My MEP003a story and Hertz issue

[RGJ58]

Today i had a short time to work on the generator and i discovered a few things that are a bit disheartening. First off i connected the mep017a Hertz gauge that i purchased online to the existing wires were the factory mep003a hertz gauge connected and i got no reading at all. My digital multi meter was showing 60 cycles at what sounded like to me near idle and my throttle adjustment was pushed almost all the way in (this just doesn't seem right). My question is do i have to by pass the factory transducer? As well as does the mep017a guage have a built in transducer as that is what i thought? The second thing i noticed is that on connecting my digital meter to the batteries i noticed a reading of 24.2 volts when the unit was started up that value did not go up at all. So i am assuming that my battery charging system does not work. I looked for a fusible link or anything of the sorts on the charging circuit but was unable to find anything as i thought maybe a fuse had popped. I greatly appreciate all the responses and help so far it looks like maybe this unit is in a lot worse shape then i expected!


Disregard the charging system question i found a bunch of testing information on the site!!

 

[Triple Jim]

That's pretty sweet! I got to get me one of those!

That's impressive!

Thanks guys, I'll tell my son you said that. I'm sure it'll make him happy.

 

[R Racing]

Im pretty sure I have a MEP-002a HZ Gauge on a spare control box I have. PM me if you cant figure out how to make your other 1 work.

 

[Guyfang]

Today i had a short time to work on the generator and i discovered a few things that are a bit disheartening. First off i connected the mep017a Hertz gauge that i purchased online to the existing wires were the factory mep003a hertz gauge connected and i got no reading at all. My digital multi meter was showing 60 cycles at what sounded like to me near idle and my throttle adjustment was pushed almost all the way in (this just doesn't seem right). My question is do i have to by pass the factory transducer? As well as does the mep017a guage have a built in transducer as that is what i thought? The second thing i noticed is that on connecting my digital meter to the batteries i noticed a reading of 24.2 volts when the unit was started up that value did not go up at all. So i am assuming that my battery charging system does not work. I looked for a fusible link or anything of the sorts on the charging circuit but was unable to find anything as i thought maybe a fuse had popped. I greatly appreciate all the responses and help so far it looks like maybe this unit is in a lot worse shape then i expected!


Disregard the charging system question i found a bunch of testing information on the site!!

Why did you put a 017A hertz meter in your 003A? Didn't you look up the part numbers/NSN? They are not the same, so not compatible.

No, the 017A meter is not equipped with its own transducer. Partner, you need to look in the parts manuals. If you need a manual that's not in the forum, say something. I will post what you need.

 

[RGJ58]

Why did you put a 017A hertz meter in your 003A? Didn't you look up the part numbers/NSN? They are not the same, so not compatible.

No, the 017A meter is not equipped with its own transducer. Partner, you need to look in the parts manuals. If you need a manual that's not in the forum, say something. I will post what you need.

Yeah it was a rookie mistake i will admit, It was my fault i did not do the proper research on it. From what i can tell yokogawa makes a contained unit that looks very similar to the gauges that come on the civilian Onan DDYJ versions i would be perfectly happy with that. I saw a older post about them here on SS and Pm ed the original poster about the part number for it.

 

[RGJ58]

So I installed a new Yokogawa Hertz gauge on the 003a this afternoon it was a exact drop in replacement. I would like to thank SS member Harleyd315 for providing me with the correct part number of 254350AJ-AJ9. However with the good always comes far greater bad of course so once i connected the gauge i got no reading at all. I used a digital multi-meter to test the lines coming out and got no reading at all. I restarted the unit because i needed to grab a few tools came back re started it and now i have no voltage output at all even tested from the convenience outlets and lugs. I restarted it a few more times still nothing i checked the panel fuse and main breaker but they were all OK. So now i have no DC charging system i have no AC output and my Hertz guage is still non functional. Does anyone have any clue where they would even start at this point? I am very close to taking this thing down to the scales at this point. Thanks for any insight and remember i am a generator newbie if i even qualify for that rank.



Yokogawa 254350AJ-AJ9

 

[R Racing]

Not positive , But did you try flashing the gens feild ? also on the right hand side of the gen up near the injector pump area there is a inline fuse that's part of your DC circuit .

 

[RGJ58]

Yes i checked that fuse only to find it had previously been cut out of the circuit as both wires had been cut through. I couldn't get a good look in there though i need to take that front cover off to see why some moron would disable the fuse. Along with that i found another wire cut clean through inside the control panel however i am not sure what it is for here is a picture.

The top left hand wire on the gold box was cut clean through, I am not sure what this device is if any could off some insight?

 

[Triple Jim]

It's a frequency transducer. It takes AC from the generator and makes a DC signal for the frequency meter. It and the meter are designed to work together as a set.

 

[Guyfang]

That's why your freq meter did not read. The cut wire is the INPUT side of the transducer. No input, no output to the meter.

And then when you dropped in the new freq meter, did you just hook up the wires that would go to the old freq meter? If so, then first off, if the freq transducer was still good. you would have been getting a DC voltage from the transducer to your new meter that needs a AC input. So it would not have worked. Second off, since the wire is cut/broken, you get nothing anyway.

Maybe you need to fix the wire, then put the old meter back in. Might work. If you want to use the new meter, then you need to extend the INPUT voltage wires, (AC) to the freq transducer, up to the new meter.

The only thing I find wrong with your new meter, is its AC driven. The reason the military uses a freq transducer is to keep AC out of the control panel. There is no AC any place in the control panel. There are a few good reasons for that. Safety is a good one. Then, when troubleshooting, you do not need to worry about what setting your multimeter is in, because you only have DC in the control panel.

 

[Triple Jim]

I would argue that the voltmeter in the panel sees full AC output voltage.

 

[Guyfang]

From the transducer? I dont think so. It is printed on the transducer, AC input, DC output.

 

[Triple Jim]

No, the AC voltmeter in the panel. It runs on full output voltage according to the schematic.

 

[Guyfang]

You are right.

BUT is it full output voltage if it comes through or from a Currant transformer? Now that I think about it, there are at least two transformers AND the freq transducer in the control cabinet.

So yes, its AC. My mistake. Keep mixing up the DED and the MEP sets. And the MEP sets also have AC, but only the meter I think. And TB's also.

I am not paying a lot of attention. We are having another terror attack here in germany, and I have been reading and listening with with only half a brain. At least 6 dead. Many wounded and the crap heads are still unaccounted for. Been on the horn to friends in München and its a mad house. Supposedly the crap heads have split up and are in several different parts of the city. And the new stations are not broadcasting reliable news. Oh well.

 

[Triple Jim]

Oh no. Stay safe!

 

[Guyfang]

The Würzburg attack, two days ago wasn't far from here, maybe 60 miles away. On the 5th we will be down in the same area for a motorcycle rally. My wife is already telling me to be careful. I fear this is only the beginning.

 

[Triple Jim]

What motorcycle(s) do you have? I have a '72 Kawasaki H2, a '78 Yamaha DT100, an '89 Moto Guzzi Mille GT, and an '05 Kawasaki Ninja 250.

 

[Guyfang]

I have a 93 Suzuki Intruder 800, and a 2012 Yamaha Midnight Star 1300. These are my everyday bikes.

Also in the garages, (I rent 4 extra garages) is a 1990 Yamaha 650 Drag Star, a 2017 Ninja 900, a Yamaha 250 dirt bike, a 1938 R-23 BMW 250, (needs some work, but 98% there) a 1954 Victoria KR125, (in boxes) a 1951 Victoria KR125, (my parts source) and several others that the kids have added without me knowing much about it.

I took the Ninja out and hit 255 KMH and decided that this is not an old man's bike. I am looking at a Suzuki 2005 Intruder. Its for sale, but its way over priced. Also want to find a Suzuki 1400, at 93-94 model. I just love the way it looks, but most of them have been "modified" to the point that I just don't want to get one. A stock bike is what I want.

Weather here is the sticking point. Too much rain. As long as its not raining, I will ride. If it rains underway, that's what a rain suit is for.

 

[oldgenset]

The Würzburg attack, two days ago wasn't far from here, maybe 60 miles away. On the 5th we will be down in the same area for a motorcycle rally. My wife is already telling me to be careful. I fear this is only the beginning.

PLEASE, PLEASE Stay SAFE.
ALL of our American Soldiers and Civilians LIVES MATTER.
We DO APPRECIATE your service to Our Country.
We want All of our Away from home Americans to come home safe.
May God Bless America

 

[Triple Jim]

That's an interesting collection of motorcycles. I'd love to see the R-23 running! I'll end my hijack, but it's always fun to find out our other hobbies overlap.