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Low Voltage at Light Tower Outlet

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Birken Vogt

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Nov 30, 2003
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If it has a capacitor, it does not have a voltage regulator. Capacitors are cheap but usually if one goes, it is lights out completely. We shall see I guess.
 
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Parts

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Dec 6, 2016
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Tested the capacitor across the terminals after discharging it with a screwdriver. I am seeing 42.4uF. Its a rock steady 42.4uf. According to the label I need to be at 70 uF (please confirm I am reading that correctly). So I think its time to try a new capacitor. Can any 2 wire 70 uF cap be used and is this a "motor start capacitor"? It fits with velcro from the factory so I can fit just about anything. If anyone could let me know what I am looking for in a replacement I'll probably hop on eBay right away to locate a new replacement (or is there a better site?). Link below for pic:

https://ibb.co/QY0sbDQ
 
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Delmer

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Jan 3, 2013
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8,887
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WI
Not a black plastic motor start capacitor. Maybe a metal can motor RUN capacitor with 70 uF/microfarads, or two in SERIES of 140 each will work also, if you can't find one with close to that voltage rating. 140 would be rare I guess, you could do series parallel, but just get the 70 with the highest volt rating you can find.

edit: Italfarad 70040 is what that is supposed to say for the model, they are available, but I'd try what I had that's close, then get the genuine if you feel like it. The farad rating is what matters, the voltage rating is a measure of how long it will last, roughly.
 
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P

Parts

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Delmer said:
Not a black plastic motor start capacitor. Maybe a metal can motor RUN capacitor with 70 uF/microfarads, or two in SERIES of 140 each will work also, if you can't find one with close to that voltage rating. 140 would be rare I guess, you could do series parallel, but just get the 70 with the highest volt rating you can find.

edit: Italfarad 70040 is what that is supposed to say for the model, they are available, but I'd try what I had that's close, then get the genuine if you feel like it. The farad rating is what matters, the voltage rating is a measure of how long it will last, roughly.
Click to expand...

Thanks I ordered the one from Amazon for delivery tomorrow. Hate that its chinese but need to get this going. If this gets it going will probably pickup a quality one or original at some point. Hopefully this cheapo works for a little while at least. Says 5 years in an air conditioner so might be good.
 
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Parts

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Just wanted to thank all of you for getting this generator back to 110/220V! Put the new capacitor in there and we got 121V at the outlet! Plugged in a little space heater and the coil glowed bright red! Hopefully the little stick welder enjoys the 220V side just as much. Once more - thanks all for the assistance I couldn't have done this repair without you.
 
1693TA

1693TA

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Feb 27, 2010
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Farmington IL
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FAA Radar Engineer, (Retired)
I've probably replaced five caps on truck APU's over the past calendar year for either no output power, or only one very low output. Yours' fell right in line with my experiences but do remember to keep a check on your frequency and try not to run overloaded. For some reason when these little sets are run with just a bit too much on them, that cap fails on short order. Probably in truck usage a combination of HVAC, microwave oven, refrigerator, and hot plate, or coffee maker running at the same time. Poor little generator set only knows output as much as it can as they don't use a voltage regulator.....
 
P

Parts

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1693TA said:
I've probably replaced five caps on truck APU's over the past calendar year for either no output power, or only one very low output. Yours' fell right in line with my experiences but do remember to keep a check on your frequency and try not to run overloaded. For some reason when these little sets are run with just a bit too much on them, that cap fails on short order. Probably in truck usage a combination of HVAC, microwave oven, refrigerator, and hot plate, or coffee maker running at the same time. Poor little generator set only knows output as much as it can as they don't use a voltage regulator.....
Click to expand...
Thanks. Good tips! I will follow that. We don't have much need for it. Really the hardest draw on it would be a welder every so few weeks and even that is such a short term use. I will check out the frequency on the outlet from time to time but honestly its pretty easy to tell the cap is going and the frequency is off running just about anything lol. The grinder used to spin so crappy at 70V lol - worked but slow. This machine was new to me so at first I thought it was just so weak haha
 
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