Inefficient recovery procedures not only affect your bottom line, but can also exponentially increase the likelihood of further issues arising as the problem goes undiagnosed and unmanaged. Knowing the common reasons behind generator breakdown and how to recognize them will be invaluable in getting your business up and running in a pinch.
1. Battery failure
Battery failure, the most common cause of generator break down, is commonly caused by the build-up of lead sulfates on the plates of lead-acid batteries, which prevents the effective transfer or current. You can diagnose this issue by checking if the sedimentary trays are filled with lead debris, and prevent this occurring by replacing these trays regularly, some say as often as every three years.
2. Low coolant levels
Always make sure to keep an eye out for puddles of coolant during weekly inspection of your unit. You can recognize coolant by the red-dyed diesel fuel color of the fluid. Usually, low coolant levels are caused by external or internal leaks, but there are other possibilities, such as in internally plugged radiator cores that can also cause low coolant level shutdowns. Unfortunately, a full load test is the only fully accurate way to check a cooling system, and should be undertaken regularly on top of weekly generator checks.
3. Low coolant temperature alarms
Faulty block heaters are the common cause of this type of alarm, and can be managed first and foremost by ensuring you procure your system from a reputable seller such as Depco. Your regular walk-through inspections should include a checking of the cylinder head for temperature. The temperature setting should be between 90°F and 100°F — never more than 120°F.
4. Air in the fuel system
This type of failure is entirely preventable through regular running of your system. Simply verify that the engine starts, the air is cleared from the fuel system, and that the generator reads the correct voltage and frequency.
5. Fuel alarms
Mechanical fuel gages can’t always be trusted due to the problems associated with a stationary tank, resulting in stuck gages and stagnant fuel. Low level alarms can be prevented by properly maintaining fuel talk and checking them for water and contaminants. High fuel level alarms, on the other hand, can be caused when a tank is close to full, and thermal expansion of the fuel (such as on a hot day) will cause the alarm to trip. You can usually manually reset the alarm when the fuel level drops.
Knowing how to diagnose the issue is only the first step in securing a quick and affordable solution to any issue that might arise with your generator. Depco has the resources and infrastructure to provide you with solutions to any of the issues that might arise, and are dedicated to delivering quality solutions to time-sensitive situations right when you need it.
Get in touch with an electrical power generation expert today to find out how you can install additional generator capacity at your site to insure your company against the costs associated with generator failure.
