Generator Problem

[PeterCarole29]

I want to get a Dometic traverler 2500 petrol generater working as it should.
It starts and runs great.
It just wont give out any power.
I have tried phoning some dometic dealers but they said they dont do generaters.
There is an electrical part that has 2 wires connected to it and it looks very swollen near the top but not knowing what it is ? Any technical advise where to start would be great. I imagine parts can be quite universal and most gennys run on the same principles

 

[Lofty1]

It looks like a cbb60 capacitor cheap as chips on flea bay but I could be wrong

 

[andy63]

I want to get a Dometic traverler 2500 petrol generater working as it should.
It starts and runs great.
It just wont give out any power.
I have tried phoning some dometic dealers but they said they dont do generaters.
There is an electrical part that has 2 wires connected to it and it looks very swollen near the top but not knowing what it is ? Any technical advise where to start would be great. I imagine parts can be quite universal and most gennys run on the same principles
View attachment 284331

I've never had to do it but I'm told some generators can loose their ability self excite..
basically they can't generate until you have re introduced a little residual magnetic into the field coils..
id give it a google and see if it may be the problem..
Andy

 

[pappajohn]

+1 for lofty1's explaination.

 

[andy63]

well curiosity got the better of me... that capacitor could well be the problem if you say it looks damaged.. it has to be good for the generator to self excite..
https://www.fix.com/repair/power-tool/generator/no-or-low-voltage/
Andy

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[JJ]

I can self excite but I don't generate much output these days...


JJ

 

[PeterCarole29]

Thanks for your replies i will look at capacitors on ebay as a start.
And i have just looked on ebay just have to find out what uf rating mine is as there seem to be quite a few choices.
The next question will be like mine they have 4 terminals 2x2 i asume as long as you connect the 2 on the same side theres no difference

 

[PeterCarole29]

well curiosity got the better of me... that capacitor could well be the problem if you say it looks damaged.. it has to be good for the generator to self excite..
https://www.fix.com/repair/power-tool/generator/no-or-low-voltage/
Andy

All good stuff thanks. I will ask the supplier but not sure what sort of reply i will get back from them.Do i have to excite the new capacitor before fitting

 

[RandallC]

Ok, chances are the residual magnetism in the rotor has, shall we say gone walkies.

What may be worth a try is to identify the wires to the rotor coils. Having found them flash 12 svc across them to magnitude the rotor.

May need to disconnect rotor coil from everything else prior to doing this.

Can simply be Benny fails to self excite before have kicks in

 

[Sorted]

Thanks for your replies i will look at capacitors on ebay as a start.
And i have just looked on ebay just have to find out what uf rating mine is as there seem to be quite a few choices.
The next question will be like mine they have 4 terminals 2x2 i asume as long as you connect the 2 on the same side theres no difference

I think you'll find the 2 x connections each side of the capacitor are 'piggy backs so you would normally connect 1 wire to each side as per the picture and it doesn't matter which 1 of each pair you connect to as they are just common to each other. You need to get the correct working voltage and micro farad (uF) rating though

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[RandallC]

Don't you just b hate auto spell correct. My last post is nearly coherent.

Took three attempts just to get it to accept nearly.

Oh Please! bearly

 

[andy63]

All good stuff thanks. I will ask the supplier but not sure what sort of reply i will get back from them.Do i have to excite the new capacitor before fitting

no.. if its knackered it will have to be replaced.. they can be checked with a multimeter with that function available..
but as long as the replacement is similar voltage an micro farad rating that's all thats needed

worth a try is to identify the wires to the rotor coils. Having found them flash 12 svc across them to magnitude the rotor.

my understanding is if its a brushed rotor then you can flash the field coils with a battery to get the initial magnetism required... but if its a brushless rotor they use a capacitor to do the same thing... assuming this is a brushless rotor and that is a capacitor then there should be no need to connect the windings to a battery...
Andy

 

[gus-lopez]

The capacitor is u/s. Remove it & it should ha the micro farads/voltage written on it. One wire to either side.

 

[autorouter]

Be careful you get the right type of capacitor. There are several different technologies. Some are tolerant of AC, and some are DC only and will explode after a time on AC. Paper and polyester are OK, but 'electrolytic' or 'tantalum' are DC only.

The voltage is the maximum it will withstand, so you can use a 1000V capacitor on 12V circuits with no problem.

 

[autorouter]

I can't read the label on the capacitor in your photo, it's too blurred. Is there any chance it's been replaced by the wrong type of capacitor? Typically they will produce gas internally, swell up and eventually explode causing an ammonia-smelling mess.

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[PeterCarole29]

I can't read the label on the capacitor in your photo, it's too blurred. Is there any chance it's been replaced by the wrong type of capacitor? Typically they will produce gas internally, swell up and eventually explode causing an ammonia-smelling mess.

I dont know if its not the original one. The writing says Facon MOD 7G73125L63 12.5 uF +5% 450 vac cl C 50Hz
25/85/21PL EN60252 400Vac cL B 500Vac cL D Does this tell you anything

 

[PeterCarole29]

I can see the old one has started to swell and expand

 

[Misterg]

Does this tell you anything

Facon MOD 7G73125L63 12.5 uF +5% 450 vac cl C 50Hz
25/85/21PL EN60252 400Vac cL B 500Vac cL D

It's a 12.5 microfarad, 450 volt AC motor run capacitor.

Ideally try and find one with the same physical dimensions / mounting arrangements / electrical connections as the one you have.

 

[PeterCarole29]

Thanks

Facon MOD 7G73125L63 12.5 uF +5% 450 vac cl C 50Hz
25/85/21PL EN60252 400Vac cL B 500Vac cL D

It's a 12.5 microfarad, 450 volt AC motor run capacitor.

Ideally try and find one with the same physical dimensions / mounting arrangements / electrical connections as the one you have.

Thanks .I have seen them advertised as 12 uF or 13uF and 14 uF if i cant get a 12.5 uF is 13 uF the next best thing.

 

[PeterCarole29]

Facon MOD 7G73125L63 12.5 uF +5% 450 vac cl C 50Hz
25/85/21PL EN60252 400Vac cL B 500Vac cL D

It's a 12.5 microfarad, 450 volt AC motor run capacitor.

Ideally try and find one with the same physical dimensions / mounting arrangements / electrical connections as the one you have.

Hi thanks for everyones help .I have found one exact and ordered it .Will update the result when its plugged in.

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[autorouter]

Thanks .I have seen them advertised as 12 uF or 13uF and 14 uF if i cant get a 12.5 uF is 13 uF the next best thing.

I know you've found the right one, but for future information they are usually only accurate to 10% or even 20%, so anything from 10 to 15uF will be OK. Oh, and if it says 'AC' on it, it's the right type for AC.

 

[Neil Bedwin]

The good news is that motor start capacitors are not polarised so you can connect the wires to either side. (DC capacitors have a +ve and -ve side)

 

[Misterg]

they are usually only accurate to 10% or even 20%, so anything from 10 to 15uF will be OK.

5% in this case.

 

[PeterCarole29]

Thanks all again for the extra advise /details it all helps to understand thing for the next time or even giving sound advice in the future. Cheers

 

[PeterCarole29]

All connected and i do have power but not the right power.
Another question please
It has 2 live connections for 240v.
1 live connection for 12 v
1 connection Earth
I want to connect an extention lead for 240v where do i connect the nuetral wire on the generator.

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[PeterCarole29]

and the model etc

 

[Richard n Ann]

Connect the neutral to one of the lives, doesn't matter which

Neutral is only neutral if it's connected to earth. It happens at the substation for our domestic supply.
The generator has a floating earth. They are all like that if not modified.

 

[PeterCarole29]

Connect the neutral to one of the lives, doesn't matter which

Neutral is only neutral if it's connected to earth. It happens at the substation for our domestic supply.
The generator has a floating earth. They are all like that if not modified.

Thanks Richard, Just connected up and all working great .Voltage it working .I had put a volt meter on one live and the earth so got 117 volt reading. put it on the right place 240v .