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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
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    Townsville, Nth Qld
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    Default Need 10 amp test load for generator

    Hi, it is cyclone season up here in the tropics, and my 240 volt standby generator is playing up. The repair shop has recommended running it with a 10 amp load for a couple of hours.

    My pool pump is only 4.3 amps. I tried running a fan heater, but the thermostat cut out - the ambient was already at that setting.

    Can anyone please suggest what I can use for a 10 amp load for that period of time?
    regards,

    Dengy

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
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    Perth
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dengue View Post
    Hi, it is cyclone season up here in the tropics, and my 240 volt standby generator is playing up. The repair shop has recommended running it with a 10 amp load for a couple of hours.

    My pool pump is only 4.3 amps. I tried running a fan heater, but the thermostat cut out - the ambient was already at that setting.
    By thermostat do mean the thermal cut out switch on the heater or an overload switch on the generator?

  4. #3
    Join Date
    May 1999
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    Tooradin,Victoria,Australia
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    73
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    Default

    Have you got a couple of machines you can run? Depending on the size of the generator 10 amps may be near max load.

  5. #4
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    Feb 2006
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    Perth
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    Quote Originally Posted by View Post
    Have you got a couple of machines you can run? Depending on the size of the generator 10 amps may be near max load.
    Machines/motors that need 10A are likely to require even higher start up currents which a generator cannot provide so the motors may not start .and is why it is recommended a generator be able to provide about double the power. This could also be the problem with a fan blower heater because the resistance for these devices is low the inrush currents will be high. A fan heater that can be switched through low-med-hi settings might be able to get up to the mac load of a generator.

  6. #5
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    Oct 2006
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    Armidale NSW
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    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    ... because the resistance for these devices is low the inrush currents will be high.
    My electronics/electrical knowledge is a little rusty, but I thought a purely resistive load would not suffer from inrush current. Certainly inrush current is a problem with inductive loads (like a transformer or motor).
    Cheers.

    Vernon.
    __________________________________________________
    Bite off more than you can chew and then chew like crazy.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
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    Conder, ACT
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    6,051

    Default

    Try a 2 bar 2400w electric heater. or 2 by one bar 1200 w heaters.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
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    Perth
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    Quote Originally Posted by Vernonv View Post
    My electronics/electrical knowledge is a little rusty, but I thought a purely resistive load would not suffer from inrush current. Certainly inrush current is a problem with inductive loads (like a transformer or motor).
    Sure but many resistive loads are temp dependent so when the heater element is cold it will pull more current, then as it heats up it will become more resistive and draw less current. While the heating happens very quickly but it may upset some systems. The resistance of a nichrome heater element at room temp is about 40% less than when it is fully heated.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Townsville, Nth Qld
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    By thermostat do mean the thermal cut out switch on the heater or an overload switch on the generator?
    Hi BobL, it was the thermal cutout switch on the heater that operated.

    Also, the generator is rated at 20 Amps, and has two 10 A GPOs on it. Hence the reason for the need for a 10A load, one per circuit if I wanted to apply full load.

    Agree that a 2.4 kW bar radiator would be excellent, except, I can't find one anywhere
    regards,

    Dengy

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
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    Perth
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    27,756

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dengue View Post
    Hi BobL, it was the thermal cutout switch on the heater that operated.

    Also, the generator is rated at 20 Amps, and has two 10 A GPOs on it. Hence the reason for the need for a 10A load, one per circuit if I wanted to apply full load.

    Agree that a 2.4 kW bar radiator would be excellent, except, I can't find one anywhere
    OK that's good if it is a 20A benny.
    How many kW is your fan heater?
    I presume the fan heater works OK on mains V?

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Up North
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    Default

    If your gennie is hard wired into the house, just let it run the house for a couple of hours.
    That's what we do.
    Especially the washing machine makes the gennie work hard.
    Every day is better than yesterday

    Cheers
    SAISAY

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
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    se Melbourne
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    Not sure if this is any help.
    I had a look at my wall paper steamer and it is rated at 2000w, which I reckon is 8.3amp. It has a run time of up to 80 minutes if it starts off full.
    I realise it is not the 10amp you are looking for, but used with another item, could give you 10amps. Wall paper steamers should be a little bit easier to find than bar heaters at this time of year, and you will probably be able to hire for a half or full day rather than buy.
    Another alternative could be an urn, but you would need to watch it as the thermostat will cut in and out.

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