Generators - info in general and pics of some wave forms

[Dan_69GTX]

Hi TGentry,



Yes, those look good. Thanks so much for posting this info - I'm glad to have help!



I'm amazed at how much distortion there is to the Yamaha wave form. For that inverter model I was expecting a pure and clean form - similar to what is on commercial power. One thought - what were you using to create the load? I've found that some things will affect the wave form - maybe that was what it was/is?!?



It's amazing to find what is really there!



Now what I really want to know is what is on the jack stands behind the kill-a-watt on your last picture.



Thanks again!!!!!



Dan

 

[TGentry]

Hi TGentry,

Yes, those look good. Thanks so much for posting this info - I'm glad to have help!

I'm amazed at how much distortion there is to the Yamaha wave form. For that inverter model I was expecting a pure and clean form - similar to what is on commercial power. One thought - what were you using to create the load? I've found that some things will affect the wave form - maybe that was what it was/is?!?

It's amazing to find what is really there!
I
Now what I really want to know is what is on the jack stands behind the kill-a-watt on your last picture.

Thanks again!!!!!

Dan

Hi Dan,
You're very welcome. Thanks for starting such an informative topic. I too am surprised at the output waveform characteristics. It very well could be load dependent. The 850 Watt load in my captured waveforms was produced by my old dual halogen work light. It's fitted with two (2) 300 Watt bulbs. What loads would you like to see? Perhaps I could capture the Norcold unit in my TC, for example?

That's the front VW axle beam of our Class 9 desert race car that I am rebuilding
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[Dan_69GTX]

Now that looks like FUN! (Class 9 desert race car that I am rebuilding) !!!!!



My room mate in college still has a VW bug that was a race car. It was used for 1/8 mile.



I think the Halogen light would be fine. For most of my loads I used a space heater since it is a pure resistance load. Not sure why a Halogen light would be any different. I know some loads have some form of a feedback that will affect the gen wave form. So I tried to stay away from motors when testing. Also lights with ballasts can cause harmonic distortion - especially older ones that don't have power factor corrected ballasts.



FYI - I also use a kill-a-watt, fluke and scope for the measuring. However my scope is really old. I threw away the oldest one I had after I tried to troubleshoot an old CPU board and found that power was coming OUT of the probe! :{ Let's just say I wasn't happy until I found a new MC6808 CPU chip and got the board working again.

 

[TGentry]

Die Hard 400 Watt Mobile Power Inverter

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[TGentry]

Now that looks like FUN! (Class 9 desert race car that I am rebuilding) !!!!!

My room mate in college still has a VW bug that was a race car. It was used for 1/8 mile.

I think the Halogen light would be fine. For most of my loads I used a space heater since it is a pure resistance load. Not sure why a Halogen light would be any different. I know some loads have some form of a feedback that will affect the gen wave form. So I tried to stay away from motors when testing. Also lights with ballasts can cause harmonic distortion - especially older ones that don't have power factor corrected ballasts.

FYI - I also use a kill-a-watt, fluke and scope for the measuring. However my scope is really old. I threw away the oldest one I had after I tried to troubleshoot an old CPU board and found that power was coming OUT of the probe! :{ Let's just say I wasn't happy until I found a new MC6808 CPU chip and got the board working again.

We're really happy with our Class 9 race car We're focusing the remainder of this year, and perhaps a bit into 2013 solely on our pre-runner. We are planning on slowing down on racing just a bit, by running a few choice races in 2013, as my wife just gave birth to our third child, our son Grae. He has two sisters, our oldest being 4 yrs. old.

Here's our latest pre-runner shop photo:
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[Dan_69GTX]

I got a few more done - finally.

Here is info from an APC BackUPS 650.

With an approx 1000W load

This is NOT on battery - it appears to not change the sine wave at all - just passes through. The pics of it on battery are a nasty square wave and I need to get better pics to post of that.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Here is info from an APC BackUPS 650.

With an approx NO load.

This is NOT on battery - it appears to not change the sine wave at all - just passes through. The pics of it on battery are a nasty square wave and I need to get better pics to post of that.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Here is some info from a Champion 7000W/9000W surge generator.

The thing I would note is the voltage seemed to waver ever so slightly either on or off a load.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Here is some info from a Champion 7000W/9000W surge generator.

1500W load

 

[Kirwin]

I would really like to see an Onan product. I would like to see what my QD looks like on you scope. Ken Irwin

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Here is info from an APC BackUPS 650 - on battery. There wasn't any change with a load. One thing I noticed was how much small er the amplitude was - no dials were changed on the scope between this and the other pics.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Here is info from an APC SmartUPS 420. With it NOT on battery it looks the same as the other - no different. These pics are on battery. Again I thought the difference in amplitude was interesting.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Here is info from an APC SmartUPS 1000. On battery no load - with a load was just the same. Again I thought the difference in amplitude was interesting. I did zoom in 1 click for the wave form - which shows the wave to be very clean.

This is the only UPS I've tested that has a true sine wave on battery.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Ken, I rarely get down to the VA beach area. If you are ever in the Harrisonburg VA/Winchester/Staunton area let me know and I can meet you to test it.

Oh and I should mention the "load" is a resistance heater so that it doesn't distort the wave form like other loads could.

 

[Kirwin]

We camped at Endless Caverns the last weekend they were open this last fall. Too bad I didn't know that or I would have stopped by. Ken Irwin

 

[TJJEEPER]

Thank you for keeping this thread going. It's very interesting to see the different wave forms. Some of which I'd be very leery to plug anything but a purely resistive load into. I just added a Xantrex 2000 watt "pure sign wave" inverter to the RV. I'll have to see if I can get an O Scope to see what it's doing. It's going to be powering the Microwave and entertainment center (satellite and TV).

Keep up the good info!