- 1,079
- 1,156
- 113
- Location
- Basehor, KS
From my recollection, he had also changed already the batteries and starter. This left the Cubicle as Culprit.
Several tests where performed with a Fluke meter, which could store Hi or Lo Reading, so we know that the DC Bus sagged to below 10V in the cubicle shortly after cranking was started.
He also had replaced the Voltage Regulator and checked the exciter coil resistance, which would be another suspect.
We then proceeded to check CIM and updated everything as shown in this post, just to find out that the problem still persisted.
At this point, the only way to exactly identify the culprit, is with a Oscilloscope.
When we do remote troubleshooting like in this case here, then we have to solely rely on what the owner tells us to the best of their ability.
In normal cases, the batteries would be suspect number 1.
A sagging of battery voltage after 2 or 3 seconds of cranking is usually caused by a bad cell in one of the batteries.
AGM batteries are more prone to this failure when they near the end of their life.
The batteries should be kept on a float charger / maintainer at all times or the ground cable should be disconnected from battery terminal if genset is not used every week and runs at least two to four hours after each start.
The Alternators in these Genset's are undersized compared to cars / trucks, as they were intended to run for 4 or 8 hours after each start.
Several tests where performed with a Fluke meter, which could store Hi or Lo Reading, so we know that the DC Bus sagged to below 10V in the cubicle shortly after cranking was started.
He also had replaced the Voltage Regulator and checked the exciter coil resistance, which would be another suspect.
We then proceeded to check CIM and updated everything as shown in this post, just to find out that the problem still persisted.
At this point, the only way to exactly identify the culprit, is with a Oscilloscope.
When we do remote troubleshooting like in this case here, then we have to solely rely on what the owner tells us to the best of their ability.
In normal cases, the batteries would be suspect number 1.
A sagging of battery voltage after 2 or 3 seconds of cranking is usually caused by a bad cell in one of the batteries.
AGM batteries are more prone to this failure when they near the end of their life.
The batteries should be kept on a float charger / maintainer at all times or the ground cable should be disconnected from battery terminal if genset is not used every week and runs at least two to four hours after each start.
The Alternators in these Genset's are undersized compared to cars / trucks, as they were intended to run for 4 or 8 hours after each start.
