Maple
New Member
I connected a WGEN9500DF generator to the GEN IN breaker of my Midnite AOI. My home is on-grid, but I am learning to use the generator to supplement solar during outages. Could you please answer a few questions?
1. The generators advertises 8500 running watts on propane. It sounds happy at 5000 W and unhappy much higher (surging a little at about 1 Hz and flickering lights). My impression is that this is normal. Is that true?
2. I think I should not push the generator to the "surging a little" point, as that will cause unnecessary wear. Is that true?
3. The AOI won't charge unless I adjust the generator frequency / governor screw to 60 Hz. I start at 2000 W charging. (4000 fails.) I increase to 3000 and then 4000. I stop there because I also have 1000 W loads, so I am getting 5000 W from generator. At this point, the frequency is down to 58 or 59 Hz.
I adjust the frequency back to 60 Hz.
When I am done charging and reduce the load to 0 W, the generator now runs around 62 Hz. I adjust it back to 60 for the next session.
I am surprised the generator doesn't control the frequency automatically. Am I using it correctly?
After starting at 60 Hz, incrementally adding the load, and seeing frequency drop to 58, do I really need to adjust it back to 60?
Would leaving it at 58 cause any trouble?
4. The AOI has "Grid" settings including "Grid First Low Frequency" set to 59.5 and "Grid First High Frequency" set to 60.1". I think these do not affect charging from the generator. Is that true?
If it is false, would I cause any trouble by making the range a little broader than (59.5, 60.1)? Like how about (58, 62)?
5. Midnite advised me to charge via generator only to 80% because charging current drops a lot after that. I want to charge higher. Can I safely and efficiently charge closer to 100%? How?
6. I think standard advice is "Get a Chargeverter." Any other big tips on charging with a generator?
Thank you.
1. The generators advertises 8500 running watts on propane. It sounds happy at 5000 W and unhappy much higher (surging a little at about 1 Hz and flickering lights). My impression is that this is normal. Is that true?
2. I think I should not push the generator to the "surging a little" point, as that will cause unnecessary wear. Is that true?
3. The AOI won't charge unless I adjust the generator frequency / governor screw to 60 Hz. I start at 2000 W charging. (4000 fails.) I increase to 3000 and then 4000. I stop there because I also have 1000 W loads, so I am getting 5000 W from generator. At this point, the frequency is down to 58 or 59 Hz.
I adjust the frequency back to 60 Hz.
When I am done charging and reduce the load to 0 W, the generator now runs around 62 Hz. I adjust it back to 60 for the next session.
I am surprised the generator doesn't control the frequency automatically. Am I using it correctly?
After starting at 60 Hz, incrementally adding the load, and seeing frequency drop to 58, do I really need to adjust it back to 60?
Would leaving it at 58 cause any trouble?
4. The AOI has "Grid" settings including "Grid First Low Frequency" set to 59.5 and "Grid First High Frequency" set to 60.1". I think these do not affect charging from the generator. Is that true?
If it is false, would I cause any trouble by making the range a little broader than (59.5, 60.1)? Like how about (58, 62)?
5. Midnite advised me to charge via generator only to 80% because charging current drops a lot after that. I want to charge higher. Can I safely and efficiently charge closer to 100%? How?
6. I think standard advice is "Get a Chargeverter." Any other big tips on charging with a generator?
Thank you.
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