Generac Question

[Bigbandguy]

I just had my 17 KW Generac standby generator serviced. It has about 140 total hours on it. The service guy said that he was concerned that the alternator was hard to turn manually. It starts and runs fine and makes power appropriately.

Has anyone here heard of an issue with the alternator being hard to turn? It is of course out of warranty and if the alternator crapped out it would be an expensive situation. At only 140 hours it makes me wonder if a lemon slipped through.

 

[nadogail]

Did the Service Technician separate the engine from the alternator before manually spinning the alternator?

Maybe it was because of the residual magnetism in the alternator exciter.

 

[dogdog]

Call Generac and ask if their "alternator/generator" are supposedly free spinning or...

Sounds fishy. ....... No way for the internet to know.. I would say call Genrac. Look for sign of belt wear ?

I have this story that sounds similar situation as the word "Expensive situation" was mentioned. There was this furnace that need the "annual tune up", the furnace was about 3 or 4 year old back then. I got on the phone with the service guy... he told me he have checked out the furnace , and everything looks good, except the "ignition transformer" seems a little "weak"... he have one at his truck, I can save on the service visit charge, if I changed out today...He'll charge me only the price of the transformer $150. If this transformer failed later on after he leaves, He would have to charge me $400 for this ... His standard rate is $250 per service visit, and the part is $150... back then, I was 200 miles away, less tools and know how than now, and couldn't drive that far... so I say ok.

The oil burner was Buckett AF1... guess what the part really cost.. I get it, there is a mark up cost. Business is Business... not really complaining.

https://www.grainger.com/product/23M552

The real question was.... Was my transformer really "weak", there was no way to proof a "weak" transformer at the time he was looking at it that moment. LOL those parts don't fail that easily unless some one short it out for few seconds burning out the secondary coils. anyways that is after the fact. I have learned to service my own stuff since...

 

[Norcal]

Call Generac and ask if their "alternator/generator" are supposedly free spinning or...

Sounds fishy. ....... No way for the internet to know.. I would say call Genrac. Look for sign of belt wear ?

I have this story that sounds similar situation as the word "Expensive situation" was mentioned. There was this furnace that need the "annual tune up", the furnace was about 3 or 4 year old back then. I got on the phone with the service guy... he told me he have checked out the furnace , and everything looks good, except the "ignition transformer" seems a little "weak"... he have one at his truck, I can save on the service visit charge, if I changed out today...He'll charge me only the price of the transformer $150. If this transformer failed later on after he leaves, He would have to charge me $400 for this ... His standard rate is $250 per service visit, and the part is $150... back then, I was 200 miles away, less tools and know how than now, and couldn't drive that far... so I say ok.

The oil burner was Buckett AF1... guess what the part really cost.. I get it, there is a mark up cost. Business is Business... not really complaining.

https://www.grainger.com/product/23M552

The real question was.... Was my transformer really "weak", there was no way to proof a "weak" transformer at the time he was looking at it that moment. LOL those parts don't fail that easily unless some one short it out for few seconds burning out the secondary coils. anyways that is after the fact. I have learned to service my own stuff since...

If the contractor was a flat rater they have some stiff markups on material and labor, another thing I was told what they were taught that any part under a $100 bucks that they should double their cost and that is the selling price of said part.

 

[dogdog]

If the contractor was a flat rater they have some stiff markups on material and labor, another thing I was told what they were taught that any part under a $100 bucks that they should double their cost and that is the selling price of said part.

Yup, old enough to under stand the game now... just saying to the OP, since he mention those key triggering words "Expensive situation" , not sure exactly what that means in his words... but sounds like one of those Marketing buzz words. alternator going out, just replace it, it should be simple on bigger engines and these days you can look up the parts online..


*** The Alternator OP mentioned is probably part of the Generator.. just looked up the diagram... I would call generac and verify, looks like there is a bearing there it has part numbers for anyways.

https://soa.generac.com/manuals/5757199/0G7746

 

[slow]

what's the alternator on a 17kw generator? That size is typically air cooler, and an engine and a generator head that could be considered an alternator. Larger water cooled units I could see possibly having an external alternator.

 

[Bigbandguy]

I think it might be the "residual magnetism" mentioned. It is working fine. The service guy is reliable and has maintained it since new. He has gone the extra mile several times on it and i do not think he is trying to drum up expensive business. It is an air cooled direct connected motor to alternator unit. I will run it unless it fails and if it fails i will get another one. My main reason for asking was to determine if others had encountered the situation.

If anything changes or if it craps out I'll let you all know.

 

[Badgerstate]

I worked for Generac for 10 years as a tester and repair tech in their Whitewater, WI plant. I replaced many, many rotors and stators in my day. For a time, I even worked on the line where some of the rotors were made.
Even when they are new, they dont spin freely. I would be skeptical of this service tech's advice.
Unless he seperated the alternator from the engine, I dont know how he even checked for this.

 

[dcg9381]

Calling it an "alternator" is suspect to me also. This is a case where I'm asking him to "show me"...

 

[TractorJeff]

Calling it an "alternator" is suspect to me also. This is a case where I'm asking him to "show me"...

Well?
Technically the "Prime Mover drives an Alternator to Generate AC Electricity".
It all about correct Nomenclature!

 

[Will S.]

I agree with Badgerstate, and unlike the OP, I do believe that the tech was trying to convince you to do an expensive repair that's not needed. He might have taken care of your gen annual maintenance visits, sure, but in these times where covid19 has taken a toll on many businesses, and lots of 2 income families have become 1 income, he may well have tried to push an unneeded repair for some extra money.

Drop in on Ziller.com (a Generac) forum where many tech hang out, and answer questions, and you may find out more info on this puzzle.

 

[ant.foste]

Calling it an "alternator" is suspect to me also. This is a case where I'm asking him to "show me"...

Calling the large drum full of copper bolted to the *** end of the engine an "alternator" is very common in the generator world, as that's what the component is. What would you prefer it be called?

Now as for it being hard to turn, was he referring to the alternator that is direct drive and produces power to the house? Or was he referring to the alternator that produces power to charge the batteries? Your post is not clear in that regard.

 

[dogdog]

Calling the large drum full of copper bolted to the *** end of the engine an "alternator" is very common in the generator world, as that's what the component is. What would you prefer it be called?

........

I always thought those are call Generator Head Even if it is basically an alternator that generates AC.

 

[TractorJeff]

I always thought those are call Generator Head Even if it is basically an alternator that generates AC.

LOL!
In some circles, "Yes"!
But in the 25 plus years of working on Gen-Sets larger than 500kva when talking to the Engineers it is always referred to as an "Alternator".

 

[dcg9381]

Calling the large drum full of copper bolted to the *** end of the engine an "alternator" is very common in the generator world, as that's what the component is. What would you prefer it be called?

Now as for it being hard to turn, was he referring to the alternator that is direct drive and produces power to the house? Or was he referring to the alternator that produces power to charge the batteries? Your post is not clear in that regard.

Generator head.. I realize it generates AC.
As it's direct coupled, how can you even tell that it's hard to turn? Perhaps by pulling the generators spark plug and turning it over w/o compression?

 

[dogdog]

LOL!
In some circles, "Yes"!
But in the 25 plus years of working on Gen-Sets larger than 500kva when talking to the Engineers it is always referred to as an "Alternator".

yea that is weird, the way I learn about it, Generator produce DC, alternator produce AC , magneto produce sparks..