in and that may have been the source of the problem. I read here in the past that using the idle control will cause your saw motors to burn out sooner. Anybody know anything about that?JonC
*Ah Honda, anything with a Honda motor is a good choice, my 1981 Honda lawnmower still runs as good as new. For running computers and other sensitive gear you should consider a UPS (uninterruptable power supply) that has it's own voltage regulation (so-called, "smart" UPS unit) as well as surge prtection. Many units in this class of UPS will also have surge-only outlets and an RJ11 isolation port. Put a line switch into it's supply cord so that you can protect it from spikes at generator start-up. In fact, you should consider one of these units even if you're on a reliable grid.
*Coleman generators are not Honda generators just because they use a Honda motor...And yes the auto idle is not recommended for use with electronics like a battery charger...Get a charger that works off your vehicle...Solves all the problems and adds to your tools effectiveness...When are you far from either your vehicle or line voltage...not often. Don't try to make a generator due more than it does simply and well which is power up your tools.near the stream hoping this helps,aj
*Phill...You missed the question entirely...no surge stuff needed for construction power tools...Honda generators much better than other brands that have Honda motors...You can't be experienced at this are you?...We're not talking about powering up a computer with internet connections to chat at Breaktime.near the stream willing to send you reading glasses,aj
*Well Jack, I was responding to Steve's comment about running computers and other sensitive equipment from a generator, and I'm going to take a wild guess here that just about everyone on the forum has a computer. History tells us you will undoubtably challenge that, but thanks for agreeing with me on the Honda.As you may have understood from the previous posts, lots of "construction" site equipment, like computers, battery charges, even radios, can be sensitive to unregulated voltage. As I'm sure you're aware, grid voltages often spike and brown-out in construction areas.
*Phill.....no one here is talking about building homes with computers plugged into generators...How thick are you?...And a Honda on a non-Honda generator may not be nearly as good a generator as a Honda generator...I am not at a construction site and I am not on generator power...And no one here is...near the stream dealing with a im-poster,ajStart a new thread if ya wanna talk clean power for computers.
*Jack, I just broke your code. You have virtually nothing to contribute except to poke at others who do - it's you who is obviously the imposter. You don't have a clue do you ?
*Are there down-sides to running portable power tools off of a generator?
*"Portable tools" is an awful big catch-all. I have heard guys grumbling that their tools don't seem to last as long when they're using generators, particularly the ones that have electronic speed control. I don't know if that's true, or if it's just the usual white-noise grumbling, but they claim they burn out switches, brushes, and circuitry in no-time. But you want down-sides ? When was the last time you were on a jobsite and the ground-wire from that portable generator was actually grounded ? How grounded is that generator sitting in the bed of a pick-up, out there on its own rubber-tired carriage, or sitting right in the middle of the decking ? But in any case, job-sites can have lots of power-sensitive equipment, like voltage converters, portable computers, battery chargers, radios, fax machines, smart telephones..., who knows what. When the generators start up, or even when someone first starts a big tool, the voltage regulation bounces around and can fry some of that stuff. So IF you have that type of equipment on-site, you MAY want to look at a UPS to protect it.
*No power sensitive equipment is needed to do remodelling and Fine Homebuilding...NO UPS, radios aren't used when working next to a noisey generator...the fax is at home till there is site power, the battery toys are either not used or charged at home or charged off a vehicle...Laptops run off a vehicle too as mine does.NO UPS, no $10,000 systems, and doing just fine for 15 years with my Honda 3500...no need to checkvoltage just oil and gas and gas stabiliser When not used and shut off fuel supply so as to run carb dry of fuel...That's useable generator info...NO UPS needed.UPS-less generator, near the stream,ajPhill...if people hear are buying Coleman generator's instead of Hondas to save a few hundred dollars...what in God's name makes ya think they are going to buy a UPS system and even set it up so it actually would do better than what I have listed above....You can't be talking from any experience, only from knowledge and a little knowledge is dangerous it appears to me...I have and use generators to build homes...I used a cheap one on the first home I built that the owner provided...Next home I ran to the Honda dealer and gladly handed over the bucks to get the best...Quieter...starts on one pull always, great power, not one tool damaged...no UPS.walking the talk Phill...and you?
*I never said anything against Honda generators Jack, not once. And I never said anything in support of other brands. The only support I gave was for the Honda engine. I realize you had to invent something in order to create an excuse for your tiresome tirade, but really. Okay, so you've never worked on a project where they roll up a project trailer and staff it with a project manager, clerk, site engineer, security chief, materials manager, and sometimes others; all working on computers that are networked. And it seems that you consider all of us who occassionally work on such sites as little piles of goose-guanno. But why do you find us such a threat ?
*My point is this is Breaktime...a feature of FineHomebuilding...not FineNuclearreactorbuilding....When in Rome...near the stream answering the basic question,aj
*Aj is giving good advice boys...pay attention!I've had a honda 5000 since 1988. Ive changed the plug once. It starts every time with one pull, unless it's been sitting for more than a few months. Then it needs two pulls. I don't change the oil often enough, and never check it because it has a low oil shutdown feature. I love that feature!I alos never shut the fuel line off because I'd forget to open it and then need to take it in to get it started. Hey! I never said I was mechancally inclined!I had a builder drop off a 5000 generac once. We used it for about ten minutes before I headed home to the barn to get my Honda. We couldn't run three saws on the junk generac.I ran my 1 1/2 horse aiir compressor many times with three saws. The honda puts out the juice.I've never experienced premature burnout with the honda. The honda revs up fast enough, much faster than the generac junkYou'd be better off building a Gilligan's Island power source than using a cheap generator.LONG LIVE HONDA!blue
*I posted this on the Fine Nuclear Reactor Building Site. They said they were too busy working and trying to make a living to worry about adding an uninterupted power supply to their generators. They suggested that I ask a bored retiree with no practical experience how to do this.They also said they didn't know if the generators had good grounds because they just cut off all the ground prongs from the extension cords anyway.They did feel that lightening protection was important and usually erect a 200' generator protection tower on site before they even mark out for footings.
*I just read this...and am LMAO!...thanks Ryan...near the static and the stream,ajBlue...thanks also...I thought I would never see reinforcements on the horizon@!
*Actually AJ, I go off for awhile and you go masquerading a commercial as good advise:)Yes different makes generators have different MTBF numbers. But they all do need to be checked and adjusted periodically. For, some tools a generator can be quite a bit off and still do a good job. For others the power needs to be right on the money. It takes so little effort to make a generator right on that I just routinely do it, whether the tool at hand requires it or not.
*Fred...My Honda generator has been the number one best investment I will ever make in equipment...And if ya read my posts in tooltime, DeYellow DeCrap has been the worst.That's my commercial, near the stream, and feeling no need to adjust it.ajMy Honda would never let my construction tools down. I don't adjust it...It may need it at the turn of the next millenium.So Fred, my Honda takesb no effort...
*Fred, when it comes to MTBF numbers I'm a moron. Come to think of it, I'm always a moron!Seriously, if I have to learn how to adjust my generator, it's going out in the junk pile. In fact, if I have to adjust ANYTHING, it's going out in the juck pile. The manufacturers have to make their products idiot proof because I'm an idiot, and every one that works for me is denser. I don't have a single nuclear fissacist working for me.If it starts when I pull it, I don't need a new one.blue
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Honda good, very good. Dewalt bad, very bad. LMAO? Left my artichoke outside? Layed my ankle over? Lost me another organ?
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Actually I was going to have a site like that. Trailers, office staff, many computers etc. But then one of the Fine Nuclear Reactor people(that couldn't afford a temp hookup) looked at my $300.00 Home Depot generator and decided there may be too much stray voltage. So, the job was cancelled while they do an environmental impact study.
However, in the real world I use a generator everyday. Have for years. You will know if the generator is kicking out too many volts because your tools will fry. This actually happened with our old Honda 3500. This particular one did need to be checked after 16 years. We have three generators now and my favorite is still a Honda 3500. It's amazing how cheap these have become since the world actually kept on spinning on the 1st.
I don't have a stream but will a pond do?
*Ponds do well Will...near the stream,ajblue....you're killing me....LMAOA(again)
*I dont know about yall but down here in Louisiana the only builders who use generators are the ones who forgot to put up there temporary pole in time (not taking care of business) or large projects such as well drillers or those in isolated locations such as pipeliners. Most of the latter use welding rigs anyway which have large generators. Almost all builders who take care of business have the power company connect to the temporary service pole before construction. Most electricians charge 200 dollars or so to build and set a temporary pole if the contractor buys the stuff. I have 2 or 3 poles i juggle from job to job. I try to keep one overhead and one underground available at all times. Also have a generator. I mainly use to power my house during ice storms but bought as a business expense in case i ever forget to take care of business....I would hate to load that sucker in and out of the truck everyday. Much worse than an air compressor....
*brian,I agree fully with you....mine is a back up.....and has very few hours on her from home building...I even save the money a temp costs by installing underground service myself by day two of my onsite power tool needs...near a similar stream,aj
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Are there down-sides to running portable power tools off of a generator?
What is the proper procedure for checking the voltage delivered by a generator (e.g. in the case where the throttle (speed) may have been changed)?
Many Thanks in Advance