Generator Unbalanced Load

[xguard]

We have a Baldor Generator. I called the number on the generator, they answered the phone as ABB. When I told them what I had they transferred me to Generac. Generac says they don't work on Baldor generators and can't answer any questions about them......so maybe someone here can .

The owner wants to use this generator with 80ish amps of single phase loads. The calculated load is 82 amps, I'm sure the actual measured load will be less. Doesn't seem like a good idea to me though. I don't have anything specific to base that on though as it looks like Baldor may no longer be in business. Thoughts? If it were my hot rod at home I might run it and see what happens but its not so I won't until I know better. Thanks.

 

[xguard]

 

[winnie]

What exactly is your concern?

The nameplate suggests a high leg delta which would imply 240V loads l-l distributed across all the phases, and 120V loads connected on 2 of the phases.

Jon

 

[Hv&Lv]

I wouldn’t hesitate to use it the way he suggested.

 

[Todd0x1]

ABB bought Baldor and sold off its generator business to Generac.

Generally it is not recommended to run heavily unbalanced load on generator.

This is a skid mount, not a towable rental generator right? The ILDC series comes in several different flavors with a letter after the JD which denotes the output. See attached PDF. Do you have a photo of the entire unit? Does it have a phase select switch?

 

[Todd0x1]

Here is a white paper on unbalanced loading of 3 phase generators which explains why its not good.

http://www.stamford-avk.com/sites/stamfordavk/files/AGN017_E.pdf

 

[zbang]

Is that 82 amps at 120v (41 amps/phase)? That doesn't sound too bad. If there were some 240 loads, I'd see about running them on the otherwise empty phase, but then you'd need a 3-phase panel.

 

[xguard]

What exactly is your concern?

The nameplate suggests a high leg delta which would imply 240V loads l-l distributed across all the phases, and 120V loads connected on 2 of the phases.

Jon

I left out the part were the incoming utility is 120/240 single phase.

 

[winnie]

Outside of my experience range, so take with a grain of salt:

Per the document Tood0x1 posted, single phase loading can place torque pulsations on the load from alternator to prime move. They suggest using a 'double delta' configuration on the alternator wiring to provide a single phase output.

That is probably what I would do; re-connect the alternator for double delta output, wire single phase, and do not exceed the normal 3 phase current capacity.

-Jon

 

[xguard]

ABB bought Baldor and sold off its generator business to Generac.

Generally it is not recommended to run heavily unbalanced load on generator.

This is a skid mount, not a towable rental generator right? The ILDC series comes in several different flavors with a letter after the JD which denotes the output. See attached PDF. Do you have a photo of the entire unit? Does it have a phase select switch?