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Westinghouse WGEN12000DF with Hertz to high!

1577 Views 41 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  GenKnot, 
Rick Quebec
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Hi I'm new in that Forum! And it’s my fist Forum to… OK I bought a Westinghouse WGEN12000DF generator and I notice that when I run it it puts out 243V and 63.2Hz! But after I put 3000W on my generator with 2 1500W heater the voltage indicated 120V but the frequency Hz indicated only 63.3Hz (see photos on attach files) I think that not good! I put 25% of load on the unit and the frequency drop only by .9Hz! I’m afraid to fry some sensitive unit in my house like my 12000BTU Ductless Heat pump, Microwave, LCD TV and computer! (My Ductless Heatpump is a Mitshubishi with inverter tecnology and my Refrigeretor is a Whirlpool WRF540CWHW (2020))

What is the % of Hz a sensitive electronics or normal unit can take! If is less of 2% I think I have a problem with my brand new WGEN12000DF (only 1 month)! It is possible to adjust that beast! I write to Westinghouse services and they told me that and EFI and it impossible to adjust. I's that possible! I am a neophyte. Please someone can help me?

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GenKnot
Engine speed (and thus output frequency) is adjusted by the governor. Ideally, the frequency would stay at 60Hz, but you usually have to start with the frequency a little high (about 61-62Hz) because it will fall a little bit as you load the generator (about 58-59Hz at full load). There is a screw adjustment for the governor. On that gen, I think it is located between the engine and alternator.
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GenKnot
Rick Quebec said:
is and EFI i think!
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Not EFI according to the manual.

Notice entries such as this:

Rectangle Font Parallel Screenshot Number
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GenKnot
Rick Quebec said:
You must send your generator to an affiliated repair center to have everything checked.
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Yeah, some manufacturers don't like end users adjusting things on a gen. I think that if you break it in the process, then you may claim a warranty issue and they would like to avoid that.

But anyway, there is a mechanical governor somewhere on the unit because it is in the parts listing.
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GenKnot
50ShadesOfDirt said:
All non-inverter gens put out high(er) initial levels of voltage and frequency, per manufacturer's design specs, such that when you load them down optimally, the voltage and frequency gets closer to the ideal numbers of 120v/240v) and 60hz. The AVR does any fine-tuning under load.
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Just for clarification, the AVR does not adjust frequency.
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GenKnot
Rick Quebec said:
I checked my engine and there only a selenoid in the carburetor.
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It wouldn't be in the carburetor, it would be between the engine (at the rear) and alternator. So you don't have a spring there?

Font Parallel Auto part Line art Engineering
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GenKnot
Rick Quebec said:
I don't find any spring.
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Yeah, I don't see one. This is weird. It has a mechanical governor (according to the parts diagram), but no user-accessible adjustment.
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GenKnot
Rick Quebec said:
It may be behind the left cylinder muffler protective cover
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Since this gen uses a stepper motor to control the throttle plate, the governor may be a sensor input to the controller...just a wild guess there. Normally with a mechanically operated throttle, the adjustment would be on the linkage to the carburetor/throttle.
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GenKnot
Rick Quebec said:
Tell you about the little blue motor with the white wire.
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That's it.
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GenKnot
Rick Quebec said:
If I understand correctly my cat is dead!
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I'm not sure what you mean by that.
Rick Quebec said:
I understand that there is still no problem operating my sensitive electronic device such as microwave, TV, WIFI, heat pump.
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The WGEN12000DF has a max THD of 5% so that should be okay (max 3% is better). As for the 243V and 63.2Hz you mentioned in your opening post, the 243V shouldn't be a problem. The 63.2Hz seems a little high to me, but may not pose a problem. Normally you should see it at about 62Hz max with no load on the gen. It should go down as the gen is loaded.

Since it seems that this WGEN12000DF has an electronic control there may not be a way to change the frequency without changing out the control board for one that is factory set a little lower. The WGEN12000DF is fairly new and there is just not a lot of information about it. Perhaps if you contact Westinghouse and express your concern about the high frequency they might send you a new control board...you just never know until you ask.

The surge protector that you listed looks nice. It is always good to have one even though they have nothing to do with THD or frequency. They also make surge protectors to go into the main breaker panel if you are connecting the gen through that to your loads.
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Rick Quebec said:
No no there is nothing like this, everything seems to work via a solenoid or a small motor (blue parts with white wire)
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Yes, it is operated by a stepper motor instead of mechanical linkage. A centrifugal governor gear is mentioned in the parts list, but apparently it is not used in this particular generator. They may use this engine on another generator that does have the mechanically controlled governor linkage.

Font Material property Number Screenshot Parallel


On the schematic, this is the stepper motor that controls the throttle....

Font Rectangle Material property Parallel Schematic


So, the stepper motor is operated by a control board assembly (the 549407 part shown) which would be sensing the generator output frequency and adjusting the stepper motor as needed. In my opinion, they have the frequency set too high. But, if they are not willing to send another controller, and you choose not to return the generator, then you are stuck with it being a little high as it can't be adjusted like a mechanical governor.

Just to be sure that your meter is calibrated, check the line frequency at a wall plug and see if the meter reads 60Hz.
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GenKnot
Rick Quebec said:
I believe we see the 2 fuel control solenoids.
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Those are stepper motors. One controls the auto choke (bottom in the photo) and the other one (top in the photo) is the throttle control.

Rick Quebec said:
I don't know if there really is an adjustment screw?
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There won't be an adjustment screw. The stepper motor is controlled by the electronics and is set by the factory. In this case, they got it a little too high IMO.
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GenKnot
flopshot said:
What's with the oversize hose clamps ?
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That's just a photo the OP found on the internet.
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