Generator Hertz Range

[spasm3]

My HF 4375 ( non invertor) when running shows 59-61 when running. This is measured in the house in a standard outlet.

How much variation is ok? I don't really hear the rpm changing, but i assume you probably could not notice that small of a change.

Is 59-61 acceptable ?

Whats worse? less than 60 or more than 60?

 

[rijndael]

This may offer some insight, more specifically the graph at the bottom.

http://leapsecond.com/pages/mains/#:~:text=Introduction,clocks keep exceptionally good time.

 

[factorytuned2012]

what is it running with an average load connected?

 

[spasm3]

what is it running with an average load connected?

Hertz? 59-61 Rpm somewhere around 3600.

IF you mean what items, LED house lights, gas furnace, refrigerator, TV. Maybe desktop PC. I turn the furnace off if i need to cycle the 220 well pump for refilling toilets or taking showers.

 

[factorytuned2012]

That's about as clean as you'll get with a non inverter generator my champion runs at or near that. you may notice the fluctuations in LED lights.

 

[factorytuned2012]

Hertz? 59-61 Rpm somewhere around 3600.

IF you mean what items, LED house lights, gas furnace, refrigerator, TV. Maybe desktop PC. I turn the furnace off if i need to cycle the 220 well pump for refilling toilets or taking showers.

all acceptable items to be run off a generator you'll get fluctuations as long as your voltages stay steady and don't dip lower than the 59hz you're fine. long term it could harm motors and compressors as they wont run as efficiently and slower. for back up power don't sweat it

 

[ctechbob]

Yep, the grid isn't as stable, frequency wise, as you'd expect. It fluctuates all over the place and there are times when the uils will actually adjust the frequency one side or the other from 60hz to make sure that the average frequency throughout the day is 60hz for timekeeping devices that require a stable frequency.

It's a fascinating bit of engineering. But yes, 59-61 isn't going to be any problem.

https://www.kccscientific.com/the-d...ime Error Correction,course of any given day.

 

[eljefino]

I checked my chonda generator with a kill-a-watt meter on frequency mode. Gave 61Hz at no load, 60 at half, 59 at 80%. I understand this is normal. I'd rather things go slightly too fast compared to slightly too slowly. (It cuts brownouts when a big load starts.) It has AVR (automatic voltage regulation) and made an honest 122 volts or so.

Notably, single piston 4 cycle 3600 RPM generators (most mass market ones) have every other rotation as a power stroke. Depending on the flywheel effect and load on the unit, you can get small variations in available power, sixty times a second. You can hear this in some motors (eg fridge compressors) that sound a little "off" running off the generator, but you can't say why exactly.

 

[spasm3]

Thanks!

 

[nomas]

When it comes to the high voltage grid , 59.3 hz can initiate load shedding conditions . 59.0 is starting to trigger heartburn in system operator control centers .

 

[spasm3]

all acceptable items to be run off a generator you'll get fluctuations as long as your voltages stay steady and don't dip lower than the 59hz you're fine. long term it could harm motors and compressors as they wont run as efficiently and slower. for back up power don't sweat it

I checked my chonda generator with a kill-a-watt meter on frequency mode. Gave 61Hz at no load, 60 at half, 59 at 80%. I understand this is normal. I'd rather things go slightly too fast compared to slightly too slowly. (It cuts brownouts when a big load starts.) It has AVR (automatic voltage regulation) and made an honest 122 volts or so.

Notably, single piston 4 cycle 3600 RPM generators (most mass market ones) have every other rotation as a power stroke. Depending on the flywheel effect and load on the unit, you can get small variations in available power, sixty times a second. You can hear this in some motors (eg fridge compressors) that sound a little "off" running off the generator, but you can't say why exactly.

Should i run it a touch faster so its 60-62?

 

[JHZR2]

Should i run it a touch faster so its 60-62?

I’d argue to try to manage your load instead.

 

[spasm3]

I’d argue to try to manage your load instead.

Pretty much what we do. Items needed are not run simultaneous , like the well pump and the gas furnace. Only continues load is a fridge and house lights which are all led, and only in the room occupied. Maybe a small TV.

 

[eljefino]

Should i run it a touch faster so its 60-62?

I'd aim for dead on 60 to 60.5 at your typical load.

 

[JHZR2]

I'd aim for dead on 60 to 60.5 at your typical load.

Agree

 

[Hohn]

https://info.ornl.gov/sites/publications/Files/Pub57419.pdf

59-61hz is fine.

 

[Hohn]

I’d argue to try to manage your load instead.

That's always easier.

You can add some ferrite coils or such to try to minimize PF degradation. (There's a reason those ferrite coils are on the cords of so many tools).

 

[Fordiesel69]

This is my method:

1. Connect a 60W standard light blub. This is so you can have just enough load so that the regulator is working.
2. Set governor to 62.0 hertz
3. Use a bunch of electric heaters, and "resistive" load devices to load the generator to 1/2 of its continuous capacity.
4. The frequency should not fall below 60.0 hertz.
5. Balance unloaded and loaded so you never fall below 59.0 hertz as you start to approach near full continuous. If that means taking the spring and trying out every hole in the gov arm, then by all means keep experimenting. But at light load you also cannot have the spring causing hunting.
6. If using a honda GX clone or Kohler clone, any hunting can usually be fixed by ever so slightly enlarging the pilot jet.

I have had to get old flathead briggs 8 and 11 hp engines up to 63 or 64 hertz and they still will not hold a load at continuous load without falling off below 58 hertz. The mechanical governor is just too poor to respond. These are not good for sensitive devices. New lithium battery chargers would probably go up in smoke on these.

Also a super thick engine oil will affect the governor response. So if you plan to use a think oil, make sure the engine and oil is fully warm before you tweak the governor. Example a 5w-30 synthetic will have a faster gov response than a 20w-50 motorcycle oil.