I was recently given a Powerhouse PH2100PRi (Harbor Freight?) inverter generator. The original owner - a ham radio operator - purchased it new several years ago. He ran it briefly a couple times. But when he last tried to test it, he found it had no AC output. So he gave it to me to fix or scrap.
Here's what I found:
The engine starts right up but immediately takes off what I consider to be overspeed (6,000+ RPM I'd guess). It has no measurable voltage from 120 VAC output. Nor do any of the status LEDs light. It DOES however produce about 25 VDC at the DC output connector.
I removed the enclosure and found nothing amiss; all connectors intact, fuses good, no burned wiring, no apparently failed components. In fact it still looks brand new inside.
Started it up again and found by manually positioning the carb throttle stepper motor I could bring RPM's down to a more reasonable 3,600 RPM. Determined the battery charging circuit works (measured 14.5 VDC at the starting battery - and the electric starter works). I next measured the alternator output at the connector and found 300+ VAC on all 3 phases. Also measured about 25 - 30 VAC at the aux winding.
So apparently both power and aux AC is being supplied to the inverter module input. But NOTHING comes out of the inverter; no 120 VAC, no control signal to the carb throttle stepper motor, no signal to the various status LEDs, etc.
All I can figure is the inverter module has failed catastrophically. And since the inverter is a potted assembly it cannot be opened. So inspection, troubleshooting, etc. is impossible
My question: Does a failed inverter module make sense? Or is there another possible failure I have overlooked?
And if the inverter is the problem, is a replacement available at reasonable cost (recognizing it's a cheap, Chinese-made product and maybe not worth the cost/effort)? I just hate to scrap it if it can be brought back to life at reasonable cost.
Thanks!
...FB
Here's what I found:
The engine starts right up but immediately takes off what I consider to be overspeed (6,000+ RPM I'd guess). It has no measurable voltage from 120 VAC output. Nor do any of the status LEDs light. It DOES however produce about 25 VDC at the DC output connector.
I removed the enclosure and found nothing amiss; all connectors intact, fuses good, no burned wiring, no apparently failed components. In fact it still looks brand new inside.
Started it up again and found by manually positioning the carb throttle stepper motor I could bring RPM's down to a more reasonable 3,600 RPM. Determined the battery charging circuit works (measured 14.5 VDC at the starting battery - and the electric starter works). I next measured the alternator output at the connector and found 300+ VAC on all 3 phases. Also measured about 25 - 30 VAC at the aux winding.
So apparently both power and aux AC is being supplied to the inverter module input. But NOTHING comes out of the inverter; no 120 VAC, no control signal to the carb throttle stepper motor, no signal to the various status LEDs, etc.
All I can figure is the inverter module has failed catastrophically. And since the inverter is a potted assembly it cannot be opened. So inspection, troubleshooting, etc. is impossible
My question: Does a failed inverter module make sense? Or is there another possible failure I have overlooked?
And if the inverter is the problem, is a replacement available at reasonable cost (recognizing it's a cheap, Chinese-made product and maybe not worth the cost/effort)? I just hate to scrap it if it can be brought back to life at reasonable cost.
Thanks!
...FB