What are the causes of a gasoline generator not generating electricity?
2 Answers
There are several reasons why a gasoline generator may not generate electricity: 1. Expired engine oil and gasoline: Engine oil and gasoline have a validity period of only three months. After three months, they lose their viscosity and become ineffective. 2. Prolonged inactivity of the machine: The fuel level in the carburetor drops, leading to corrosion that may block the fuel holes. Simply cleaning the carburetor can resolve this issue. 3. Damaged voltage regulator. 4. Wiring faults: Some wires may be loose or have poor contact. 5. Bearing wear: If the wear is not severe, it may cause local overheating of the bearings. Severe wear could lead to friction between the stator and rotor, causing local overheating in these components.
I've repaired quite a few gasoline generators and found many common reasons for power generation failures. The engine itself may run normally, but electrical issues can arise, such as worn-out or poorly connected brushes interrupting current conduction; a damaged automatic voltage regulator can cause unstable or zero output voltage; additionally, aging rotor or stator windings may short-circuit due to overheating or vibration. Moreover, if the excitation system fails, the generator cannot establish a magnetic field and thus won't generate power. Control board malfunctions might also send incorrect commands, shutting off the output. Poor maintenance, like dust clogging the cooling system, accelerates component damage. My approach is to start simple—first check brush contacts and excitation resistance, then use a multimeter to measure voltage, troubleshooting step by step.
