Not much in your original ? to go by as far as any history background of the Genset - if it indeed is a Powermate? Is it? And if so - is it already USED or is it BRAND NEW right out of the box - like many others here who I've already helped out and solved their problem(s)?
If this Genset is USED how many hours are on it. Try to be as accurate as you can - if known? Also - If this is not YOUR originally purchased Genset, but rather bought 2nd hand - did it work right when you first bought it?
Is so BRAND NEW or even USED - then I minds well tell you this first (if you don't already know this). After which I have some tech troubleshooting ??'s I need answered so I can pinpoint the problem.
As you are now hopefully but painfully aware - Powermate has gone totally Bankrupt, and is no longer in business as of this past year or so.
There is hope though - as I state below in the previous Footnote I posted to many having similar problems.
Previous Footnote: It's too late now for all those out there that unfortunately bought these now still Brand New "unserviceable" Powermate units that won't start for whatever, whether still Brand New "NIB", or whether taken out of the box and still not used, and are now seeking some kind of service on them (btw it's a sign of the present day GOP ran economic woes we are in AND it will only get worse - CHINA is going on the very same downward skid right now thanks to you know who - W!). If you buy anything today "made in China" - esp their cheap knockoff Gensets - you better be making a GOOD buying decision - otherwise you will be in the very same situation you are in now with your Powermate Gensets - as China is starting to collapse from within just like this USA economy of ours has been doing for the last 5-6 years to no end! All politics aside as well - as blame is put where it is deserved in my books and we can only blame YOU KNOW WHO! Sorry but true!
NOW -
Any inventory stock of their (Powermate) Gensets - that were once formerly sold in the USA & Canada - have been totally liquidated out to a company in Georgia I was told, and it was said to be true.
I was able to get this NEW added info through another source said to be VERY accurate btw - so hopefully it is.
That Company's name is PRAMAC, and their address and phone # info is:
PRAMAC INDUSTRIES, Inc.
* Regional head office:
1100 Cobb Parkway North C 30062 Marietta, Georgia
Phone: 770-218-5430 Fax : 770 218 2810
or:
* International sales office:
10100 NW 116 Way, Suite 10 33178 Medley, Florida
Phone: 305-888-9911 Fax : 305-888-3711
Site info:
PRAMAC Global Gateway
BUT -
Before you blame me for any possible incorrect Powermate info posted above in regards to that PRAMAC Co, or their contact info - read the GOOD NEWS below first, unless the BRAND NEW part doesn't apply to you here.
The GOOD NEWS is that I spoke with a very close contact inside Home Depot (not saying who so don't even ask), and that person gave me some very GOOD NEWS for those that act on it NOW!
Not tomorrow - Not next week - Not next month - and certainly NOT NEXT YEAR!
DO IT RIGHT NOW!!
I spoke with my Home Depot Corp contact today (using your "not starting" dilemma - as my own - to get a response) to see if anything could be done from their point of view and here's what I was told to do.
What I was told is that if I (you) bring in my (your) ORIGINAL HOME DEPOT CASH REGISTER DATED RECEIPT and speak to the (whichever Home Depot store applies here) Home Depot Store Manager there, and explain to them that the brand new never used Powermate Genset they sold me (you in this case) won't start - they would send your Genset out to their local Genset Service Vendor FREE OF CHARGE BTW, and hopefully get it started for you.
Anything more then that - you would be on your own if it was damaged by you or someone else that tried using it improperly.
NOW - as for your Genset there and the OVER-VOLTAGE condition you say you are experiencing.
I guess my first ? is - Which volt meter are you reading?
The one on your Genset possibly, or from a known Good Quality & good working hand-held DVM meter? If your AC panel meter is defective then that is not going to help matters at all. If your Genset control board is shot most likely something caused that condition from an electrical/electronics standpoint either on the board itself inside the "front panel control box" or else inside the "Gennie power head".
Usually an OVER-VOLTAGE condition occurs when a modification has been done to the Genset, such as say a new (or possibly a bigger wattage) replacement "Gennie power head" that is not rated properly to your engine speed (which btw should be ~ 3600 RPM max). Did you make any such modifications to your stock Genset recently?
If not - then we need to make sure you are getting the proper AC output measurements using a known good DVM meter set to the AC scale and either on 400 or 1000 volts depending on your meter's settings. Hopefully you're not using one of those defunct $3 cheapy Harbor Freight Tools meters either?
With the Genset running at normal idle what voltages are you reading at the 120VAC & the 240VAC outlets - from HOT to NEUTRAL only? Low - High - Sporadic - what? Be precise here - very important!
If you increase the Genset speed up to 1/2 Load speed what voltages are you now reading as well? Try not to run at Full Speed if indeed something had smoked inside the Control Panel such as the Control Board. Check that board out first for signs of damage. Does it look OK?
If this Genset has had HIGH HOURS of run-time on it have you check the "brushes" and/or "slip rings" on the ROTOR it as of yet? If it has brushes are they within factory spec? Are the SLIP RINGS clean and not arched and dirty looking? If the latter is found to be true then the SLIP RINGS need to be cleaned and polished bright again!! Very important!!
If the end plate (cover plate) is taken off (if you feel capable to do this yourself) is the inside fairly clean inside and around the SLIP RINGS & BRUSHES area? Do you smell any BURNT smell inside? If so then possibly either the STATOR or the ROTOR has gone bad! If not take an air hose and thoroughly blow out all the carbon dust & dirt and replace the "end plate" securely.
Unless it's a BRUSHLESS type Genset you have (which I doubt) then the problem possibly lies within the "power head".
Let me know what you find now that you know what to look for?
Based on that we can look still further is it's not covered above.
Best regards to all with the same problems, and hope I helped you out 100% - all political humor/truth aside.
Please post me a reply as to finding this solution being the best resolve to your Powermate problem there by following my recommendations above. Also please rate my troubleshooting fix as well.
Hi! We can help and hold parts for many models. :) 1st check out our testing video and see how to pinpoint and fix the problem. https://www.generatorguru.com/help-me-fix-my-generator-repair-advice/ If you need more advice we can get you in contact with one of our Generator Engineers to guide you. We do not charge for this service and are happy to assist you throughout the repair. https://www.generatorguru.com/need-help/ Kind regards The Generator Guru Team Specialist Portable Generator Engineers & Parts Worldwide www.GeneratorGuru.com
It must be a function of excessive voltage and self-protection.
The reason why the generator output voltage is too high: 1. The speed is too high. 2. The air gap of the shunt reactor core is too large. 3. The magnetic field varistor is short-circuited; the voltage regulation is out of order.
Answers & Comments
My answer:
Not much in your original ? to go by as far as any history background of the Genset - if it indeed is a Powermate? Is it? And if so - is it already USED or is it BRAND NEW right out of the box - like many others here who I've already helped out and solved their problem(s)?
If this Genset is USED how many hours are on it. Try to be as accurate as you can - if known? Also - If this is not YOUR originally purchased Genset, but rather bought 2nd hand - did it work right when you first bought it?
Is so BRAND NEW or even USED - then I minds well tell you this first (if you don't already know this). After which I have some tech troubleshooting ??'s I need answered so I can pinpoint the problem.
As you are now hopefully but painfully aware - Powermate has gone totally Bankrupt, and is no longer in business as of this past year or so.
There is hope though - as I state below in the previous Footnote I posted to many having similar problems.
Previous Footnote: It's too late now for all those out there that unfortunately bought these now still Brand New "unserviceable" Powermate units that won't start for whatever, whether still Brand New "NIB", or whether taken out of the box and still not used, and are now seeking some kind of service on them (btw it's a sign of the present day GOP ran economic woes we are in AND it will only get worse - CHINA is going on the very same downward skid right now thanks to you know who - W!). If you buy anything today "made in China" - esp their cheap knockoff Gensets - you better be making a GOOD buying decision - otherwise you will be in the very same situation you are in now with your Powermate Gensets - as China is starting to collapse from within just like this USA economy of ours has been doing for the last 5-6 years to no end! All politics aside as well - as blame is put where it is deserved in my books and we can only blame YOU KNOW WHO! Sorry but true!
NOW -
Any inventory stock of their (Powermate) Gensets - that were once formerly sold in the USA & Canada - have been totally liquidated out to a company in Georgia I was told, and it was said to be true.
I was able to get this NEW added info through another source said to be VERY accurate btw - so hopefully it is.
That Company's name is PRAMAC, and their address and phone # info is:
PRAMAC INDUSTRIES, Inc.
* Regional head office:
1100 Cobb Parkway North C
30062 Marietta, Georgia
Phone: 770-218-5430
Fax : 770 218 2810
or:
* International sales office:
10100 NW 116 Way, Suite 10
33178 Medley, Florida
Phone: 305-888-9911
Fax : 305-888-3711
Site info:
PRAMAC Global Gateway
BUT -
Before you blame me for any possible incorrect Powermate info posted above in regards to that PRAMAC Co, or their contact info - read the GOOD NEWS below first, unless the BRAND NEW part doesn't apply to you here.
The GOOD NEWS is that I spoke with a very close contact inside Home Depot (not saying who so don't even ask), and that person gave me some very GOOD NEWS for those that act on it NOW!
Not tomorrow - Not next week - Not next month - and certainly NOT NEXT YEAR!
DO IT RIGHT NOW!!
I spoke with my Home Depot Corp contact today (using your "not starting" dilemma - as my own - to get a response) to see if anything could be done from their point of view and here's what I was told to do.
What I was told is that if I (you) bring in my (your) ORIGINAL HOME DEPOT CASH REGISTER DATED RECEIPT and speak to the (whichever Home Depot store applies here) Home Depot Store Manager there, and explain to them that the brand new never used Powermate Genset they sold me (you in this case) won't start - they would send your Genset out to their local Genset Service Vendor FREE OF CHARGE BTW, and hopefully get it started for you.
Anything more then that - you would be on your own if it was damaged by you or someone else that tried using it improperly.
NOW - as for your Genset there and the OVER-VOLTAGE condition you say you are experiencing.
I guess my first ? is - Which volt meter are you reading?
The one on your Genset possibly, or from a known Good Quality & good working hand-held DVM meter? If your AC panel meter is defective then that is not going to help matters at all. If your Genset control board is shot most likely something caused that condition from an electrical/electronics standpoint either on the board itself inside the "front panel control box" or else inside the "Gennie power head".
Usually an OVER-VOLTAGE condition occurs when a modification has been done to the Genset, such as say a new (or possibly a bigger wattage) replacement "Gennie power head" that is not rated properly to your engine speed (which btw should be ~ 3600 RPM max). Did you make any such modifications to your stock Genset recently?
If not - then we need to make sure you are getting the proper AC output measurements using a known good DVM meter set to the AC scale and either on 400 or 1000 volts depending on your meter's settings. Hopefully you're not using one of those defunct $3 cheapy Harbor Freight Tools meters either?
With the Genset running at normal idle what voltages are you reading at the 120VAC & the 240VAC outlets - from HOT to NEUTRAL only? Low - High - Sporadic - what? Be precise here - very important!
If you increase the Genset speed up to 1/2 Load speed what voltages are you now reading as well? Try not to run at Full Speed if indeed something had smoked inside the Control Panel such as the Control Board. Check that board out first for signs of damage. Does it look OK?
If this Genset has had HIGH HOURS of run-time on it have you check the "brushes" and/or "slip rings" on the ROTOR it as of yet? If it has brushes are they within factory spec? Are the SLIP RINGS clean and not arched and dirty looking? If the latter is found to be true then the SLIP RINGS need to be cleaned and polished bright again!! Very important!!
If the end plate (cover plate) is taken off (if you feel capable to do this yourself) is the inside fairly clean inside and around the SLIP RINGS & BRUSHES area? Do you smell any BURNT smell inside? If so then possibly either the STATOR or the ROTOR has gone bad! If not take an air hose and thoroughly blow out all the carbon dust & dirt and replace the "end plate" securely.
Unless it's a BRUSHLESS type Genset you have (which I doubt) then the problem possibly lies within the "power head".
Let me know what you find now that you know what to look for?
Based on that we can look still further is it's not covered above.
Best regards to all with the same problems, and hope I helped you out 100% - all political humor/truth aside.
Please post me a reply as to finding this solution being the best resolve to your Powermate problem there by following my recommendations above. Also please rate my troubleshooting fix as well.
Keep me posted and I'll follow up as well.
Best regards,
Frank
Hi!
We can help and hold parts for many models. :)
1st check out our testing video and see how to pinpoint and fix the problem.
https://www.generatorguru.com/help-me-fix-my-generator-repair-advice/
If you need more advice we can get you in contact with one of our Generator Engineers to guide you. We do not charge for this service and are happy to assist you throughout the repair.
https://www.generatorguru.com/need-help/
Kind regards
The Generator Guru Team
Specialist Portable Generator Engineers & Parts Worldwide
www.GeneratorGuru.com
It must be a function of excessive voltage and self-protection.
The reason why the generator output voltage is too high:
1. The speed is too high.
2. The air gap of the shunt reactor core is too large.
3. The magnetic field varistor is short-circuited; the voltage regulation is out of order.