Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's output ?

Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's output ?

Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with home portable Generator's output ?

devices & accessories like TVs, Refrigerators, deep freezer, computer, monitor whether CRT or LCD , single phase pump etc

thank$$$

Re: Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's outp

It all depends.... You see, not all generators are not made the same way. And your list of "devices" covers so many different things

However, assuming your generator is of descent quality: Generates approximately sine wave, and the voltage is within specifications (eg. 230V +/- 10% or whatever) - then it should be safe. It is important to note, that some loads may be reactive or have large start-up current spikes, and some generators do not like such load conditions.

Usually generators don't destroy the unsuitable load, nor an unsuitable load usually manages to kill the generator, so the risk of "fire and smoke" should be low - especially if you don't tamper with fuses or other protection devices!

A couple of general things. This is not exhaustive list, but just some ground rules:

Rule # 1: If your generator generates approximately sine wave, most appliances should work OK - if you respect rules #2-#4. If you get square wave (as some inverters may give out), many devices will not work well, or not at all.

Rule # 2: Never overload the generator. (Or any other supply, for that matter.). Consider also start-up load, as it is often larger than the nominal, running, load!

Rule # 3: Volt-Amperes (VA) are not necessarily identical to Watts (W). Only for plain resistive load such as heaters you can safely assume that. For motors etc. you have to consider the reactive power as well, and then you need more Volt Amperes than the Watt-value suggests.

Rule # 4: Frequency-dependent devices do care if you give them 50 or 60 Hz or something else. Even small frequency errors may cause problems for some devices (having for example synchronous motors). Some may be even damaged by wrong frequency. Note: Many motors run at frequency-dependent speed!

I am sorry if my answer seems a bit oracle-like, but your question is really extensive, and you don't even mention what kind of generator you got.

Good luck!
ted

Re: Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's outp

what about gasoline generators ? with OHV engines

Re: Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's outp

I updated my post a bit.

Note, that gasoline generators have likely a quite ordinary and simple rotating AC generator, where frequency is depending on rotational speed, and voltage is controlled by magnetization current control. Ideally, you should get right frequency and right voltage and approximately sine wave out from them. But you should check the speed is right and load is not too large to start with. Then most devices should be happy. However, sudden load variations may lead to voltage dips or spikes, as the regulation takes some time!

Re: Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's outp

It all depends upon the output of your generater, if it is same as utility electricity.

Re: Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's outp

Well it is not usually safe because usually these appliances are on three phase where your generator output is mostly single phase. IF you think you have powerful generator with three phase output then surely, there is no problem in operating them with the generator.

Re: Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's outp

@powermanonboard,
"Well it is not usually safe because usually these appliances are on three phase" ---that statement is incorrect.

pilko

Re: Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's outp

Should i check it online (via internet) the output waveform of my generator ? Could it be done in any way ?

Re: Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's outp

dineshdeshmuk said:

Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with home portable Generator's output ?

devices & accessories like TVs, Refrigerators, deep freezer, computer, monitor whether CRT or LCD , single phase pump etc

thank$$$

Click to expand...

Can You be more specific, safe for users or used devices ?


You should do appropriate grounding of generator ground point, according to manufacturer instructions.

You should check generator power related to devices what You whant to use. Pay attention on motors starting power (fridge, pump,...).

Check generator allowed load for what time!!! Some generators have maximum allowed working time, after that thez must rest some time cooldown. Some can run 24h but with load 1/4 of power.

Check voltage and frequency stability on load change. Some fine electronics will suffer on bad power supply. Use quality generator not some cheap junk.

There is gasoline, gasoline (LPG), diesel. Gasoline generator today is 4 stroke, 2 stroke is prohibited in most country. There is three phase and mono phase. I saw quality three phase generator 5KW for 650eur price in market. Depend from purpose, power and other things what to buy or use, my choise is gasoline/lpg (with option to work on lpg with switch) for generators up to 2-3KW, over that power diesel.

There is generators DIY or homemade, which usually works with constant speed regardless of the fact that they are on some load or just idling without any load. That generators are often very laud and need lots of fuel. Some of them have small carb with function like in car, to control speed and fuel under load. Maybe is nice to use some kind of soft start electronics for some power consument that you plan to use on generator.

Also I saw portable Honda super silent systems, that works with low voltage alternator, batteries and inverters, this give best quality of sine on output. This Honda generators can work in parallel connection to increase output power of system, they have inteligent electronics to synchronize sine to work as one. Last time when i look price for this generator I have red ears.

If You need stability of sine You can use inverter system or UPS devices. Generator will charge battery bank and give power for inverter. But this should be carefully planned and calculated.

Some electronics need fine sine for operating some can handle variations, You should check each device input power range from specification given by manufacturer. For some You can use UPS with internal battery, but check shape of sine of UPS, is it square, pure sine or modifyed sine.

STRONGLY Pay Attention on carbon monoxide and exaust gases of generator!!!!!!!!!! Dont use this in closed room!!! Pay attention on airflow of exaust gases that they dont enter into house or some room!!!

Re: Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's outp

Is there any virtual oscilloscope available through which i can check the output waveform of my home portable gasoline generator , 6.5 Hp , 11.4 A rated amps, 220 V , 2500 W rated power & peak power 2800 W ?

when i switched on water pump of 1 HP (taking almost 4.6 Amps) then the lights seem to fluctuate a bit ...... and it increase a bit when i also switch on my computer which takes about 1 amps ......

---------- Post added at 16:37 ---------- Previous post was at 16:36 ----------

i'm talking about used devices not for the users ....

Re: Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's outp

https://www.picotech.com/applications/mains-power-analysis.html

Re: Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's outp

which would be better in the sequence of their best : pure sinewave, modified sine wave & square wave ? Is it right ?

How this can be done "If You need stability of sine You can use inverter system or UPS devices. Generator will charge battery bank and give power for inverter. But this should be carefully planned and calculated." ?

Whenever there's power failure or shortage of power then UPS would turn on (come to its backup condition for giving output power) for e.g for the PC .... then turn on (start) the generator so now the output power of the generator would become the input power of the UPS and the UPS would switch to its normal charging condition , do you want that kind of set-up ?

Re: Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's outp

which would be better in the sequence of their best : pure sinewave, modified sine wave & square wave ? Is it right ?

Click to expand...

Best is pure sinewave.

Whenever there's power failure or shortage of power then UPS would turn on (come to its backup condition for giving output power) for e.g for the PC .... then turn on (start) the generator so now the output power of the generator would become the input power of the UPS and the UPS would switch to its normal charging condition , do you want that kind of set-up ?

Click to expand...

Yes UPS inverter should compensate that time gap, and give stable power to devices, after longer outage of power, generator should take job. Of course You can power UPS over generator.

Re: Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's outp

then what would be the waveform of the input voltage, while powering UPS over generator. ?

how many amps would this picoscope can handle ?

---------- Post added at 16:28 ---------- Previous post was at 16:27 ----------

If sinewave is not there then what would be suitable ?

Re: Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's outp

See math channels of picoscope

https://www.picotech.com/picoscope6-maths-channels.html

Re: Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's outp

I have to use it with home portable generator's output , 220 volts to 230 volts & almost 7 to 8 amps , would it be perfect for this task ?

Re: Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's outp

danishdeshmuk said:

I have to use it with home portable generator's output , 220 volts to 230 volts & almost 7 to 8 amps , would it be perfect for this task ?

Click to expand...

How do You mean, sorry I didnt understand ?

With scope You can measure any UPS, inverter, output current of inverter doesnt matter for this.

Re: Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's outp

means can this oscilloscope measure voltage of 220 V to 240 V & almost 7 to 8 A AC

Re: Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's outp

Of course with adequate voltage divider and probe and with manufacturer instructions.

Re: Is it safe to use electronic devices & accessories with portable Generator's outp

how can i make or built adequate voltage divider ?