Aldi Generator

[Deleted member 12539]

Strange, I had an Enfield and mine was OK, until I thrashed it to death��

An British Army mate of mine took a new Enfield round Australia, and now intends to support the poorer communities of Australia on another bike.
Muriel the Medicycle - Accueil | Facebook

 

[wildebus]

Oddly enough, cheap generators are pure sine wave, expensive ones have inverters that may be modified sine wave (or worse).

The cheap ones simply spin a generator and easily get a PSW.

The problem is voltage regulation. Switch a heavy load off and there is the risk of a voltage surge that might fry the electronics in your fridge (for example). Put a large load on and the voltage will drop, so they tend to be set to run at about 228v so it won't go too low on load, too high on load drop. But it is a compromise.

That's why they make inverter ones, which can regulate the output voltage (and frequency) better, but unless you pay a lot, it won't be pure sine wave.

I must admit, I thought ALL Inverter-Generators were Pure Sine Wave.

The one I got last week boasts "Produces less than 3% total harmonic distortion" and a "clean and pure sine wave power output".
I WILL be checking the output to see how pure it is anyway, as the definition of "pure sine wave" can be a little variable.

As examples, this is a Victron Inverter ... (quality of signal as you would expect from Victron. Maybe slightly clipped?)
SineWave - Victron by David, on Flickr

My other PSW Inverter ... (not bad, but not perfect)
SineWave - EDECOA by David, on Flickr

 

[wildebus]

Just for information, I checked the output this morning after prepping my Generator (Briggs & Stratton Petrol Portable Inverter Generator PowerSmart Series P2200 featuring 2200 Watt/1700 Watt clean power, ultra quiet and lightweight: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools)
SineWave - B&S Inverter Generator by David, on Flickr
Not too bad either.

Also decided to check the DB level (only had a phone app to do this).
Around 4 metres from Generator with Vehicle between, followed by a reading right next to generator, both with QT switch on.
4 Metres away

100mm away

 

[wildebus]

It would be interesting to see the output from a non-inverter generator on the same tester, or the mains supply on that same tester, to see what it shoows when presented with a real pure sine wave.

Come to that, it would be interesting to see the output of a MSW inverter on it.

I can't answer the first, and I don't currently have a MSW Inverter to check the last (I would be keen to see this as well), but this is my household mains supply a few minutes ago
IMG_20181222_210158 by David, on Flickr
(identical to the Victron, so my thought about the Victron clipping was just the meter display)

 

[wildebus]

Is your mains really 242 volts? Mine is too, which I thought is a bit high.

It's usually higher!

I think the allowable spec is 230V +/- 10%? so 207V to 253V

I live in a small village and I think in those kind of locations, you end up with a higher voltage due to local sub repeaters and low demand?

Update: quick search found this page - Environmental Technology Centre | Voltage Optimisation
and an interesting comment in there ... "... if we consider that the UK average supply voltage is 242V,". so 242V, while not the target voltage seems to be the usual one?

 

[ricc]

It's usually higher!

I think the allowable spec is 230V +/- 10%? so 207V to 253V

I live in a small village and I think in those kind of locations, you end up with a higher voltage due to local sub repeaters and low demand?

?

doesnt work like that.

the main distribution network is at a considerably higher voltage, where we live theres 11 properties spread over the top of the hill ,the high voltage line has a transformer on the pole to supply "mains voltage " (nominal 240 volt) to the 11 properties . its actually a double transformer using 2 phases of the 3 phase supply. so approx half the houses are on each phase.....historically when the "fuse" on one phase goes the other phase still works.... now its selfresetting breakers so we dont get power cuts when next door strikes an arc on his stupidly large welder anymore. one property actually has both phases in so they can run split phase (400volt) motors .

your village will have a high voltage supply with some sort of transformer(s)in the village to reduce the voltage down to 240.

 

[wildebus]

I don't know. I was just musing an idea. Why or how really doesnt matter to me and I really don't care that much.