On Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:07:48 -0800, JIMMIE wrote:

On Dec 19, 6:25*pm, ransley wrote:
On Dec 19, 2:35*pm, Jim Elbrecht wrote:



Most folks I know who have emergency generators run them once a month
or so.

I just got one [lost power for a week last week] and note that the
manual says once a *week*. *[Briggs and Stratton 5500 watt Storm
Responder]

That seems like a CYA suggestion. * *I run Stabil in my gas and will
probably go for once a month under load. * *What is a good load? * An
electric space heater that draws a constant 1500watts or so? * *Power
tools that draw a surge? * *

I'm also going to build a little shed/doghouse for this thing. * *Has
anyone seem some good ideas for a 4x5 structure that blends into the
landscape? *[I've been thinking of a scaled down chalet- a gingerbread
house- or a fake boulder as possibilities.]

Thanks
Jim

A load has to be put on the generator for a few minutes every 6
months, even just 100 w to keep the generator magnitised

I have never heard of having to magnetize a generator before except
for old automotive generators. Where can you find info on doing this.
This was called polarizing them. On the auto generators I think just
flashed the field by momentarily
connecting a wire from the battery to the field terminal on the
regulator.

Jimmie

Extended times of not being run can have the effect of the pole shoes that
the fields are wrapped to loose residual magnetism resulting in the fields
requiring being flashed with a battery to restore this magnetic field to
start the generation process.

http://s370.photobucket.com/albums/o...FieldFlash.jpg