Petter AC1 powered generator
Page 1 of 1
Petter AC1 powered generator
I've just bought a Petter AC1 diesel powered generator which runs, but the alternator doesn't work. It has no data plate, though there is serial number 735422/21 stamped into the body, so I was keen to identify the make.
Theres a video on YouTube (search for MrGig2010) though there are a few errors on the narration.
Roland Hayes on Smokstak identified it as a Swan alternator and he sent me a photo of a unit he owned at one time which looks identical, so we assume mine is 2.5 kW. It has 4 slip rings on the rotor for the two 110v windings. I do have continuity between rings 1 to 3 and 2 to 4.
There are two sets of 4 brushes – both more or less radial. I don’t know if that makes it more likely to be bi-directional ?
There is a bridge rectifier made from 4 diodes by the brush gear, and a pair of rheostats to balance winding resistances I imagine.
The control box contains a choke/transformer and a pair of 11uF caps in parallel. The cables from the slip rings and stator all run through the choke. The big switch obviously swaps the two 110V windings between parallel for 110V and series for 220 V.
Theres also short video of the little beastie running on YouTube. The AC1 runs well, though takes a bit of starting on a cold day. Better now that I’ve un-seized the priming pin.
I found an interesting air filter arrangement, as well as a manky standard paper filter, there was some bits of newspaper, cloth and some tiny dried berries. I reckon a field mouse had been living in there !
I got the alternator off the engine spike using a drift down the bore of the rotor and using the internal thread of the rotor to jack off it the spike. This seems to be a common mounting arrangement where the hollow rotor has an internal thread at the non-engine end. The engine shaft has a threaded bore which, with a long bolt, is used to bolt the alternator drive to the engine.
At present I’ve stripped the alternator down to its major parts and am drawing up a circuit diagram so that I can understand how it works.
I haven’t found anything wrong yet, but I have been advised to replace the 11 uF capacitors.
No doubt it'll need re-polarising too once reassembled, though I’m not sure how to do that.
You’ll find pictures in my Gallery.
----------------------------------
You folks may be interested to see the Gleniffer boat engine I referred to in the new members section.
Gleniffer were based on the Clyde, and made diesels for larger ships in the early 20th century. Ours is a 1936 DB2 - the DB series being the smallest they made – designed for ships lifeboats. Our two pot has 6” bore and stroke, and weighs in a 25 cwt. The flywheel alone is 5 cwt.
It has opposed valves in the heads, one in a removable cage so that the valves can be serviced without removing the heads.
Originally air start, we still have all the kit, though the reservoir is getting on in age, and considering it used to be under the main bed, we have taken it out of commission.
Theres a short video of it running after a rebuild on YouTube, though we have more work to do.
-------------------------------------
Apologies but I can't post external links yet, I will edit this when I can do so.
Theres a video on YouTube (search for MrGig2010) though there are a few errors on the narration.
Roland Hayes on Smokstak identified it as a Swan alternator and he sent me a photo of a unit he owned at one time which looks identical, so we assume mine is 2.5 kW. It has 4 slip rings on the rotor for the two 110v windings. I do have continuity between rings 1 to 3 and 2 to 4.
There are two sets of 4 brushes – both more or less radial. I don’t know if that makes it more likely to be bi-directional ?
There is a bridge rectifier made from 4 diodes by the brush gear, and a pair of rheostats to balance winding resistances I imagine.
The control box contains a choke/transformer and a pair of 11uF caps in parallel. The cables from the slip rings and stator all run through the choke. The big switch obviously swaps the two 110V windings between parallel for 110V and series for 220 V.
Theres also short video of the little beastie running on YouTube. The AC1 runs well, though takes a bit of starting on a cold day. Better now that I’ve un-seized the priming pin.
I found an interesting air filter arrangement, as well as a manky standard paper filter, there was some bits of newspaper, cloth and some tiny dried berries. I reckon a field mouse had been living in there !
I got the alternator off the engine spike using a drift down the bore of the rotor and using the internal thread of the rotor to jack off it the spike. This seems to be a common mounting arrangement where the hollow rotor has an internal thread at the non-engine end. The engine shaft has a threaded bore which, with a long bolt, is used to bolt the alternator drive to the engine.
At present I’ve stripped the alternator down to its major parts and am drawing up a circuit diagram so that I can understand how it works.
I haven’t found anything wrong yet, but I have been advised to replace the 11 uF capacitors.
No doubt it'll need re-polarising too once reassembled, though I’m not sure how to do that.
You’ll find pictures in my Gallery.
----------------------------------
You folks may be interested to see the Gleniffer boat engine I referred to in the new members section.
Gleniffer were based on the Clyde, and made diesels for larger ships in the early 20th century. Ours is a 1936 DB2 - the DB series being the smallest they made – designed for ships lifeboats. Our two pot has 6” bore and stroke, and weighs in a 25 cwt. The flywheel alone is 5 cwt.
It has opposed valves in the heads, one in a removable cage so that the valves can be serviced without removing the heads.
Originally air start, we still have all the kit, though the reservoir is getting on in age, and considering it used to be under the main bed, we have taken it out of commission.
Theres a short video of it running after a rebuild on YouTube, though we have more work to do.
-------------------------------------
Apologies but I can't post external links yet, I will edit this when I can do so.
woody- A true Stationary engine owner
- Posts : 101
Join date : 2013-04-12
Age : 68
Location : N Home Counties
Re: Petter AC1 powered generator
I've posted up some of your video links to make it a bit easier for others to see.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFOXpvvgxpk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeKS8QxIGVw&feature=player_embedded
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=MrGig2010&page=4
Stu.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFOXpvvgxpk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeKS8QxIGVw&feature=player_embedded
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=MrGig2010&page=4
Stu.
Guest- Guest
Re: Petter AC1 powered generator
Thanks for that Stu.
woody- A true Stationary engine owner
- Posts : 101
Join date : 2013-04-12
Age : 68
Location : N Home Counties
Similar topics
» Villiers 25HS powered generator
» ace winch villiers 25hs powered ****HELP ME WITH YEAR PLEASE ****
» Lister powered WVO waste vegetable oil processor
» Villiers C12 powered pump
» alcon pump set..jap engine powered.
» ace winch villiers 25hs powered ****HELP ME WITH YEAR PLEASE ****
» Lister powered WVO waste vegetable oil processor
» Villiers C12 powered pump
» alcon pump set..jap engine powered.
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum