Wrenches,
I have an off-grid installation with an Outback Radian using a Kohler RES
13 for backup. The generator has had problems from day one and has had control
boards replaced and other work done on it. This system started out with a
Magnum 4024AE but was undersized for the loads and battery size so we upgraded
to the Radian. The current problem is the generator running erratically
(frequency and voltage) and running rough. The Kohler repairman said that the
problem is that the inverter had damaged the generator with a measured 12 VAC
at the inverter side of the AC IN breaker when the generator is off. When I
arrived, we started the generator with the MATE 3 and it worked fine for about
10 minutes charging at 4.5 kw and then the engine started running erratically.
The frequency readout on the MATE 3 ranged from 56 Hz to 67 Hz and the voltage
was sometimes steady at 238 and at times varying from 236 to 244. The MATE 3
showed several manual starts previously where the Initial voltage was 277
briefly (1 second) and then leveled out and locked on. Eventually the generator
shut down with Error 13. We also had it fail to start with Locked Rotor error.
I did measure 3.1 VAC on the AC out bus of the inverter when the generator was
stopped. Is that small voltage present normal for the Radian and is there any
way that could affect the generator? When I set the MATE 3 to DROP to
disconnect the charging, we could still read the hz and Voltage at the bus and
the erratic behavior continued. I think there are serious problems with the
generator but the Kohler tech says it is the inverter interference . When we
started the generator manually with the input breaker off, it ran erratic and
eventually shut down.
The customer wants the generator guy and myself there tomorrow to figure out
how to fix it. I say a new generator might take care of the problem but the
customer doesn't want to hear this.
Any ideas? I have dealt with lots of generators and to me this seems like a
worn out genny.
John Blittersdorf
Central Vermont Solar & Wind
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