Generator usage and cleaning up the sign wave

[captainsmitty]

Ahoy there one and all.
I have recently had a power outage and I have a generator that I use in these occasions.
One of the issues that I have encountered is that the electricity produced by the generator is not (for lack of a better term) is not clean. It has spikes and I'm sure valleys in it's production of 120 volts. I think the term is "sign waves".
My question to the forum is; are there ways to help this voltage output to be "cleaner" more uniform with the usage of some kind of equipment that can be (in a moderate price range) added to the tap strip that I plug my equipment into ( Apex, Power heads, pumps)?
There was a surge in the line that blew out one of my power bricks for my Vectra S2 pump.I have tried several different "surge protector power strips. But really haven't found one that really works.
The other aspect of this is that I don't want the power strip to "pop" off. I am looking more for something that can be put inline to reduce the "surges" and have an output of a "clean supply of 120 volts.
I have not searched the forum to see if there are related discussions. If there are I would appreciate a point in that direction.
Thank you up front for any input that you can help me with.

 

[Reefering1]

Sounds like what you really want is a "inverter generator"...

 

[Linlox]

When on the generator I only run necessities for the tank becaue of this. An inverter generator would be better but I dont have one either cause a 50 amp 12kw inverter generator would be $$$$ (I run my well pump and other 240V items with it)

I have a Panamax MR4300 on my A/V equipment and it has never let me down (had it 10 years now), will shut everything down if the voltage drops or spikes. Might work on a tank.

 

[geologeek]

Could you not add a pure sine wave inverter to your generator? Convert the "dirty" AC to DC then back to a clean sine wave AC that would closely match your home AC power.......

A modified sine wave inverter would be cheaper but not as clean as a pure sine wave inverter.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I have a question out of total ignorance….are you trying to clean up the signal when it doesn’t have to be clean? That is, it doesn’t matter. The reason I say this is that I have a dirty generator and was told at the time it was going to be a problem. I assume it’s a dirty generator in that I only paid $299 for it.

Anyway, when Sandy hit New Jersey I ran this generator 24/7 for a little over a week. It ran my entire tank, my kitchen refrigerator/freezer, boiler for heating the house, flat screen TV and a couple lights. I never noticed anything, as far as equipment being damaged from dirty sine wave voltage. Was I just lucky or is it that it’s not important? Again, I ask this because I don’t know what I’m talking about.

 

[VintageReefer]

I have a question out of total ignorance….are you trying to clean up the signal when it doesn’t have to be clean? That is, it doesn’t matter. The reason I say this is that I have a dirty generator and was told at the time it was going to be a problem. I assume it’s a dirty generator in that I only paid $299 for it.

Anyway, when Sandy hit New Jersey I ran this generator 24/7 for a little over a week. It ran my entire tank, my kitchen refrigerator/freezer, boiler for heating the house, flat screen TV and a couple lights. I never noticed anything, as far as equipment being damaged from dirty sine wave voltage. Was I just lucky or is it that it’s not important? Again, I ask this because I don’t know what I’m talking about.

I have the same black max generator and never caused an issue

 

[Reefering1]

In my experience, a conventional generator can work fine. I've ran on one for 2 weeks and 1 week another time. A mis tuned engine can cause rpm fluctuations, varying the hz which can damage brushless motors/ electronics. I lost a ceiling fan and a gyre pump(started buzzing and never worked again). Granted I was being greedy and running the central air/ fridge/ tank/ lights/ everything except oven and water heater(CAT rp5500), once I got the speed tuned right it hasn't been a issue. This is not a possibility with inverter generator, otherwise there is some risk. But if your not running it that hard, speed should be consistent. Lights will have a flicker to them but should be fine.
Interesting note..
A ups unit will not switch over for hz. My tank is on a $700 APC ups, and when it got up to 69hz- apc didn't switch to battery and damage occurred to 1 of 8 pumps. If you can keep it between ~ 58-63hz, full load vs. No load, everything will be fine.

 

[Reefering1]

 

[Subsea]

In my experience, a conventional generator can work fine. I've ran on one for 2 weeks and 1 week another time. A mis tuned engine can cause rpm fluctuations, varying the hz which can damage brushless motors/ electronics. I lost a ceiling fan and a gyre pump(started buzzing and never worked again). Granted I was being greedy and running the central air/ fridge/ tank/ lights/ everything except oven and water heater(CAT rp5500), once I got the speed tuned right it hasn't been a issue. This is not a possibility with inverter generator, otherwise there is some risk. But if your not running it that hard, speed should be consistent. Lights will have a flicker to them but should be fine.
Interesting note..
A ups unit will not switch over for hz. My tank is on a $700 APC ups, and when it got up to 69hz- apc didn't switch to battery and damage occurred to 1 of 8 pumps. If you can keep it between ~ 58-63hz, full load vs. No load, everything will be fine.

In deepwater drilling, the the heart of the blowout preventer control system: computers & fiber optics have no switching device in the UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) system.

Full bridge rectifiers charge 120VDC battery bank that uses inverters to supply 120VAC at 60Htz.

Monthly maintenance involved turning off AC supply to battery charger. We recorded battery drawdown during 4 hr period. There were no switching devices, only battery drawdown, which started at 138VDC. Frequency control was excellent considering the large power surges on dynamic positioned drill ships. The same power surges created magnetic interference which was a major influence to use fiber optics with multiplexing tecnology.