The generator does not start well in cold weather. Starting a gasoline generator in various conditions

Almost everyone who has a gasoline generator faces the same problem. In winter, as well in early spring And late autumn, when the temperature drops below +5℃, it is not so easy to start it. At the same time, there are no difficulties with starting in the warm season. It is immediately clear that the problem occurs if the device is left in unheated room(garage, shed, etc.) or just outside when the air temperature is low enough. How is the startup problem solved in this case?

The simplest option (all gasoline generators with a manual starter react positively to such actions) is to bring the unit into a warm room, let it stand there and warm up. After this, it will easily start on the street. However, this procedure, despite its simplicity, has a significant drawback - it takes a lot of time. Some craftsmen suggest speeding up the procedure by heating the carburetor with a burner. But this is strictly prohibited, because winter operation of a gas generator must be extremely safe.

The second simple starting option is to inject an aerosol into the carburetor from a so-called “quick start” can. Such compositions are produced by different companies, the capacity may vary. Buy in advance, before the cold weather sets in, and you won’t have any problems starting the generator!

What else could be the reason for the inability to start?

The fact is that the operation of a gas generator in winter time does not eliminate startup problems that can happen at any time of the year.

The cause of instability of the generator may be a clogged air filter, which is either purged or changed. Now you know how to start a gas generator in winter. We hope you find our advice useful.

In the cold season when starting gasoline generator problems may arise, because the temperature is guaranteed stable operation unit is about -15 °C, so to facilitate winter operation there are several solutions:

First of all, this is the use of special protective casing on the generator. It protects equipment from hypothermia, so the engine will start in such a container at any temperature. Another undoubted advantage is the reduction of noise levels.

Also make sure that the generator does not have any malfunctions such as a clogged air filter or a faulty spark plug. It is also not recommended to skimp on fuel quality; this can also cause your equipment to not want to operate at sub-zero temperatures.

The presence of a coolant heater in the design of the unit. This function is especially necessary in those latitudes where winters are especially severe and provided that the power plant for a long time stood idle (lubricant and fuel thickened).

The larger the battery capacity, the better, so winter period purchase a battery with a capacity of at least 20 Ah.

Sometimes a situation occurs when the battery weakens and the gasoline generator cannot be started. Aerosols are sold specifically for such cases to facilitate starting. You just need to spray the mixture next to the air cleaner and wait 20 seconds, then start the engine. If this does not help, then there is only one way out - buy a more powerful battery.

How to start a gasoline generator in winter?

Before starting the equipment, you should check the oil level. At the same time, always choose a quality product, because otherwise the generator may not start or, even worse, become unusable ahead of time.

Next, we select fuel for winter use. It is best to use unleaded gasoline, as it is of higher quality and is more suitable for low temperatures. Never buy fuel diluted with water. In addition, when operating the generator, run out of gasoline completely until the engine stops on its own.

After this, run the generator at zero load (be sure to turn off the power to the tools that are supplied by it). Turn on the ignition and close the choke.

If the generator has a manual start type, then pull the starting cord towards you until resistance appears. After this, make a sharp jerk, the generator should start. If it doesn’t work the first time, then repeat the above steps. First, let the equipment warm up well and open the air damper.

If the generator is started using a starter, then before starting work, check that the terminals are securely fastened and that the polarity is correct.

Units with automatic system the starters turn on on their own, however, it is not recommended to immediately apply a load after switching on; the generator should warm up well at idle.

Unfortunately, there are cases when, even with high-quality fuel and good heating, the generator still does not start. What is the reason? Let's figure it out.

1. Once the engine has cooled, condensation may form in the fuel system. This is why the unit stops restarting. You can solve the problem by trying to warm up the gas tap and thus get rid of frozen condensate. You can take the generator into a warm room and wait a couple of hours. The main thing is not to use it for warming up. open fire, Is it dangerous.

2. The engine does not start due to a flooded spark plug. In this case, remove the spark plug and carefully clean it, remove the adhering oil and carbon deposits using sandpaper. Also, if you wish, you can warm it up; with a warm candle, the generator will start faster.

in "BUCKOUT" stores.

This is not the way to store an electric generator.!

Otherwise, there will be big problems with the launch!

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Let's agree right away. We are not interested in hybrid generators because hybrid generators use both gasoline and liquefied gas, in their nature and calorific value they are so similar that no problems will arise other than an incorrectly selected reduction gear and a small evaporation area in the cylinder, due to which freezing will occur. On the other hand, these generators are very difficult to automate, and then starting and stopping lies on the shoulders of the owner, who will change the type of fuel and start the generator manually.

In this case we'll talk about generators in automatic mode, which must be started without human intervention, and, therefore, they must be subject to other requirements for starting, maximum operating time and special means that should help start in the winter.

So, in winter, the launch is affected by 3 main reasons:

1. good battery
2. good oil
3. quality fuel.

Of course, all these requirements may be ideal, but if a low-quality engine is used or improper maintenance is used, they will not help. In one of the articles I talked about some of the nuances of engines (How to choose a reliable engine?), but now we are not talking about that.

What happens at startup?

Let's assume that we have a perfectly tuned, charged generator with a good, powerful, charged battery. The temperature in winter “floats”, it can be from -1 to -38 and the oil, once frozen, retains this temperature and excess viscosity for a very long time. So what, you ask, is it:
a) did not freeze and did not freeze everything inside,
b) the contact area of ​​the engine parts is small and the engine should crank, despite the fact that the oil now resembles candied honey rather than liquid.

And you'd be right, but try pulling the recoil starter and you'll feel some serious resistance. It comes from one small part called a decompressor - here it is, located on a large gear.

A small mechanism designed to make it easier to start the engine from a manual starter plays a cruel joke in winter and does more harm to starting than it helps. On the one hand, it should make starting easier due to the fact that the exhaust valve is slightly open, but in practice it either blocks the opening of the exhaust valve or prevents the decompressor from working.

Despite the fact that the engine rotates and there is a spark, it does not start, because there is no initial ignition in the cylinder - the lean mixture that gets in there just as calmly flies out.

In the case of an open decompressor, the engine simply does not pick up speed, because the starter power is insufficient, it is designed for use in an engine with a decompressor, the battery, which is overwhelmingly gel, 9 a/h, and when this gel hardens, is unlikely to be selected for the same condition. will be able to provide more than 5-7 launch attempts.

This is where proposals to equip the battery and engine with heating, etc. begin. etc., but no one, mind you, NO ONE will give a guarantee of starting in winter and at the same time will not remind you that good heating costs as much as a whole generator, and it will also constantly consume electricity, since heating these parts requires 200-300 Watts per hour, otherwise it will only be calming without any effect.

As a result, one conclusion suggests itself: if you do not use a branded engine, the materials of which are selected with high quality, the battery is suitable for the task, fill in old or low-quality gasoline, operate an unadjusted or universal gas system, then in minus temperature you will encounter problems at startup.

As another reminder, I list the engine manufacturers that can be described as branded: Honda, B&S, Kohler, Robin-Subaru, Mitsubishi, Generac. This, in principle, is the entire list of engines that are present on the market in Russia, the rest are more or less “labels” - that is, engines assembled in China with a sticker from some “manufacturer”. I wrote about this in more detail in the article (see link).

But there is also a way out, as I have already described, the power plants on the market are not designed to operate in cold climates. The Russian market is too small for China to develop generators for us. But, taking into account the experience of 14 years of work and production, we have assembled power plants for cold climates, which are specially designed to start in deep minus, and there is no magic. We simply took ANOTHER engine and configured it taking into account launch experience and Russian conditions.

1. Engine of power station GG6-SV DOES NOT HAVE A DECOMPRESSOR. It was removed. Along with this, the need arose for a more powerful starter, and look, the GG6-SV starter is almost 4 times more powerful than similar stations (!). The first photo shows a GG-6SV starter and next to it a starter for any other station with a power of 5 to 7 kW. On the second - the same thing - installed on the engine for clarity.

25.09.2015

Is gasoline the only panacea in cold weather?

A fairly common opinion among the majority of users of diesel generators is the assertion that these units, unlike gasoline ones, do not start well in winter in very cold weather. In reality this is not entirely true. A correctly installed power plant, subject to all operating conditions and refueling with high-quality fuel, does not cause problems with operation and startup, even in severe frost conditions. In order not to encounter these problems and not be left without electricity and heating in winter, country dacha, or in your home, you need to follow some tips, follow simple rules and take a number of measures that can make starting a diesel generator easier in the cold season. This article is devoted to covering precisely these issues.

The type and quality of fuel is the first step to success

Most of those who have ever serviced a power plant will agree with the opinion that often the main problems with starting an engine in “harsh” conditions are related to the physical and chemical composition and properties of the fuel, and not design features power unit. This is due to the fact that a decrease in air temperature inevitably leads to an increase in the viscosity of the fuel mixture itself and a change in its balance. As a result, the fuel is less atomized in the working cylinders and engine starting becomes more difficult.

Regarding this problem, it would not be amiss to recall that there are two types of diesel fuel - summer and winter. Accordingly, in the cold season, the power plant must be refueled with winter diesel. This question needs to be clarified at the gas station where you purchase fuel, since many unscrupulous gas stations continue to sell summer diesel fuel even with the onset of cold weather.

Why is it dangerous for such fuel to get into the engine at an outside temperature of about -10°C? Answer: paraffin crystals fall out in the fuel mixture, as a result of which the device’s fuel filter and its lines become clogged and fail. Moreover, this process can occur so quickly that even a neglected power plant can stall.

In order to never encounter such troubles, you need to develop a rule to buy only high-quality fuel and never skimp on it, so you should use the services of only proven gas stations well-known companies(they often have stricter fuel quality control). Remember that low quality diesel fuel at low temperatures it tends to turn into a jelly-like mass. The situation can be aggravated when the diesel has been diluted with water (which is also not uncommon at domestic gas stations) - in this case, the generator may not start even in the summer.

Adding additives

A fairly popular means of increasing the efficiency of the fuel mixture in winter is the use of special additives to dilute it, called antigels. In extreme cases, when such substances are not at hand, and you urgently need to start the diesel generator (the fuel has thickened), you can add a little gasoline or kerosene to the tank, but you must remember that by doing this you will slightly increase engine wear. A safe concentration is considered to be 10-15% of lighter fuel relative to the total volume of diesel fuel in the tank.

Installation preheater

Very often, many craftsmen warm up a frozen engine using blowtorch. This method has two disadvantages: the first is that it is not always convenient to carry out such a procedure, especially in severe frost, when the station is installed in an open space and the power unit is located at the bottom of the power station. Second, it is not always safe, so performing such operations better to a specialist. A real alternative here is an autonomous heater. Thus, the presence of a built-in pre-heating system allows you to once and for all get rid of problems with starting a diesel generator in any conditions, regardless of the climate zone.

Taking into account the peculiarities of our climate, many modern manufacturers of this equipment, whose products are aimed at the markets of the CIS countries and other territories with cold winters, are well aware of the problems faced by domestic users, therefore they supply their own stations with pre-heating systems for the engine, crankcase and spark plugs. This device is installed in the engine cooling circuit, which helps heat the oil in the crankcase, as well as the cooling system fluid. The power and cost of such a heater directly depends on the power of your generator, the volume and weight of its cooling system. There are two types of these devices - electric and diesel. The former are intended for installation in power plants used as backup or additional sources of electricity, and the latter for use in powerful diesel generators that serve as the main source of energy supply.

Most preheaters are designed to operate in several basic modes - constant maintenance operating temperature at a given level and warming up according to a timer. Frequent launch diesel engine in “cold start” mode can significantly reduce its resource. The presence of a built-in pre-heater in the power plant allows not only to preserve the resource of the autonomous power source, but to extend the service life of the generator as a whole. These heaters are connected to a common electrical network, but despite this, they are always ready to work.

Installation of diesel generators in containers

Another equally popular way safe operation diesel electrical installations in winter is to install them in specialized containers. In fact, this design of generators has several advantages. First of all, a heating system and other additional equipment for “life support” and normal functioning of the generator in severe frosts can be installed inside such a container, and it is also much more convenient for maintenance personnel to carry out repair and maintenance work.

In addition, specialized containers facilitate constant movements and frequent transportation of power plants from place to place using any type of transport, which makes them quite maneuverable despite their considerable dimensions. It should also be noted that in addition to ensuring continuous uninterrupted operation of the unit and maintaining its work area necessary temperature regime and the most optimal climatic conditions, the container sells at least important function for diesel type generator - effective sound insulation. A diesel power plant installed in a container will start in any weather, so this type execution is best suited for operation in “harsh” conditions.

If the generator is portable, then it can be brought into a warm place, for example, indoors, in order to pre-warm it before starting. As is known, there are power plants with various options starting - manual, electric starter and automatic. The first two types are most often used in everyday life. Based on practice, it can be noted that a starting system based on an electric starter can cause more problems, since this electronic device behaves very capriciously in the cold. A guaranteed start of a generator equipped only with an electric starter is ensured in most cases at a temperature of +5°C, and then only with a new battery. If you have a mechanical cable or handle to start the power plant, your chances are a little better. Mechanical start is almost 100% guaranteed at a temperature of -5°C.