Hello David, I have had that problem on other generators. I have had similar problems not with an Eco gen but with a couple of other propane generator models. The problem occurs during cold weather. The problem was poor gas supply pressure and the problem was I could not convince anyone that was the problem until I demonstrated low pressure at the generator. (One of your early tests should be to remove the loads)
At - 20 F propane has very low vapor pressure the root cause may be in any of 6 places or a combination of problems. How to diagnose if this is the problem. Go to the pressure regulator at the unit. (Unit pressure regulator not the zero pressure regulator) It is supposed to drop the pressure from 15 PSI or whatever it is to 6" to11" WC. Put a pressure gauge or manometer on the pressure tap of this regulator. Start the generator, does the pressure maintain? If the pressure drops below 6" WC the genny will not develop enough power to get up to speed and cut out on low voltage. (the engine is fuel starved) If the pressure maintains 6" or above check the throttle positioning motor. Be sure the throttle is free to operate and responds quickly. There also could be a problem with the zero pressure regulator. (see below) Fixing the problem. (I am going to try to attach a teaching unit I have developed for my advanced solar class) Propane systems in cold climates or exceptional temperature drops. The system consists of 1) Storage tank, 2) Storage tank regulator, 3) Supply line from the storage tank to the unit regulator, 4) Unit regulator, 5) Zero pressure regulator, 6) Throttle positioning motor/system. Of these potential problems, the two most common are the supply line from the tank to the unit regulator and unit regulator. 1) Storage Tank: the tank itself has to have sufficient volume to have enough evaporative surface supply the generator if the tank is too small the tank pressure drops on supplying the genny. (I recommend a larger than 250-gallon tank for generator installations). Also, low tank fill exacerbates this problem, the tank should be half full or more. Is the tank in a location where it can get some winter sun? In extreme climates I recommend the tank be buried. Can your tank be warmed in any way? 2) Tank Regulator: the pressure regulator at the tank reduces the tank pressure to a line pressure of 15 PSI during the summer. During the winter it reduces it to slightly below the tank pressure. The pressure drop of this regulator has never been a deciding factor. (only a minor contributor.) . 3) Line from Tank Regulator to Unit Regulator: the pressure drop in the line from the tank to the genny has often been a problem. Most Propane installers want to use 3/8" OD copper line from the tank regulator to the unit regulator. This is fine for the summer, it will have to big a pressure drop at gen run, but there is lots of pressure in the summer. I recommend a 5/8" inch OD copper line in all but the shortest of runs (where I use 1/2"OD) distances from the tank to the genny. This line should, of course, be buried. (I like 2 feet) this line has been one of my big problems. in that is the line to the generator being too small. The adequacy of the system to this point is tested by the pressure tap on the unit regulator. 4) Unit Regulator: In my experience, these will some tines stick either open or closed. This is the coldest point in the system and sometimes collect moisture. freezing in the winter. It does not sound like your problem. 5) good luck I am going to bed. the during warm weather this is not a problem only during cold weather the second regulator is at the generator which reduces the propane line pressure 2 about 11 inch water column this regulator I've had stick because it picks up a little bit of moisture and the pressures it is working with are very small. If the line is big enough if the regulator is not stuck or have a little bit of moisture overtime collecting it then the next place where the gas is regulated is that what I call a zero pressure regulator the zero pressure regulator drops the gas pressure to just about atmospheric when the carburetor (Venturi) passes air and Bernuli draws gas from the zero pressure regulator. On the engine starting they pressure drop due to Velocity induces gas in the engine these zero pressure regulators are also a potential problem the correct diagnosis is to put a pressure gauge on the fittings and regulators perhaps the easiest one is to put the pressure gauge you can use a manometer at the pressure reducing regulator at the generator measure that pressure it should be again about 15 psi in water column 11 in water On Mon, Jan 8, 2018 at 6:13 PM, David Palumbo <[email protected]> wrote: > I am troubleshooting a 6kw EcoGen LP gas generator in my neighborhood that > starts quickly > • but immediately shuts down with an “Under Voltage” shutdown alarm > • I can clear shutdown alarm and restart with same result. I tried this a > few times with same result. One of the start attempts included a back fire > before shutting down. > • Generator was recently run successfully for a few hours during a cold > snap. Started after several attempts at -10 F. > • According to the EcoGen manual this Under Voltage alarm is triggered “If > the generator voltage falls below 85% of nominal for more than 15 > seconds”. This definitely isn’t happening as the generator starts as usual > but shuts down within one or two seconds. > I will check for fouled spark plugs tomorrow. Anything else that might be > the problem? > > David Palumbo > Independent Power LLC > Hyde Park, VT > 802-371-8678 voice or text > > Sent from Mail for Windows 10 > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: [email protected] > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. > org/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: [email protected] Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
