You just gave a lot of guys familiar with small engines but not generators an amazing opportunity to fix and flip, or do repairs around the community to help prepare those who have generators stored up but not a lot of money to just buy new ones every single storm. Thanks man I have one here that's nice but same issue.

You done a great job of keeping it simple and step by step. No fluff intro to your video is a big plus in my book!

In the UK there is a vast difference between your grid and ours. It is so good to see this from both sides very educational.This is good so I watch with great interest.

This is the most well explained video I've seen so far on the obscure cause of a generators death. That was a lot better then the readings are wrong so lets just declare it dead. Please do some more generator videos James. The video was really helpful.

Just watched this one AGAIN before going to assess a unit for sale with no power tomorrow morning. Thanks again for the level of detail and clarity that you provide in ALL of your videos James!

@jcondon1

3 жыл бұрын

Good luck! That is a nice generator. Hopefully the power head can be saved.

Thanks to your vid I was able to get my Powermate 8000 working again, the AVR was swollen and cracked on the back side. $68. dollars later with a new AVR and it works like a champ, I also cleaned the brushes with electronic cleaner. Now on to getting the engine to run better.

Absolutely selfless contribution to human knowledge. Bravo

This was the first video of yours that I watched. Then I watched pretty much every other video you've published over the course of a week. Just got my generator back in action this morning thanks to you! Thank you so much! Great educational channel!

@jcondon1

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Glad to hear you were able to gets your running again.

@joegarren6529

Жыл бұрын

@@jcondon1 ,,,

James thanks for these videos! I bought a China Generator (DS4000s) as a backup. It will likely sit for years before I use it. After I bought it understanding it will need some spare parts I selected brushes and an AVR. The spare AVR arrived with the mounting tabs broke off. I disassembled (took the potting out) the broken AVR and discovered a few things that people should understand. First, the circuit board and workmanship were kind of substandard. Second, the AVR maintains the adjustable voltage (via the pot on the AVR) by using a MOSFET. The part nobody’s talking about is the MOSFET gets hot (the nature of a MOSFET) but it's incased in the potting material. Really kind of a bad idea, it will fail if it gets too hot and it will. Compound the heat issue with the fact they run the MOSFET close to max, using full load it won't last forever. All said and done my generator is rated to run just under 30 AMPs continues load. I think running it at 80% (20AMPS or so) of rated load will keep the AVR and windings healthy. Just wanted to share the discovery, the AVR was really difficult to take apart! I do want this generator to work when I need it. So: Drain the fuel bowl, I’m taking it off. Drain the fuel tank Check the oil before start-up (for fuel and level) Pick some good spares Know how the thing works! Thanks!!!

James this is the best in-depth I’ve seen. Thorough on steps and test results. Correct test equipment. Great explanation. Thoughtful analysis. My opinion you clearly show details on a power head that fails. Too many other vids show what’s good/right of which there is no comparison. Thumbs up, 5-*****. Tom.

To you and the many knowledgeable commenters I appreciate you all sharing your knowledge as that's essentially how I've dealt with life. If I need something, I get a job doing it type of thing. I can rebuild a transmission, wire a house but I never got into electronics the way I should have. You all are helping change that. 👍

Excellent video! The theory on the electromagnetism and how the generator produces power is awesome.

I am going through your YT about no power and I am learning like it is a College level class on testing and diagnosing generators. Thank You so very much for posting these very high-quality You Tubes.

Jim been watching for a while I have been a auto/heavy duty truck mechanic for 43 years and I have learned so much from you, as far as I am concerned you are the BEST, Thanks just a real treasure watching and learning!

@jcondon1

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, I appreciate the comment

Typically I look for the shortest videos bc my patience doesn't allow me to listen to people that like to hear themselves talk, lol. For some reason, probably bc I was desperate I watched this entire video. Thank you for being straight to the point and explaining things so well! I got my generator running again😊

Nice explanations for a total newbie like myself. I will definitely be watching your others videos! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

@The_Happy_Aviation_Enthusiast

3 жыл бұрын

Don’t forget about generator safety kzread.info/dash/bejne/e2WetpV6fqi0pqw.html especially keep children safe when using generators. Thank you.

I've got that same radio shack meter. It still works fine. Thanks for making these videos. I repair small engines on the side, but generators were something I had little clue about. I have a lot of DC electronics experience, but AC motors, alternators and generators were pretty foreign to me, until I discovered you and Jeremy Fielding (I think that's his name).

@jcondon1

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! He knows a lot more about it.

as an electrician i am always asked to look at broken generators but i have always said no because i wasn't too sure what to look for. now with your great video i am a lot more confident now

@185rick

3 жыл бұрын

They're fairly simple to work on. The smaller cheaper gens use the brushes and slip rings. I do everything from 15kw to 4.5MW HIgh voltage gens. grind through the problems and youll see there is nothing special about them.

@isettech

3 жыл бұрын

Learn all about the various methods of excitation and regulation before digging into them. The brushless pilot exciter is my favorite version. Some regulate by core saturation (unregulated), and some use a capacitor much like a capacitor run motor to limit field current, and some use the AVR. Inverters use a 3 phase unregulated PM alternator and use the inverter to produce frequency and voltage regulated output. Very few inverter generators use a field winding. Most are magnets. In piloted brushless generators, sometimes the field rectification diodes fail. This is mounted in the rotor, so can be a pain to fix. I do prefer the brushless types, either inverter, or pilot exciter.

@James1095

3 жыл бұрын

The inverter generators are a different beast but there are only a few minor variations I've seen in the classic conventional generators. Once you've been inside a few of them they all start to look pretty similar, you'll see the same handful of problems over and over and be able to recognize most of them pretty quickly.

@Sir_Gee

2 жыл бұрын

👌🏻

@SuperCyril2

Ай бұрын

Yeah, I just went and bought a new one that works. I don't have time to spend on messing around with these. You have a lot of patience.

Thanks, you just saved me a bundle. I had no idea that they could lose magnetism from sitting. Your detailed shot of hooking up the 12V battery did the trick.

@jameshedrick6839

2 жыл бұрын

I was always told to let it run once a month for at least 30 minutes to prevent loss of residual magnetism

I know nothing about these generators but this helped me learn a little. I’m excited to watch more! You have a great voice and are so great to listen to! Thank you, sir.

@jcondon1

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks

This is great. I want to see when there is a hopeless case. When all the tests lead to the fact that it is now just a parts donor. Yes, I want to fix the generators that come into my shop, but at some point, you get one of these. Then it's a matter of telling the owner. He/she can now decide how to proceed. Thank you again for the great info you share.

Hey man I appreciate what your doing! Convinced me to clean the carb on a generac 5000 from the 90s that never ran good.. for first start in 20 years I got no smoke or knock! Briggs 11hp lives again in the form of a minibike:) thank you for all your help

Thanks for your practical experience and troubleshooting. I revived a Champion generator by watching this video.

@jcondon1

3 жыл бұрын

Good to hear! Thanks

Thanks for the info. My slip rings measured 83 ohms after I soldered the broken wire and generator still worked !

Great diagnosis James. I have just bought one that’s not putting any power out. I will use your instruction to diagnose mine. Thank you.

Excellent video, very clear and detailed. Everything explained in terms a novice can understand. I'm having the same issue with my generator and with your video I'll now dig into it. Thank you!

This video saved me $750 ! I went through all of what you did and ended up getting power ! All done by hand, too. Thank you so much for your content !!!

Thanks so much. Took it apart and the brush holder was melted Replaced and fine. You showed me how to do it. Living off grid a generator is a lifeline

So glad the video is still 'around'. Great video explaining the principles of operation....Thank you Sir, learned a lot here.

Awesome video. This helped me troubleshoot a similar generator at work. Rotor had failed . Had over 10 volts to brushes with AVR disconnected and generator running .

James you are very good at diagnosis the problems of these generators. I thank you so much. You helped me find the problem with mine. Keep up the good work YOU ARE AWSOME !!!!!!

@jcondon1

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks

Thank you. I followed the logic and found my problems to be a very dirt slip ring. Cleaned both sliprings and the brushes, and was back to being fully operational. I had purchased a voltage regulator and repaced it, to no avail, so now have a spare voltage regulator.

I'm so glad that I kept looking for better genset troubleshooting videos. Yours is by far the most comprehensive one I've come across. I like your methodical approach, gradually getting deeper into the system. I'm happy this machine wasn't repairable since we got to see everything you had in your arsenal. Bad luck for you in this case but it made for a great video. Thank you very much for taking the time. Now, where's my meter?

Loved the video. very good job on step by step and the fact you posted one that was not a slam dunk is even better.

Me too. He should be teaching small engine repair and generator repair at the local community college!!! I want to hang out with this guy fie a weekend to absorb his brilliance.

@The_Happy_Aviation_Enthusiast

3 жыл бұрын

Generator safety kzread.info/dash/bejne/e2WetpV6fqi0pqw.html

@jalilkianiani4876

3 жыл бұрын

You are the best by far.

Nice job. Thanks. I'm going to use your info to help me figure out my issue. I suspect my AVR. The one I have surges. Power, no power, power, no power. At times it will energize for a while and function. More recently it rarely keeps putting out power. You can watch the gauge pulse up and down. I'm wondering what the issue is, but feel much more confident looking into it after watching your video. You've given me a much better understanding of how these work. They are not the same as automotive alternators.

Good thorough video. Thanks for sharing. Super storm Ria just passed leaving havoc. Generators are big issues now.

Excellent search and research and conclusion. Best of luck

Thanks for sharing the troubleshooting steps. It really helped me understand my generator issue though it is different manufacturer which stator found burnt.

Thank you for the comprehensive generator video and not another Circuit Breaker video.

Thanks for the detailed troubleshooting video. It helped me to fix my generator. It ended up being the AVR

Great work James , ENJOYED !! I have seen the rotor look great and be bad . Testing like you did is the way to go !!

@jcondon1

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks.

Very good Video. One thing to mention. Make sure the Brass Rings on the commutator are clean and shine. I had a good reading at the brush terminals and did all the test you showed in this video but did not get any Power and then I remember what my dad always told me and that was to make sure the rings are copper shine. Guess what after I clean the rings with a little emery cloth. Bingo worked Fine.

Best video on this subject I've seen so far. Thanks!!!

Thank you for the explanations in this video. I was able to correct the faults on my generator thanks to this.

A valuable video full of Ohms, volts, DC/AC. For and applies to most motors made now:)))

Another great informative video. I have a small engine shop but don't get to many generators except for engine issues. Have learned a lot from your video. Many thanks.

@jcondon1

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks.

Thanks James just bought a brand new powerhorse 4000ES from northern tool for $100 because they said it needed a gen head watched your video did some testing found it had become demagnetized. Put 12 volts to it and boom it’s working perfect now. Thank you so much. Took a gamble and it worked.

@jcondon1

2 жыл бұрын

Very nice

Very good demonstration with details. LIked it. Thank you

The ropes are call wire lacing. Fantastic troubleshooting of this fault. I learned tons. THANX.

@jcondon1

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks

Thanks for that final touch back on the stator issue. It will let me get some sleep tonight.

@mohamadanfas6679

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, without that last picture i'am also would not going to get sleep tonight.

I enjoyed your thorough troubleshooting video. I just picked up a Champion generator...after getting the motor up and running....the outlets do not have power however the generator has a set of led lights and they work. I am going to try your troubleshooting steps next. Than you for such a thorough video.

Fixed my generac following your steps, thanks for posting this video

Good info, I brought a honda eb5000x from the scrap yard with a blown motor. When I ordered the parts to get it running I had no power so I did the tests you did on your video, still no power so my final test I put a 12v battery to the brushes then I had power, so happy now so thank you so much for this video without i might have trashed it

@jcondon1

3 жыл бұрын

Nice find! Rare for a Honda to end up in the trash. Glad you could save it.

@The_Happy_Aviation_Enthusiast

3 жыл бұрын

Stay safe and carefully use your portable generator kzread.info/dash/bejne/e2WetpV6fqi0pqw.html here’s an advice about keeping your family safe while using generators. Keep children safe at all times when using generators especially. Thank you

Professional diagnosis thank you James!!!

Using a Megger you can test the insulation quality of the windings to ground. CAUTION !! Besure to disconnect ALL electronics before carrying out this test. Keep up the great work 👍🇦🇺

It certainly helped me how to take readings of certain things.. Thanks mate for uploading this video. Stay blessed

Thank you for the thorough testing and step by step process of diagnosis. This is exactly what I was looking for to find out why our 40kw PTO driven generator just stopped producing power on Sunday. I believe it died the same way yours did. At least now I can test the rest of the components and verify it’s not something else. Thanks again!

@raymondgarafano8604

3 жыл бұрын

So how did u make out? did u get that gen to work? if it has NO brushes it could very well have a rectifier on the rotor but it could have a bad solder connection or just died/burnt out. if u have brushes try using a battery to excite the rotor.

@joelpearson8623

3 жыл бұрын

@@raymondgarafano8604 for years we’ve had to “jump” the field with the tractor battery. We ended up replacing the generator with a new one and sending the old one out to get repaired. I just didn’t have the time to keep diagnosing it. The windings looked poor, the brushes were definitely worn but the abrupt loss of power makes me think it was something failing in the controller board. Thanks again for an excellent video.

@raymondgarafano8604

3 жыл бұрын

@@joelpearson8623 Thanks Joel but I did NOT do the video, James Condon did.

Helpful information. Great work. Thank you James

Thank you for teaching me.

i was looking for such video :) last night my 3Kva Generator stopped working .. Basically, the rotor struck with Armature because of a crack in the overall body of the Dynamo where the Bearing of the rotor is there. it means the rotor and armature got touched with each other. The wiring of the Armature looks pretty bad but the readings are 5O Ohm :) i think the wiring is still safe :) ............... Wish me good luck :)

Very good video James. You are helping me out alot and I truly appreciate it. I've learned more from you in one video then I have the 3 videos prior. Good video and good teaching 👍👍

@The_Happy_Aviation_Enthusiast

3 жыл бұрын

Generator safety kzread.info/dash/bejne/e2WetpV6fqi0pqw.html

Hey great video,, I had one that I started for the first time after trash picking it,, caught fire years ago burn the outlets everything put the fire out save the motor nothing left to it.. keep the good work up ! Be safe.

@jcondon1

4 жыл бұрын

Yikes! That would make a good video. Have not had that happen yet....

Hello James When I was fault finding on Generators I usually used a meger, for insulation testing and thank you for the Video

@jcondon1

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, that is the proper tool for testing insulation. Will add that to my list of tools I want to buy. Although might not make sense for me since I do not do enough volume to offset that cost.

@hillside49

3 жыл бұрын

@@jcondon1 I got a Megger of Amazon for under $50. I measured the 1Kv output, and it was actually 1Kv. Here's one that's similar to my older one. Just look on Amazon. This link is way too long. jd www.amazon.com/VICI-Insulation-Resistance-Megohmmeter-Function/dp/B07PPLYV2X/ref=pd_vtp_328_4/137-6267494-0124665?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07PPLYV2X&pd_rd_r=48ba69ba-923d-4f85-bac5-ded7041e13cb&pd_rd_w=meKSu&pd_rd_wg=vjAyK&pf_rd_p=2f0ac0b2-44b6-4a63-a1f1-ced82560ff89&pf_rd_r=MD6CZTH19QSMQRCFREX0&psc=1&refRID=MD6CZTH19QSMQRCFREX0

This is an excellent video I have watched some other video on the subject and repaired a few but the detail in a great teaching tool. Thank You.

@jcondon1

3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

I know this was a disappointment to you but for me it was a full trouble shoot routine and the one I wanted. I will refer to this if I ever need to do a trouble shooting routine. Very well made video. Thanks.

In my youth I was a repair man at a local Black and Decker repair center. We used commutator seating/cleaning sticks to treat brushes that weren't making good contact. They're available commercially. Hold against the commutator / slip rings while armature is spinning and brushes are installed to make them seat and conduct well.

Great review of the problem James bad luck but I learnt a lot from this vidio

Thank you for the nice lesson from a computer repair shop owner :-)

James my name is Cody I want to thank you for all that you do have been watching you for years but I've never rode in 2 you before because of you my generators running again you had a video that I watched the other day or you fix a husky generator that you had sold to a construction crew and after a couple of days they brought it back and said that it was not building any power and it was the brushes that was bad on it I had the same exact problem with mine at a nowhere just know power anymore thank you so much I don't know where I be if I woulda nothing your video was that a generator that's what that her doubt thank you again

Awesome video. Great explanation and troubleshooting.

Great video for beginners.. Thank you very much..

You did a great job along with camera shots. My gen stopped putting out power, did some of your checks & my problem turned out to be a lose connection at the breaker. THANKS.

@jcondon1

3 жыл бұрын

Nice, you got luck on that one.

@rrrsss4059

3 жыл бұрын

@@jcondon1 It takes a lot of time to setup & video what you did. Very good JOB. I learned a few things from your video, at 71+ I am still in school.

This is one of the best generator videos I have seen, there really is something going on.... okay i'm going back to the video!!! can't want to see what is wrong!

@jcondon1

3 жыл бұрын

There is a followup to this. It is on the tile at the end of the video.

@fmslickful

3 жыл бұрын

@@jcondon1 Thanks and yes I did play that one as well.

I thank you very much! The generator I’m working on, had lost residual magnetism. When I introduced 12 V to the brushes, it brought back the output…

You're one liner of someone's been here before me absolutely made me roll. Too cool

Excellent job has done,i am associate electrical engineer from karachi pakistan.may god bless you forever.amen

@jcondon1

3 жыл бұрын

thanks

Thanks for the wonderful video ,I managed to get it back in shape

Great video. Enjoyed your way of problem solving in a practical way.

@jcondon1

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks

Learned alot from you,...thanks for making this video.

I really really do love all your Videos. Thanks so much

Absolutely superb video and diagnostics that were text-book.... Great Work James pity the unit has gone to that great generator graveyard in the sky!

Man...electrical issues can be a nightmare. Great catch towards the end of the video!

@jcondon1

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks

Incredibly helpful, thanks so much!!

Your last comment about the rubbing on the inside and being taken apart before I've been there didn't get the stator rotor alignment right had power for about two minutes smelled plastic burning and by the time I killed the engine power was gone and the damage was done unfortunately second replacement alternator head I took the spark plug out and free spun everything by thank God I did that because that one was misaligned also had to torque the 4 bolts to get it right until it spun with no resistance lesson learned the hard way thanks for your video too

Good work. Very thorough troubleshooting.

That is a great video you did a great job of explaining and you're right you can't win them all but if you win the majority that's the great part

For me as an electrical student this video was gold. Thanx.

@raymondgarafano8604

3 жыл бұрын

good 4 U! bin into electric a lonnnng time, It is great, study as much and get to look at as much electical items as possible, always be curious ! heavy wire is most likely a series winding in generators and motors and transformers, lighter wire is for more voltage and in parallel with line in motors.

@jeffhellings7384

3 жыл бұрын

Vista mower

I have a Honda that is doing the same thing, thanks for the video, very helpful 👍

@jcondon1

4 жыл бұрын

Glad it helped

@tomhoehler3284

3 жыл бұрын

@corey Babcock Was that van parked down by the river? Just kidding!

Fantastic video.....one of the best I have seen, very nicely explained

I really enjoyed the troubleshooting process thank you!!

I just had the very same issue - no voltage (4-5v) from the powerhead. This vid was super helpful in explaining things since I've not wrenched on these before - however my model (Powermate PM 0675700) appears to have a different upper limit on the rotor resistivity via slip rings. Mine measures 72.9. I had one of the two brushes with the slight bit of buildup as James shows on his - I took a Scotchbrite pad and polished it away. I also took a bit of scotchbrite and wrapped it around a stick with a ziptie for retainer and used it to polish the slip rings while the engine was running - quite effective. I checked the blue lines coming out of the stator and got 4VAC. So put the brushes and AVR back in - VOILA!!! 122.5v on both legs. Thanks James for posting this video- super helpful... I guess the moral of my story is, clean the slip rings and brushes, and if you have 4v+ coming from the blue wires, you may be able to exceed the 70ohm limit. Of course, my generator might expire in another 10 minutes, but right now, it's alive again!

@jcondon1

3 жыл бұрын

Sometimes it is an easy fix. Glad to hear it is up and running again.

thank for lightening up my head...

very well detailed .in depth explanations thank you this should help with my gen issue

Thanks for sharing you help me out big time with the 2 bruch wires

Thank you for your time and clear discussion

Man brother, what a great instructional video! Thanks a bunch! Tuition is in the mail!😂👍🤟

thanks so much mate. I have a 5kva genset and I was searching on how to fix it. now I can fix it myself. thanks so much..

@jcondon1

3 жыл бұрын

No problem 👍

👍 Danke fürs Hochladen! 👍 Thanks for uploading! 👍 Very good and beautiful, thank you! 👍 Sehr gut und schön, danke!

Good job sir thanks for sharing new supporters here