- 400
- 23
- 18
- Location
- Healdton Oklahoma/ SOOK
It was hit with 24vdc on my failed governor didn't seem to do any harm. DA you definitely have my attention with your custom speed control.
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We really need to talk about someone reverse engineering things for the MEP-002A through to MEP-006A. Know anyone who might be interested?Yes, P7/J7 has to be relocated. Did it to my 831 with the 4K head installed. The contactor has to be relocated too.
I'll let that cat out of the bag for those that may be interested in converting their 831A to a "standard" generator head such as the Northstar 4000 watt head.
I'm developing a smart Governor Controller replacement to support using a "standard" gen head.
The new controller will:
- Control engine RPM to maintain the frequency to better that 60 +/- 0.2 Hz from 0% load to 100% load.
- Restores Overload protection function so that the 831's contactor will open after a sustained overload condition for more than "x" seconds. It will do this if EITHER leg of the gen head is overloaded.
- Re-purposes the existing Killowatt load meter as an ammeter. It displays the load current on the two output legs of the gen head. The current load displayed on the meter is the larger of the two current loads on the two gen head legs.
The plan is to be able to produce controllers, a plug and play wire harness and installation instruction for the complete conversion. No wire harness modifications to make to install it.
Status of the development effort:
I have an 831 with the Northstar 4K head installed
Working prototype of the new controller. (Final version will incorporate jumpers and additional components.
60 Hz maintained within 0.2 Hz
Plug-n-play harness working
Overload contactor control working.
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**** YEAH brother. I was planning on slowly figuring out how to restore most of the functionality, but I am somewhat electronics stupid. "Let me know if you need any additional testers", of course. HehYes, P7/J7 has to be relocated. Did it to my 831 with the 4K head installed. The contactor has to be relocated too.
I'm developing a smart Governor Controller replacement to support using a "standard" gen head.
It does help me feel like less of a crazy person! I might have missed it... Was the solenoid on the fuel pump an easier cutoff than something to close the throttle?CallMeColt said:Not sure if this will help you at all but I did a build off an old MEP-501A engine
What was the limitation here? If you know the current on both legs, can't you show the combined output?- Re-purposes the existing Killowatt load meter as an ammeter. It displays the load current on the two output legs of the gen head. The current load displayed on the meter is the larger of the two current loads on the two gen head legs.
The limitation at the moment is the tiny 8 pin micro controller on the present Governor Controller. It only a couple of inputs and outputs that can be utilized.What was the limitation here? If you know the current on both legs, can't you show the combined output?
Maybe leave contacts for a leg overload/imbalance indicator light or something... or a 3 way momentary toggle switch that lets you see combined versus per leg... Spitballing someone else's work of course. I think it's awesome and I'm excited for it.
I've reverse engineered the original battery charger and now produce replacements.@kloppk, what did you do with the alternator and battery charger in order to still charge the battery?
I have a version of my 802/803 WiFi Remote Start and monitor system for the 831 already which includes the variable Governor Controller electronics for the the 831 with the Inverter.....- Remote start / shutdown
- Remote monitoring
Two issues with attempting that.....- "low idle" function - If no load for some period of time, open contactor, throttle down. When load detected again (possibly based on resistivity of load side?), get back to 60 Hz, close contactor.
?? There isn't any solenoid on the 831 Fuel Pump.....Was the solenoid on the fuel pump an easier cutoff than something to close the throttle?
Your signature link to those kits isn't working for me - don't have one of those generators but wanted to take a look.I have a version of my 802/803 WiFi Remote Start and monitor system for the 831 already which includes the variable Governor Controller electronics for the the 831 with the Inverter.
Just need to re-spin the PCB into the final version and build some units.
Man I would think it would be... the value it creates for the most commonly broken things on the MEP-831a's while turning them into a superior diesel generator, geez. But I am historically a bad estimator of the value people will see in things.I'd need to evaluate if it's cost effective to create a cousin to it that provides the Remote Start, Monitoring and governor functions for the replacement head fixed speed for 60 Hz
I hadn't considered that the voltage regulator could be damaged under no load and any RPM. Well there goes that "idea".1) Not sure the voltage regulation system in the replacement gen head will tolerate being run at an RPM way less that 3600. Spec sheet for the head says 3540 - 3720 RPM.
2) It's tough to detect a light load such as LED lighting since it's not a purely resistive load. I have inverters with "sleep" functions and they cannot detect when an LED light is switched on to wake them wake up.
Yeah I didn't realize CallMeColt's video was for a different generator; He added a solenoid and I wondered why he didn't use the throttle actuator or something else that controlled the throttle to shut it off. Guess adding the solenoid was easier or less expensive!There isn't any solenoid on the 831 Fuel Pump.
Awesome. And good timing. I'll put my MEP in storage until your kits are done!I have bigger micro controllers on their way to provide for independent measuring and reporting of the current for each leg plus room for additional features.
I am not sure what you mean by reverse engineering, it is very easy to remove the phase switch, wire the 12 wire gen for 120/240V single phase and replace the voltage regulator with an aftermarket unit, this gets rid of virtually everything that causes problems on the gen side of the 002-003We really need to talk about someone reverse engineering things for the MEP-002A through to MEP-006A. Know anyone who might be interested?
I was speaking in general, but to someone specific, about the many components that are becoming hard to find. Reverse engineering the entire gen set is possible, but not cost effective. Why? It works. Its simple. Once you start to tinker on the gen set, you might as well toss out the TM's, and write your own. Everything Kurt has made, is made to work with the set, AS IS.I am not sure what you mean by reverse engineering, it is very easy to remove the phase switch, wire the 12 wire gen for 120/240V single phase and replace the voltage regulator with an aftermarket unit, this gets rid of virtually everything that causes problems on the gen side of the 002-003
The effort stalled about a year ago when Northern Tool stopped carrying gen heads that fit the L70. I looked around off and on and haven't found a source for a suitable head until just recently. A fellow SS member found a US source of heads for a very fair price. We just installed it on his 831. Parts on order to complete the install and hope to test it all out with the existing 3,600 RPM Governor Controller design. Concurrently investigating a re-spin to that design to make it even more accurate. Prototype built awaiting test.kloppk,
Did you ever finish development of your remote start compatible with standard gen heads / kit? With Winter coming, it's probably time to get my MEP out of storage and get it buttoned back together.
I just want to say that you are an amazing person and asset to this community, Kurt. You've been incredibly generous and patient, trying to reconstruct even one "good" inverter from THREE that have turned out to be bad - - no luck. And then generously helping me install a standard gen head on my 831 and dialing it. This will benefit not only me (selfishly speaking), but hopefully others out there who have found (and believe me, if you own an 831 and its "unobtainium" inverter, you WILL find out at some point when it unexpectedly goes "snap, crackle and pop") the inverter to be the key weak link over time in these otherwise amazing units. THANK YOU for all you do to help us all.The effort stalled about a year ago when Northern Tool stopped carrying gen heads that fit the L70. I looked around off and on and haven't found a source for a suitable head until just recently. A fellow SS member found a US source of heads for a very fair price. We just installed it on his 831. Parts on order to complete the install and hope to test it all out with the existing 3,600 RPM Governor Controller design. Concurrently investigating a re-spin to that design to make it even more accurate. Prototype built awaiting test.
This effort will renew finalization of a "kit" for installing a convention gen head in an 831.
As for combining the 3,600 PRM Governor Controller with the WiFi Remote Start will be dependent on what I see for an ROI on such an effort. At the moment I don't see any demand for such a design. The sales of my existing Inverter based 831 Governor Controller / WiFi Remote Start for the 831's has been very low. Likely one for the gen head swap version would likely be way lower.
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