Welcome to our Generator Tips section, where a new generator maintenance tip will be added every so often.
Please stay tuned for regular updates!
Generator Tip #1: When is the best time to do the monthly generator run test?
This is a question that I get often, "When is the best time to do the running test of our generator?"
Our answer is, "The best time to do the monthly 1-hour running test is on a Tuesday around 10am."
Why? By that time, most people have left for work so you won't inconvience them as most buildings go down to one elevator while on generator power. It also gives you the chance to
have your morning hot drink as well. We also recommend doing your monthly test on the same Tuesday of each month it's easier to remember to
do it. It's good to get into a regular schedule on a set day and time so that it becomes a habit. Also, if there
are any problems, then it's better to discover them on a Tuesday instead of a Friday, because no one likes problems on a
Friday.
On another note, if you need printouts for your generator log book for the weekly, monthly, semi-annual, or annual
inspections, please help yourself on our services page.
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Test us out and see for yourself the quality of our service first hand. |
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Generator Tip #2: All About Battery Maintenance
Well, it's finally here. The long awaited tips on battery maintenance. Batteries are a bit more
technical than most people realize, so it did take a bit to find a comfortable balance
between giving good tips and sharing experiences, and not getting needlessly technical. This article is
set up into two areas, inside the battery and outside the battery. Let's start with the
outside.
Cleanliness.
It's very important to clean the tops of the batteries, here is the reason why. A small amount
of dirt, water, or acid will provide a path for electrical leaks that will drain a battery over time.
A good thing to remember is to clean the battery terminals (both clamps and posts). I
recommend doing that at least once a year. Here's why. When your engine is in its cranking
phase, it draws between 400 - 800+ amps (that's a lot of power). Corrosion or dirt on the
battery terminals or any connection will increase the amount of resistance in your electrical
connections which will increase the heat that is generated which will lead to damage to your
battery and wires. It's a bit of a domino effect. After I clean and put the connections back
together, I recommend putting on something that will slow down the oxidation of the lead
posts. I use the KROWN rust proofing product called T-40, it's what the KROWN shops use
to rust proof your vehicle (I do recommend that people get their vehicles sprayed once a
year as we'll).
One day I received a service call to a long term care (LTC) seniors residents where the
environmental manager was noticing sparks coming from the battery when he started the
engine for its monthly 1 hour run test. What was the problem? Sorry to say, but the previous
service technician when he installed the new battery, he didn't clean the battery terminal post
on the battery or the clamp on the cable. The sparks were coming from the gap that was
created when the battery terminal began to melt from the heat being created from the high
resistance caused by the corrosion (oxidation on the lead terminals and battery cable
clamps). Long story made short, the customer had to pay for a another new battery as well
as the cost for a replacement battery cable and the cost of a service call, all because the
previous service tech didn't clean the terminals.
Battery electrolyte levels.
This is important because the batteries internal plates WILL be permanently damaged by
exposure to air. When you remove the cap on the battery, you will generally see a short
plastic tube going down towards the battery plates, with a slot on both sides of the tube.
Fluid levels should be maintained at the base of the slots. If your battery is the type that
doesn't have the slots, then the fluid level should be maintained at 1/4" to 1/2" above the
plates. Regardless of which style battery you have, DO NOT go over that maximum level.
Why? Over filling will lead to spewing of electrolyte (battery acid) from the filler caps during
charging, this is not good.
Here's a question I've been asked in the past, "Is it ok to use tap water to top up my
battery?" The short answer is "No". Here is the longer answer as to why. Tap water contains
some level of Chlorine. Chlorine will shorten the batteries life, and batteries are not cheep to
replace. Also, tap water has minerals in it that are damaging and create internal galvanic
currents. Bottled drinking water has a high level of minerals in it, good for YOU to drink, but
not your battery. The only type of water you should add to your battery is distilled water, you can find it at your local grocery store in the water section. I always carry some with me but I
do recommend that each site should keep a bottle in the generator room, unless your
generator is an outdoor unit then the water would just freeze during the winter and that's
difficult to pour into your batteries.
Some have asked me, "We just topped up our battery 2 month ago, why do we need to do it
again?" That is a good question. Let me explain whats happening. Water is always in a
state of evaporation and a natural byproduct of charging is that the battery warms up a little
bit, when you combine those together, it causes the water to evaporate a little sooner.
There is also another natural byproduct of charging your battery, that is the development of
Hydrogen gas. Remember that water is 1 part hydrogen and 2 parts oxygen (H2O). As the
electrolyte level goes down, hydrogen levels go up. Also the recommend electrolyte level
covers the plates and prevents internal sparks from occurring inside the battery. Earlier I
mentioned that when the engine is in its cranking phase it draws between 400 - 800+ Amps.
So let's do a little battery math.
A decrease of electrolyte + an increase of hydrogen + an internal spark = KABOOM!!!
One day a couple of years back I was at a site and while talking with the maintenance
manager about battery maintenance he explained his experience with an exploding battery,
"...3 months later I still have a ringing in my ear". I always wear ear muffs when starting the
engine. The maintenance manager was fortunate that the battery was on the other side of
the generator controller, what do you think happens with all the battery acid in the battery
when it explodes? It flies everywhere! I can always tell when a site had a battery explode,
the stain of battery acid is all over the wall and on the side of the engine. This is why I
recommend having the batteries in a proper battery box with a strap down lid. It's not part of
the CSA 282 code, but for safety reasons it should be.
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