parallell connection of generators

Submitted: Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 16:52
ThreadID: 83695 Views:4914 Replies:3 FollowUps:4
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Honda (and I assume others) sell a parallell connection cable for the joining of 2 generators....where the combined kva of both is required.

In the knowledge that A/C in carvans struggle using the Honda EU20i in ambient above ~36 deg..............

Can you parallel connect say a Honda EU20i + the EU10i.....or do they both need to be of the same kva?

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Reply By: tonysmc - Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 17:01

Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 17:01
They have to be the same kva. EU20i with EU201 or a EU10i with EU10i.

Cheers Tony.
AnswerID: 442039

Follow Up By: RedJK - Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 22:42

Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 22:42
Thats right Tony.
They also have to have the "Honda receptacle box and cables" for parrallel operation.

Not sure what these other blokes are on about with their tales of large diesel engine gen sets going bang though.
I used to work in a diesel power station too & thats got nothing to do with small modern Hondas with electronic synchronising and control.
Stop big noting yourselves & give relevant info fellas.
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Follow Up By: Dennis Ellery - Monday, Jan 17, 2011 at 10:23

Monday, Jan 17, 2011 at 10:23
I agree - you can’t compare paralleling large non inverter type gensets - with the portable inverter type. I seen the big ones synchronized but not the portables. If it’s a quality unit like a Honda or Yamaha and you follow their specifications - I’m sure you won’t problem.
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Reply By: Member - Fred B (NT) - Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 17:28

Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 17:28
Gooday,
there is EXTREME danger in parallelling generators of different types. I have seen large diesel gensets torn off their mountings because the operator failed to parallell correctly. As mentioned above... only gensets of the same type, size etc can be connected in parallell ..... PROVIDING THEY ARE DESIGNED for that purpose/function.
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AnswerID: 442040

Follow Up By: Bushranger1 - Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 21:42

Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 21:42
Yep this sounds correct.

I asked our electronics guy at work about this some time ago. Apparantly the hertz (cycles) have to be perfectly syncronised or one of the generators will self destruct. It appears that you have to do this with some clever electronics in order to prevent a serious failure.

I am by no means an expert on this but thought I would let you know what our expert said to me when I asked him.

Cheers
Stu
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FollowupID: 714162

Follow Up By: Racey - Tuesday, Jan 18, 2011 at 09:28

Tuesday, Jan 18, 2011 at 09:28
Different sizes can be parallel. If you consider our national power grid every power station has different size alternators and they are all syncronised. As Stu mentioned the frequency must be the same and the peaks of the wave MUST be occurring at the same time, I.E. synchronised. Long be for the sophisticated electronics this was achieved with 2 lamps and 2 volt meters. When the brightness of the lamps and the volt were correct the switch could be closed with out risk of damaged. The maximum damage as descibed by Fred happens when they are 180 degrees out of phase or sync; a bit like connecting 2 batteries reverse polarity, something has to give.

Cheers

Racey
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Reply By: Member - Boobook - Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 21:25

Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 21:25
BANG
AnswerID: 442053

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