1800 Diesel
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- Santa Rosa County, FL
Conducted two load tests yesterday evening on 2 different MEP004As...On unit 1 I've completed the single phase mod, including the CT resistor installation; on unit 2 I've completed the single phase mod, but have not installed the CT resistors. Since I haven't finished my load bank (using water tank & HW elements), I've set up a breaker box (salvaged from our Katrina house in MS) with (10) 20-amp SP breakers & then connected 10 outlets (one per breaker). For each test I connected eight 1500-watt heaters running at full settings. For the unit 1 test, I also included a small compressor (HF 8 gallon model) plugged into the convenience outlet (which I believe connects from L3). For unit 2 test I did not connect the compressor, running only the eight heaters. Voltage on both units set at 120 each leg. 1st amp readings obtained from by AMPROBE reading on generator output lines.
Unit 1 results:
L1: 40 amps
L3: 39 amps
Percent load meter: 78%
AC ammeter load readings: L1: 85%
L3: 90%
Frequency, AC voltage, % power & AC ammeters % all stable during test.
**********************************************************
Unit 2 results:
L1: 39 amps
L3: 38 amps
Percent load meter: 100%
AC ammeter load readings: L1: 70-75%
L3: 60-70%
Freq meter fairly stable with slight variations 58.9-60.2 .
AC ammeter varied as noted by above values. The needle moved back & forth between the values noted.
AC voltmeter value varied slightly (119-121)
My biggest concern is the varying AC ammeter percent load swings. I need to look into meter adjustments in the TM (if there is anything) to determine if the zero-adjustment may be off. With no load on the bus, this generator's AC ammeter "bounces" during generator running from zero, up to 20 or 30%....
The other concern (more of a curiosity) is why eight 1500-watt heaters are not providing a 12 KW load. My assumption is that not all of the heaters are actually pulling the full 1.5 KW they're rated...
If anyone has any comments, please weigh in.
Thanks,
Kevin
Unit 1 results:
L1: 40 amps
L3: 39 amps
Percent load meter: 78%
AC ammeter load readings: L1: 85%
L3: 90%
Frequency, AC voltage, % power & AC ammeters % all stable during test.
**********************************************************
Unit 2 results:
L1: 39 amps
L3: 38 amps
Percent load meter: 100%
AC ammeter load readings: L1: 70-75%
L3: 60-70%
Freq meter fairly stable with slight variations 58.9-60.2 .
AC ammeter varied as noted by above values. The needle moved back & forth between the values noted.
AC voltmeter value varied slightly (119-121)
My biggest concern is the varying AC ammeter percent load swings. I need to look into meter adjustments in the TM (if there is anything) to determine if the zero-adjustment may be off. With no load on the bus, this generator's AC ammeter "bounces" during generator running from zero, up to 20 or 30%....
The other concern (more of a curiosity) is why eight 1500-watt heaters are not providing a 12 KW load. My assumption is that not all of the heaters are actually pulling the full 1.5 KW they're rated...
If anyone has any comments, please weigh in.
Thanks,
Kevin
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