Back Up Generator - STUMPED

[billrigsby]

While this is not GARAGE related, I am already a member here and it is electrical related,
so here goes............

I have hooked up Square D QO Generator Panel 4 Spaces, 8 Circuits 30A Main Breaker.
This is the third one, one with an Onan Diesel and the last two smaller gas gensets.

Everything has been running from the main panel through the Square D box for a month
while I waited for the high altitude jet kit for the generator, installed today.

Fired up the generator, switched from mains to generator,
all seemed good, went into the lower walk out (office) and an
APC Professional Surge arrestor was smoking,
SHUT IT ALL DOWN IMMEDIATLY.



Okay, not sure why?

Removed it, put in a regular power strip (computer, scanner, printer and cordless phone.
(all still function just fine).

Back to square one, fire up the generator, switch from mains to generator,
check the office, all good.

Start checking the circuits I transferred over, so far so good.
Up stairs to the Livingroom, no TV, Satellite, no power at several outlets.

This is where it gets strange, One circuit with

• two outside outlets
• lower hall outlet
• office and front porch lights
• lower bath outlet (GFCI)
• bedroom outlets N and NE
• livingroom outlets N
• west outlets (in baseboard heater

On the mains all work, on the generator only the highlighted items work;


I can stand there and be watching the light at the office walkout work on mains,
switch to generator and it goes out, as do the other items crossed out (above)?
The generator does not even hiccup, nothing.
More than enough power for what little I am running,
when the well pump comes on, then you can hear the generator rev a bit.

Thought it may have something to do with the GFCI, but the outlet upstairs
on the front porch is also on a GFCI and it works fine (different circuit).

Everything is on one breaker, how can certain items work while others do not?

STUMPED - MAKES NO SENSE TO ME


THOUGHTS PLEASE

 

[theoldwizard1]

Everything is on one breaker, how can certain items work while others do not?

Bad junction, either at an outlet or switch.

 

[billrigsby]

Bad junction, either at an outlet or switch.

? what would be the difference from mains to generator ?

By 'bad junction' I am guessing you mean loose wire?
Sorry - Homeowner not Electrician.

 

[nadogail]

Perhaps your Surge Alert does not like the waveform made by your generator.

 

[Metal-Marc]

Sorry - Homeowner not Electrician.

No need to be sorry yet, since you haven't burned down the house, but you might want to call an electrician.

 

[billrigsby]

Perhaps your Surge Alert does not like the waveform made by your generator.

Well it certainly did not like something but it's in the trash now.

 

[billrigsby]

No need to be sorry yet, since you haven't burned down the house, but you might want to call an electrician.

Yeah that would be the neighbor down the road gone for another week, fortunately I won't need the generator until probably the end of fall and possibly winter.

 

[kaffine]

What voltage do you have at the generator breaker with the breaker off and the generator running? List voltages between the both breakers and then between each breaker and neutral and each breaker and ground if different than neutral. Should be since this isn't the main panel.

 

[ycgoat]

This is probably a job for an electrician who can look over the systems, but perhaps an un grounded neutral putting ~60v on it from the generator

 

[LXCam]

Without knowing some test values it sure looks like you somehow ended up missing a neutral on a shared set of circuits and pumping 240 into everything.

We lost power in the middle of the night once so I hooked up the gen and fired her off. The first thing I noticed was it seemed to be running extra high rpm and after a few minutes of the metal halide fixture over the drive area coming up to snuff realized it was extra bright. So I pulled out a meter and found my values 30% higher then it should be. Turn out my governor was stuck and I ended up frying my gate opener. That gawd nothing else was on in the house or it could have been really ugly.

 

[aandpdan]

Maybe post some pics of both panels. Measure the voltages as well.

 

[billrigsby]

PROBLEM SOLVED

The dang pigtail that came with the generator was miswired,
I assumed (yes I know the old adage, and it apparently holds true),
that since he was using it it was correct.
Or maybe he never used it as a backup, hooked to the house via a transfer switch.
Don't know.

I do know everything is functioning properly now.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

PROBLEM SOLVED

The dang pigtail that came with the generator was miswired,
I assumed (yes I know the old adage, and it apparently holds true),
that since he was using it it was correct.
Or maybe he never used it as a backup, hooked to the house via a transfer switch.
Don't know.

I do know everything is functioning properly now.

how was it miswired? hot wire where neutral goes?

 

[billrigsby]

Exactly, they were reversed.