westinghouse generator

[Robert Zack]

i have a 20000 watt Westinghouse generator. it has 241 hours on the clock. i just had my 3rd low oil sensor fail. i called Westinghouse & the supposed tech person said that a problem with my engine was causing them to fail & that they were not having any issues with the sensors. sounds like B.S. to me. can anyone here think of an engine issue that would cause it to fail? i'm not sure who builds these engines & they won't tell me,

 

[Richard G.]

i have a 20000 watt Westinghouse generator. it has 241 hours on the clock. i just had my 3rd low oil sensor fail. i called Westinghouse & the supposed tech person said that a problem with my engine was causing them to fail & that they were not having any issues with the sensors. sounds like B.S. to me. can anyone here think of an engine issue that would cause it to fail? i'm not sure who builds these engines & they won't tell me,

I just read where Honda makes the Westinghouse generator engines.

Who makes the engines on Westinghouse generators?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wFGuvw8H8k Westinghouse generators are powered by engines manufactured by Honda. Honda produces a range of durable, reliable engines that are a popular choice for powering generators. The Honda engines used in Westinghouse generators range from

www.remodelormove.com

 

[Robert Zack]

there is a label on the engine. i searched the numbers & it came up as a Ducar. made in China & used for generators. the odd thing is that according to Ducar this is a diesel engine. mine is gas. they might use Honda engines on the smaller models. a lot of machines use Hondas. my log splitter has a Briggs badged engine but it's actually made by Honda. this the 20,000 watt model. it's beast & powers the whole house. it's a 200.00 round trip just to get it to the shop. i disconnected the lead to the low oil sensor sending unit in the block & it's running properly again. since i already replaced the low oil sensor i'm going to try replacing the sending unit. i's cheaper & much easier to get to. since it has so few hours on it & is not using any oil i think i can safely run it without the sensor so long as i keep a close eye on the oil level. that is if it's not the oil pump.

 

[Richard G.]

there is a label on the engine. i searched the numbers & it came up as a Ducar. made in China & used for generators. the odd thing is that according to Ducar this is a diesel engine. mine is gas. they might use Honda engines on the smaller models. a lot of machines use Hondas. my log splitter has a Briggs badged engine but it's actually made by Honda. this the 20,000 watt model. it's beast & powers the whole house. it's a 200.00 round trip just to get it to the shop. i disconnected the lead to the low oil sensor sending unit in the block & it's running properly again. since i already replaced the low oil sensor i'm going to try replacing the sending unit. i's cheaper & much easier to get to. since it has so few hours on it & is not using any oil i think i can safely run it without the sensor so long as i keep a close eye on the oil level. that is if it's not the oil pump.

Sounds like a good plan.
My older generator has no low oil sensor and I just make sure I check it when I need it.
My newer DuroMax generator has the low oil sensor and it shut it off last fall when Helene left us without power for 7 days.
Added oil and went back at it.

 

[Robert Zack]

i had an older Coleman generator that had sat idle for a long period before i got it. when i got it running it smoked a little. it had low hours on it so my belief was that the rings were partially stuck in the piston grooves. i pulled the plug & put the Rislone oil treatment in the plug hole. i repeated that for several days. the rings were freed & it quit smoking but it still used a bit of oil. i discovered the low oil sensor when it died. glad it was there. plugs into the house via an 8 gauge cable. has a dedicated breaker. i turn off the main & turn that braker on before running it.
this is the beast.

 

[Richard G.]

Just turning off the main is not a safe way to feed your house.
The main does not break the ground.
It can still back feed onto the power company and cause big problems.

 

[Mule Meat]

Just turning off the main is not a safe way to feed your house.
The main does not break the ground.
It can still back feed onto the power company and cause big problems.

+1
Ole boy here spent 24 months in the state D.O.C. for killing a lineman six miles away when it was traced by to him back feeding power by using a "dedicated breaker" setup with his generator. He was also held liable for medical bills of another lineman that got hurt. That was over ten years ago and he is still paying for his stupidity.

 

[Richard G.]

+1
Ole boy here spent 24 months in the state D.O.C. for killing a lineman six miles away when it was traced by to him back feeding power by using a "dedicated breaker" setup with his generator. He was also held liable for medical bills of another lineman that got hurt. That was over ten years ago and he is still paying for his stupidity.

Exactly!

 

[Robert Zack]

best thing then would be to pull my meter when i use the generator.

 

[teddy52food]

Best is to have the proper isolation switch wired in place!

 

[Robert Zack]

i've already invested in a 18 ft 6 gauge cable, a special plug on the outside wall, & the wiring into the dedicated breaker. at the time i bought this nobody had a transfer switch in stock. so even if it's a p.i.t.a. i'll pull the meter which will solve the backflow issue.

 

[teddy52food]

i've already invested in a 18 ft 6 gauge cable, a special plug on the outside wall, & the wiring into the dedicated breaker. at the time i bought this nobody had a transfer switch in stock. so even if it's a p.i.t.a. i'll pull the meter which will solve the backflow issue.

Our local coop would refuse to sell you power if you don't have the transfer switch in place.

 

[Farmalldude45]

i've already invested in a 18 ft 6 gauge cable, a special plug on the outside wall, & the wiring into the dedicated breaker. at the time i bought this nobody had a transfer switch in stock. so even if it's a p.i.t.a. i'll pull the meter which will solve the backflow issue.

deleted duplicate post

 

[Farmalldude45]

i've already invested in a 18 ft 6 gauge cable, a special plug on the outside wall, & the wiring into the dedicated breaker. at the time i bought this nobody had a transfer switch in stock. so even if it's a p.i.t.a. i'll pull the meter which will solve the backflow issue.

Make sure you have a direct reading meter. Higher capacity services often have induction meters which do not handle the total power passing through the system. Therefore, these meters do not disconnect power from the use point when removed!!!!

 

[Butch(OH)]

Just turning off the main is not a safe way to feed your house.
The main does not break the ground.
It can still back feed onto the power company and cause big problems.

I am not an electrician thus I have wonder why our local coop approves an interlocked back feed breaker if it can some how backfeed the grid via the ground? I didn't think it was legal to break the ground at the main panel? Or did I not understand what you posted? My interlocked back feed set up was installed by a licensed contractor and inspected by the coop before they would reinstall the meter and it does not affect the grounding