This is our Generac 20KW generator showing a known problem with its 'Weekly Tests' when configured to use 'Quite Mode'. What happens is the unit no longer receives the correct RPM count,. Emergency home generators Refine search. Wolo Outer Limits GEN 3 Low Profile Mini LED Light Bar — Red Lens, Model# 3780M-R (Not Yet Rated - New). Generac Generator Emergency Stop Kit — Fits All Generac Diesel Generators, Model# 6510 (Not Yet Rated - New).
I'm posting this in case anyone has seen this behavior - it has me baffled. I have an Insteon-only system with about 100+ controllers. Free iphone text transfer. It all works fine on mains power and no comm issues.
I also have a whole-house 20KW Generac for when the power goes out. Which it did on Friday. When the generator was running, the lights on the Insteon controllers would flash off for a split-second, and then back on. Sometimes once, often two or three times in rapid succession. They will occasionally do it on their own, but I can make it happen about 75% of the time by toggling any of the controllers off or on (whether that controller is for that light or not.) Now I watched the Generac power with a DVM, a digital scope and a spectrum analyzer.
Absolutely nothing is going on with the AC when this happens. Voltage stays rock-steady with freq. From 59.5Hz to 60.2Hz.
The generator is supposed to be pure sine wave, and indeed there seem to be very little 60Hz harmonic and almost no energy at all in the 100KHz and up area where the Insteon signalling would be. There is a tiny spike about halfway up the waveform (about 2V), but I also see that same thing when on mains power, so it's a bit of backfeed from something in the house or whatever. So I'm left with -- it has to be the controllers or the signalling or something that is only happening when the generator is active. The network equipment and ISY are on a UPS to avoid power loss during the generator transfer switchover, which takes about 15 sec. It seems to be working perfectly fine - the battery is only about 1yr old and it self-tests fine. But since it's the only difference I can think of I've ordered a replacement anyway.
I'm just wondering if anyone has run across anything like this?? They are all LED's and I think that may be part of the problem as well. Because with the LED's even on good power they flicker a little with insteon traffic. Yes, I am not too surprised by your reply as to the load.
Back in the day when everyone was using incandescent bulbs this sort of *visual* indicator would be hard to see as the bulb would simply go brighter / dimmer with voltage rise / fall. With LED bulbs by their vary nature they are able to turn on / off very quickly even if this action is mimic from a standby generator. This sort of flicker, strobing, or pulsing can vary with different bulbs brands and makers. This variance can be seen even with in the same model bulb. This is why I always buy a few different brands and test them out to see how they operate with various switches and power events.
Afterwards, I buy the same bulbs in bulk and hope they are using all the same spec tolerant parts with in. I've had great success with one brand but the name escapes me now. Teken, just curious because I have my isy on a ups, but not the plm. The plm is on a generator backup circuit. Insteon teaching is to not put a plm on any type of surge suppressor. Eric Yes, for the most part this is true for 90% of the folks using Insteon. There have been a few people using a Filter Linc and a UPS to force the PLM to send via RF only.
This was done because they could not figure out why Insteon COM's were so poor. When they did this kludge their Insteon network became more stable and reliable. I see that as a good solution for this specific instance.
But, in no way is better than trying to figure out what are the noise makers / signal suckers. Using the above method is a band aid and assumes the RF prorogation will be strong enough over the long term. As an aside this is why we are seeing *new* Insteon devices with increased RF output. They have learnt the original design was too low and have since increased the output for the latest hardware: HUB II, Dual Outlet Linc, Range Extender, etc. I expect to see the next rounds of Insteon devices to do the same because it only makes sense and will finally solve one of two RF issues I've had and others as well. The other issue they need to address is to move the RF antenna on all the switches to the front. They are currently in the back of the housing and if you're using a metal JBOX the RF signal is reduced up to 80%.
Yes, for the most part this is true for 90% of the folks using Insteon. There have been a few people using a Filter Linc and a UPS to force the PLM to send via RF only. This was done because they could not figure out why Insteon COM's were so poor. When they did this kludge their Insteon network became more stable and reliableI have my PLM and ISY behind a UPS and FilterLinc however this was not done because I had issues with COMs. I did this in order to eliminate the possibility of power sags/surges/spikes/brown-outs from damaging the PLM since it is such a critical piece of the system.
Been configured this way since I read about PLM failures here on the forum, probably a good 18 months. Now I know the PLM failures were due to faulty capacitors and not utility issues. My system is working without issues so I am reluctant to move the PLM off the UPS!
Teken: It is about 50/50, new vs. But the problem happens on both the older and newer DB controllers. All the lighting loads are halogen incandescent. This is definitely not a 'flicker', and it isn't limited to just to the initial switchover.
It continues as long as it's on the generator. I guess I would term it a 'flash off'.
Maybe about 1/4 second off, then back on. Sometimes one flash, sometimes 2 or 3 in fairly close succession. It is peculiar (to say the least).
I used to have the PLM on the UPS But as I've replaced controllers with the newer DB units, the performance seems good either way, so it's been cabled over at the panel. I did move it back on to the UPS for testing while the generator was running and it made no difference.
I'm going to replace the UPS tomorrow since it's the only thing I can see that's different between utility and generator power. The generator output is just as clean as utility power. (There is a minor and expected frequency wobble when on the generator of about.5hz, but no reason that should matter.). Teken: It is about 50/50, new vs. But the problem happens on both the older and newer DB controllers. All the lighting loads are halogen incandescent.
This is definitely not a 'flicker', and it isn't limited to just to the initial switchover. It continues as long as it's on the generator.
Generac Generator Red Light Is On
I guess I would term it a 'flash off'. Maybe about 1/4 second off, then back on. Sometimes one flash, sometimes 2 or 3 in fairly close succession. It is peculiar (to say the least).
I used to have the PLM on the UPS But as I've replaced controllers with the newer DB units, the performance seems good either way, so it's been cabled over at the panel. I did move it back on to the UPS for testing while the generator was running and it made no difference. I'm going to replace the UPS tomorrow since it's the only thing I can see that's different between utility and generator power. The generator output is just as clean as utility power. (There is a minor and expected frequency wobble when on the generator of about.5hz, but no reason that should matter.) I recall there is an adjustment on the generator which allows the RPM's to be fined tuned.