Just bought a generator and it failed within two hours of usage. Mfg. say maybe capacitor and will ship a new one. But am not sure. I have a voltmeter with capacitor readings. Know how to test for resistance and voltage but never tried to test a capacitor. I know the circuit should be open, and this one is open, but don't know if it is being charged nor how to do that procedure.
I tested for continuity and it showed no short circuitry evident. I then just connected the probes to both terminals and swithce the voltmeter from high to low.... all indications fell to zero after only a short time... which tells me that my VM may have charged, then masured as power dissipated... but I'm just guessing.
I think I need to charge the cap with a battery and then measure... but don't want to blow my VM... so... advice?
The readings on the cap is 24 microfarads plus minus 5% 400 VAC 50/60 Hz
I would put the meter on ohms and connect it to the cap. Then switch the leads over where they are connected and see what happens. If the cap is OK the meter will deflect up and then go down. When reversed the meter will go below zero come up and go down. This indicates possibly a good cap.
Is this a gas power generator? How did it fail - symptoms?
One way to test it is to charge it up to 100 VDC (carefully), and then discharge it through a 100K resistor. The time constant should be 24 x 0.1 = 2.4 seconds to reach 37 VDC. An even more thorough test would require charging it to 600 VDC and making sure it is not breaking down or leaking. Such testing can be dangerous or even lethal, but will be more conclusive than a simple ohmmeter check.
If you have a capacitance range on your meter then simply connect the probes across the capacitor terminals (make sure all other leads are disconnected from the cap). Since you know the cap should be 24uF then .look to see if the meter reads very close to this value (22.8uF -
25.2uF). This is not necessarily an indication that the cap is "good"
- you need other test equipment to determine this, it is a indicator that it may not be faulty. The cap can measure the right value on your meter but it may break down when subjected to the much higher voltage it sees in normal operation. For the general public who can't carry out full testing the best option is to try a new cap and if the fault is still evident then the likelihood that your original cap is faulty is nil. Once this is established then return your generator for a new one.
The only problem with the self fix route on brand new products is that the supplier/distributor may void the warranty because you have "played around with it" when you are not an authorised repairer. It is generally safer to simply not do anything and take it back and say "fix it or replace it " under warranty.
OK, I'll try that. This is a brand new 13HP four stroke driving a 5,500 Watt generator. It started with a single pull and reved up showing full power and my son started welding. It worked for a couple of hours then simply stopped producing juice. Motor running fine, no other indication except no output.
He took it back to Pep Boys who refused to exchange it ( after one day!) and is now saddled with the problem of facing one month service waiting time... so much for other than Wal-Mart vendors! ( I bought a HDTV from Wal-Mart, it did not live up to the advertised standards, and they simply gave me a new one... I think I'm spoiled by their kind of service.)
So son is running around getting replacement capacitors and fuses even though they may not be needed. And can't get a straight answer from Pep Boys or the Power Pro 5500 people.
My son took it back and asked the manager to replace it or fix it. They refused, saying the unit had to go to the manufacturer's repair shop, which he did and was told two week minimum. I'm suggesting he get his credit card company to help him get a refund and return the unit.
I've never heard of such terrible service as buying a new machine and the vendor not exchanging it if it does not work after one day and only a few hours of use. Don't know how Pep Boys stay in business!
He tried to return it in exchange of a working unit. He was told he had to take it to the factory authorized facility. Two week delay in just getting an appointment.
Have written to the retailer's HQ and they are asking for more info. So... I'm hoping for a quick solution but who knows?
It may be worthwhile to contact the local Better Business Bureau and Consumer Protection Agency. Also, see if a local TV station would like to make this one of their little investigative reporting segments (especially if they do not have Poop Boys as a sponsor). Maybe talk to a local competitor and give them a write-up of your problems with an assurance that they would not treat their customers so callously. Make a big sign for your car saying "Pep Boys Sucks", with an explanation that people can read. Write an editorial for the local paper. Make sure Poop Boys gets enough negative publicity to make them realize they will only lose business by acting this way. They have now lost mine.
That is really surprising, the bad treatment at Pep Boys. It makes bad business sense too. I wonder if it's a local management problem because I've never had a problem returning something to Pep Boys. The credit card company may work out really well. Twice I've had a complaint with a business and notified the CC company. Both times the CC company was very helpful and I didn't lose any money. ERS
Speaking of Pep Boys, had car in shop for heater core replacement, quoted over the phone $630 to repair and upon picking up the bill was $890.00 and I refused to pay, after about an hour of them trying to get me to pay they gave it to me for $630 their quoted price! Take the thing back and leave it there and call the credit card company and have them reverse the charges!
I don't know where this is, but I would double check it with state law. Even if the credit card company will reverse the charges, it could still leave someone responsable by law, and perhaps the defendant in a small claims action that you would probably loose. It happend to me.
It doesn't seem right, because we have all gotten real cozy with most no fault return policys, but it is not required by law. Just make sure to review the return policy EVERYWHERE you shop. After getting bit on this one time myself, I did, and it sure changed my buying habits.
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