On 3/22/19 7:30 PM, Ralph Mowery wrote:
In article , says...

Why is frequency stability important in a consumer-grade generator? It's
important for generators that connect to the grid because they have to
sync up to the grid. Most consumer grade generators are not designed to
connect to the grid so what's wrong with 60 hz plus or minus a hz or
two. An RC oscillator can do that. Nowadays most microprocessors have at
least one general-purpose integrated RC clock oscillator.

Appliances that use the 60Hz wall voltage for a timebase for anything
don't really exist anymore not even cheap digital alarm clocks.



Most home devices not counting clocks are not that frequency sensitive.
The main thing is the simple generator must run close to 3600 rpm to
generate the desired voltage which is also generated at 60 hz.
A few cycles one way or the other does not mater, but the voltage might.


I don't think most modern consumer portable generators operate that way,
the engine and drivetrain spin at whatever rpm is convenient for the
form-factor vs. output power vs. noise level requirements etc. and it's
converted to DC then chopped and converted to line frequency AC again as
in a car battery inverter-type dealie.