[CQ-Contest] Portable Generators - Be careful

[John Krzymuski]

Ref point 5 below, there is a good article in the current edition of
the RSGB "Radio Communication" magazine about how to convert a
gasoline powered generator to use propane.  It looks fairly easy and
anyone who has filled a running gasoline generator on a pitch black
night with only the illumination of the glowing exhaust to work by
will appreciate it.  
(Of course I know _you_ all switch the genny off, allow it to cool,
re-fill, then restart )

John Krzymuski  N2QW / G4DQW


On Mon, 12 Jan 1998 13:18:27 -0600, K5MM wrote:

> Howard, W3CQH, asked about 'generators' for AC power.  His posting is
> at the bottom of this message.
>
>
>Howard:
>You must be VERY careful when purchasing a generator.  They are all as
>different as bicycles, tools, and ham radios.  You may purchase
>very good to excellent ones, and then you may purchase junk as well.
>In the case of generators, for example:
>
>1.	The output voltage and current waveforms can be anything from
>	a square wave to a sine wave, and sometimes come with a DC offset
>     as well.  Oftentimes they have big time voltage spikes or waveform
>     notches as well.  Asymmetrical waveforms, ac/rf noise, etc. are 
>     a major problem.
>
>2.	Electronic equipment will react differently to different voltage
>     wave forms.  The 'best' generators are of course more expensive,
>     and come from the better manufacturers.  Onan and Generac tend
>     to have very good reputations.  Kohler is in there too.  If you
>     are considering a 'cheap' unit, be extra careful !!
>
>3.	Voltage regulation is an important issue to consider too.  Most of
>     the cheap generators are not very good at voltage regulation.
>
>4.	Frequency regulation w.r.t. motor speed and separately w.r.t. 
>     output load is also an important consideration.  Radio equipment 
>     generally wants to see 60 Hz in this country.....and the cheap
>     generators are marginal at best in this important area.
>
>5.	You ought to consider getting a generator that operates on Propane
>     or natural gas, rather than gasoline.  You can use bottled gas, just
>     like your outdoor Bar-B-Q uses, or just plug your fuel line into 
>     your home natural gas line at home.  MUCH better solution for 
>     backing up your home  AC power, runs cleaner, etc.
>
>6.  I think you live in the Bell Atlantic telephone area.  There is a
>    group at each phone company that has done some thorough evaluations
>    of many generators, and you may be able to get a copy of their   
>    summaries.  It's a perspective worth looking at, even though they
>    tend to purchase very high end equipment.  I would be cautious
>    about asking Cable TV companies for an opinion on generators, 
>    because they often base their decisions on COST rather than
>    performance.
>
> I don't know if the WWW has any summary information in this stuff, but
> both Onan and Generac have some very good applications note.  They've
> probably got a web page too.
>
> (Note: I have NOTHING to do with phone companies, Onan, Generac, Kohler
>  or any generator manufacturer)
>
> Good Luck, 73
> Dale K5MM
>
>
>At 12:44 PM 1/12/98 EST, you wrote:
>>Hi Folks,
>>
>>I am interested in purchasing a portable AC generator for mostly HAM use in
>>the field, and I have a couple of questions.
>>
>>1] are all the generators that I see advertised by the large hardware
>>companies the same except for the power rating?
>>
>>2] are there any specifics that I should be aware of that I don't want in a
>>generator?
>>
>>TIA,
>>
>>Howard W3CQH
>>
>>
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>>



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