Generac Portable Gen, 5000 w. question

[Rat407]

I have a Generac 5000 watt portable generator. Went to use it since Irene took out our power and I found out the hard way that the 120v plug is putting out 220 volts. I tried calling around but everyone is swamped with work and couldn't talk to me. I went on the Generac web site and my model. 1669 is not listed. It has me stumped since it is about 7yrs old and about 10hrs of run time on it. What would cause it to be putting out 220v out of all the outlets? It has three wires coming out of the generator to the outlets. There is no switch to change it over to one voltage to an other. It has a 10hp B&S engine.

We are lucky that our power was only out for 17hrs. Not going to let this happen next time. Will do a ops check well in advance. Just makes me made that it just goes bad by sitting. The thing is basically brand new and it isn't an off brand either.

So what do you think is the issue? Is it something I can fix? What are other good brands and is a 5000w big enough to run a fridge and a freezer at the same time as well as some lights? I'm going to be doing some reading here in the next couple of days on generators and refresh my memory.

Thanks

 

[Muffduster]

Why would a Generac brand generator have a B&S engine on it???

 

[griff99]

Why would a Generac brand generator have a B&S engine on it???

because b&s owns generac.

 

[83diesel]

I have a Generac 5000 watt portable generator. Went to use it since Irene took out our power and I found out the hard way that the 120v plug is putting out 220 volts. I tried calling around but everyone is swamped with work and couldn't talk to me. I went on the Generac web site and my model. 1669 is not listed. It has me stumped since it is about 7yrs old and about 10hrs of run time on it. What would cause it to be putting out 220v out of all the outlets? It has three wires coming out of the generator to the outlets. There is no switch to change it over to one voltage to an other. It has a 10hp B&S engine.

We are lucky that our power was only out for 17hrs. Not going to let this happen next time. Will do a ops check well in advance. Just makes me made that it just goes bad by sitting. The thing is basically brand new and it isn't an off brand either.

So what do you think is the issue? Is it something I can fix? What are other good brands and is a 5000w big enough to run a fridge and a freezer at the same time as well as some lights? I'm going to be doing some reading here in the next couple of days on generators and refresh my memory.

Thanks

Is it a regular looking plug or a 120/220 twist lock plug? Would be smart to at least run the generator twice a year and keep on the fuel with something that will help with the ethanol since it tends to allow water to accumulate in your gas.

You would have to look at the appliance ratings at running and guesstimate startup amperage then convert to watts. And double check if it is a 5000W continuous or surge.

 

[smallcarguy]

It must just be wired wrong. 220 is just two 110's out of phase with each other. I'm thinking what should be the common leg is grabbing the other phase somehow...

 

[Muffduster]

because b&s owns generac.

I don't believe so.

 

[helgrind]

Generac was briefly owned by b&s, the deal never fully materialized though. Back feed the 220vac out from the 220 outlet on the genset into your house (i.e. 220 dryer outlet), cut off all un-necessary circuits and bring what you need on. Its also very important that you turn the incoming main breaker off as you don't want to feed power out to the pole. Get the generator checked out at your service center when you can, something isn't wired properly to the 110 side.

 

[griff99]

Generac was briefly owned by b&s, the deal never fully materialized though. Back feed the 220vac out from the 220 outlet on the genset into your house (i.e. 220 dryer outlet), cut off all un-necessary circuits and bring what you need on. Its also very important that you turn the incoming main breaker off as you don't want to feed power out to the pole. Get the generator checked out at your service center when you can, something isn't wired properly to the 110 side.

okay i stand corrected. wikipedia has the history. but 7 years ago when the op stated his generac is from, b&s did own the generac name. my question is, did this unit ever work properly before? did someone mess with the wiring? i agree with getting it checked by a professional, i am guessing any of the "authorized" service centers for b&s or generac could help you out.

 

[Rat407]

It must just be wired wrong. 220 is just two 110's out of phase with each other. I'm thinking what should be the common leg is grabbing the other phase somehow...

It doesn't make sense to me. It worked fine a few months ago. It just sits in the shed otherwise. Until all the madness calms down around here from Irene I guess it will just have to wait to get looked at. At least our power is back on.

 

[Major Ramifications]

Is this a 220V generator, or just 110 volts?
I am asking because I have seen a new "110V" generator that accidentally got assembled with a european 220V alternator. They use 220VAC 50hz over there.
The company warrantied it, but it was still new, not 7 years old.

As for the "why does a Generac generator have a Briggs engine?" I say why wouldn't it? Generac assembled generators just like Murray assembles lawnmowers or AMC used to assemble cars. They provide the parts that they offer (in this case design, engineering, frame, and possibly the alternator and vendors supply the rest. Since B&S is a major small engine vendor, they got the contract to supply the engines.

 

[TheGrooveking]

Check your neutral ground, with a floating ground you can see upto 220V on one leg. What else is plugged into the generator when you had 220 come out a 110 outlet?

TheGrooveking

 

[Greatbear]

A generator that puts out 120/240 that is suddenly putting out high voltage on the 120 vol outlets usually has some sort of problem with the neutral. Check the wiring, especially if there is a connector between the gen head and the panel. Sometimes the shaking of the engine/gen head can loosen these wires. If you are using the twistlock outlet, make sure you have the wires in their proper locations. The lug with the bent tang is the ground, 180 degrees opposite is the neutral, and the flanking terminals are each 120 legs, with 240 available between them.