genset voltage drop on light load

[38racing]

My friend bought 3 1500 watt generators from a hardware yard sale. I have 2 at my place. One needs the carb cleaned. The other starts and runs. Built in voltage meter agrees with my kill-o-watt and is 115v noload and 62.x hz. When I plug in a halogen work light it draws about .6 amp and engine rpm 'sounds' as if maintained. hz drops a tad but voltage goes to 100 or less and there is some fluctuation. Haven't had a chance to try heavier resistance load but any ideas on why such a large voltage drop? both meters agree at dropped reading.

[madmantrapper]

Are the RPM dropping?

[38racing]

Not to the ear , but I didn't have the tach on it. Usually if it's leaning out there would be a surge but there was none and even closing choke a bit made no difference. The load of the light is only 70 watts. If I get major surging on a heavier load then I'll deal with the carb first . I will also adjust to no load 61 hz and see what I get.

[AandPDan]

If the hertz is dropping a "tad" then the RPM is dropping. Frequency corresponds to RPM.

What frequency are you showing with a load?

[38racing]

If the hertz is dropping a "tad" then the RPM is dropping. Frequency corresponds to RPM.

What frequency are you showing with a load?

Going to check it shortly. Found one generator spec that said 3690 rpm 61 hz no load, 3600 rpm 60 hz half load and 35xx and 58 hz full load. I'll work towards that as an acceptable target.

[KE4AVB]

If the hertz is dropping a "tad" then the RPM is dropping. Frequency corresponds to RPM.

What frequency are you showing with a load?

Going to check it shortly. Found one generator spec that said 3690 rpm 61 hz no load, 3600 rpm 60 hz half load and 35xx and 58 hz full load. I'll work towards that as an acceptable target.

Depending what you know you figure the other out easily. Hertz is cycles per second and RPM is Revs per minute.

Just remember on two pole versions it is either RPM / 60 or Hz x 60
and on four pole versions it is RPM / 30 or HZ x 30

So 2P units 3690 RPM = 61.5 HZ
or 4P units 1845 RPM = 61.5 HZ

[38racing]

If the hertz is dropping a "tad" then the RPM is dropping. Frequency corresponds to RPM.

What frequency are you showing with a load?

Going to check it shortly. Found one generator spec that said 3690 rpm 61 hz no load, 3600 rpm 60 hz half load and 35xx and 58 hz full load. I'll work towards that as an acceptable target.

Depending what you know you figure the other out easily. Hertz is cycles per second and RPM is Revs per minute.

Just remember on two pole versions it is either RPM / 60 or Hz x 60
and on four pole versions it is RPM / 30 or HZ x 30

So 2P units 3690 RPM = 61.5 HZ
or 4P units 1845 RPM = 61.5 HZ

Just started it again and with the light on the voltage comes up if I push throttle up a bit so before hooking all the gauges up I will clean carb and change plug.

[38racing]

Thought I would update what results I had. Cleaned carbs on both units. One will run to full load 1000w+ and maintain hz and voltage. The other one is good to about 1/2 load. After that the hz stays ok but the voltage goes below 100.

[Arkie]

Thread is kinda old but if you are still wrestling with the gennys try this:
You did not say what make and model of gen and if they are all the same model, but if all are the same make and are a brushless gen I would look for the capacitor in each unit (sometimes it's in behind the control panel and sometimes in the end bell) and if same microfarad values I would swap the caps. (the small gen's use the cap as the voltage regulator and the value of the cap is critical for good regulation and it's not unusual for the cap to become erratic, etc) If it's a bad cap I've found EXACT replacements on flea bay very reasonably priced at less than $5. (EXACT means in value and physical mounting size)

[38racing]

Thanks. they were identical. king Canada powerforce. i returned them to him . not sure of his plans for them . are those caps usually plugin or soldered?