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Mep005a code light?

Jasone

New member
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Location
Columbia illinois
Hi guys I just got my mep005a running and the short circuit and overload light is on…. When I press the reset toggle it is still on…. My unit has been converted to single phase…. My percent rated current goes up to near 100 when running and the volts maybe goes up to 5 or so.. nothing on the hertz. Is there anyone out there that will point me in the right direction with these code lights on or do I need to learn how to read the manuals for trouble shooting. Thanks Jason
 

Dieselmeister

Well-known member
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Some questions to help us understand the problem better.

Did the unit ever run correctly before the single phase conversion?
Did it ever run correctly after the conversion?
Is the engine laboring, like it's under full load?
Does the current go up immediately, or only when the contactor is closed?

There is a real risk that something got shorted out in the wiring during the conversion.

Use the diagrams in the back of the manual. Check all the wiring for potential "wired shorts". The fact you are getting 100% current and only 5 volts could be a serious, bolted fault, which could let the smoke out of the genrator.
 

Jasone

New member
8
3
3
Location
Columbia illinois
Some questions to help us understand the problem better.

Did the unit ever run correctly before the single phase conversion?
Did it ever run correctly after the conversion?
Is the engine laboring, like it's under full load?
Does the current go up immediately, or only when the contactor is closed?

There is a real risk that something got shorted out in the wiring during the conversion.

Use the diagrams in the back of the manual. Check all the wiring for potential "wired shorts". The fact you are getting 100% current and only 5 volts could be a serious, bolted fault, which could let the smoke out of the genrator.
I don’t know if it ran correctly because I bought it not running and no history..
I was told the previous owner did the conversion and I just went through the single phase conversion wiring to see if it was done correctly. And it is done right…
The engine does not labor at all….
The current does goes up right away.
It does not matter what I do with the circuit breaker toggle… the current stays the same
 

Guyfang

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Start the gen set. Is there any voltage at the 120 volt outlets? If you have no voltage there, then the gen set is not making voltage. There should always be voltage there.
 

Jasone

New member
8
3
3
Location
Columbia illinois
Start the gen set. Is there any voltage at the 120 volt outlets? If you have no voltage there, then the gen set is not making voltage. There should always be voltage there.
Are you saying the 110 outlet will make power even if there is the short circuit and overload light on?
 

Jasone

New member
8
3
3
Location
Columbia illinois
Are you saying the 110 outlet will make power even if there is the short circuit and overload light on?
Well It might be done for…. As I was testing the 120 outlet I flipped the circuit breaker close toggle and smoke started coming out of the front of the gen…. Smelled burnt and full of bad news
 

Guyfang

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Staff member
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Well, it could have been a bad fault indicator, that's one possibility. But since you saw/smelled smoke, that's not it. For that matter, could have been a number of things. So lets see what we can see. Where did the smoke/burning smell come from? Main Gen, or maybe the static exciter? Find what smoked, then take a picture of it, and post here. Down load all the TM's. You will need them to troubleshoot.
 

Jasone

New member
8
3
3
Location
Columbia illinois
Well, it could have been a bad fault indicator, that's one possibility. But since you saw/smelled smoke, that's not it. For that matter, could have been a number of things. So lets see what we can see. Where did the smoke/burning smell come from? Main Gen, or maybe the static exciter? Find what smoked, then take a picture of it, and post here. Down load all the TM's. You will need them to troubleshoot.
It comes from the front of the main generator
 

Attachments

rickf

Well-known member
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That is where the magic smoke used to live. I am not an expert on these but that is not deep enough to be into the windings and I see a diode so there may still be hope.
 

2Pbfeet

Well-known member
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Location
Mt. Hamilton, CA
@Jasone The lacing on one of the stator(?) windings looks like it has either been nibbled on or burned off in photo #1. It is hard to tell from the resolution of the photograph, but the varnish also looks a bit off. I could easily be wrong.

I hope that all the magic smoke didn't get out.

All the best,

2Pbfeet
 

rickf

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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That looks very much like the main gen winding's.
Have you downloaded the TM's?
Are you able to use a multi meter?
Better pictures would shed more light on the damage.
Goes to show how much I know about generators!!! That would have to be a serious short somewhere wouldn't it? Like obvious type short.
 
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