Lister generator

[Fintray]

I have a scanned copy of the Lister AC electric generating plant that lists several AVR's that were used, drop me a PM and I'll email you a copy.

[Oldgreybeard]

I have a scanned copy of the Lister AC electric generating plant that lists several AVR's that were used, drop me a PM and I'll email you a copy.

I'm near 100% certain that these older SR1/Brush gensets never had an AVR, I don't think that AVRs really existed back when these were made in the 1960's (could be wrong).

The one I had (made in around 1968 I think) didn't have any sort of electronics at all, and at the time I bought it all the others in the same salvage place (Macsalvors, Camborne, early 1980s) looked the same (they were all ex-MOD). The voltage/frequency regulation was a two stage affair, first the governor link to the pump rack was set so the engine ran at the right RPM (from memory I think this was 1500 rpm, may have been 1800 rpm). The output voltage was then fine tuned at full load (I think this was around 3kVA, may have been 3.5kVA) by adjusting a shunt resistor that was wired across the selenium rectifier AC terminals. This shunt resistor was a wire wound affair, with a clamp ring around it to adjust the resistance. The selenium rectifier failed on mine, giving a very low output voltage, so I replaced it with a silicon diode bridge rectifier, sold as a replacement kit specifically for these gensets at the time.

[Fintray]

I have a scanned copy of the Lister AC electric generating plant that lists several AVR's that were used, drop me a PM and I'll email you a copy.

I'm near 100% certain that these older SR1/Brush gensets never had an AVR, I don't think that AVRs really existed back when these were made in the 1960's (could be wrong).

The one I had (made in around 1968 I think) didn't have any sort of electronics at all, and at the time I bought it all the others in the same salvage place (Macsalvors, Camborne, early 1980s) looked the same (they were all ex-MOD). The voltage/frequency regulation was a two stage affair, first the governor link to the pump rack was set so the engine ran at the right RPM (from memory I think this was 1500 rpm, may have been 1800 rpm). The output voltage was then fine tuned at full load (I think this was around 3kVA, may have been 3.5kVA) by adjusting a shunt resistor that was wired across the selenium rectifier AC terminals. This shunt resistor was a wire wound affair, with a clamp ring around it to adjust the resistance. The selenium rectifier failed on mine, giving a very low output voltage, so I replaced it with a silicon diode bridge rectifier, sold as a replacement kit specifically for these gensets at the time.

My document might be a bit too "modern"; I have one for SL generating sets dated 1964 which says it has a "Manual voltage regulator - A variable resistance mounted in the wall mounted cubicle which controls the alternator output voltage", which might be more relevant?

[marshman]

Have tried over on the Lister forum??

A couple of threads on there may give some pointers:

https://listerengine.com/smf/index.php?topic=6220.0

https://listerengine.com/smf/index.php? ... 10.0;nowap

[Oldgreybeard]

My document might be a bit too "modern"; I have one for SL generating sets dated 1964 which says it has a "Manual voltage regulator - A variable resistance mounted in the wall mounted cubicle which controls the alternator output voltage", which might be more relevant?

That's the method my old Lister used, although the resistor was inside the box on the genset itself, next to the selenium rectifier.

From what I remember, the AC output winding was connected through the selenium bridge rectifier, which had the variable shunt resistor across it. The rough "DC" then went to energise the field windings. I may try and draw up what I think the wiring looked like, although it will be from memory, so may not be 100% correct.

Edited to add:

This is what I think the basic wiring looks like (from memory - may not be absolutely spot on). The AC output current flows through the resistor and produces a voltage to power the field windings via the selenium rectifier. Adjusting the resistor adjusts the relationship between the current being drawn from the generator and the power applied to the field windings, which is the only sort of voltage regulation these things have. Very crude, but it is pretty reliable.

Genset wiring.JPG (31.07 KiB) Viewed 6753 times

[Marcus]

Post from. “ Mr Marcus “

“I'm confused - how does charging a battery keep the generator voltage above 220v?”


It does not keep the generator voltage above 220v.


But as “ Mr Openspacemann “ said.

“Why not run the generator into a charger and feed the battery directly when the washing machine is running? “

Mr “ Deanforest “

Said. “ Washing machine runs fine on battery/inverter at 230 volts which is what I have set the inverter to. “

If the generator cant be fixed. The washing can be done by charging the battery with the generator running a battery charger.

Oops!

Fair enough. I somehow missed the bit about OP having battey and inverter - was thinking they had to run off the gemny. That's what i get for reading/posting when I'm tired .

[openspaceman]

Ken Boak/ power cubes used to run his lister and export the power to the house, he had underground insulted pipe work and connected the generator water tank to his central heating system.

Great days of watching that happen.

That's a name from my past, I delivered him some waste chip oil for that genset years ago. It was while we were developing a system to run a Rover ls60 off a charcoal kiln. I'm glad I wasn't his neighbour.

At that period we installed a Petter 10kVA genset at a remote schoolroom, unfortunately it was specified by a committee so never got to full potential but we did get some heat into the building from the marinised exhaust and coolant.

Now with solar PV and battery we could do so much better with a little DC generator just running a couple of hours a day.

I still intend to try this but am currently stalled until my granddaughter's boyfriend and a couple of mates can haul my additional panels onto the frame I have built on the roof for them.

[Oldgreybeard]

I still have a Rover 1S60 fitted to a water pump! Haven't fired it up in years, but I remember last time I did it knackered the two of us winding the starting handles. IIRC it needs to be spun up to something like 20,000rpm to start, might be fine for a couple of fit fire service bods, but damned hard work. The exhaust was just at the right height to scorch your legs, too, unless you had the pump going and the little cooling water jets spraying around the exhaust to cool it down.

[openspaceman]

Our two were 400Hz APUs and when we liquidated the company one of our sub contractors had them. Shame really as they were fun things but no real practical use for me.

[Oldgreybeard]

Our two were 400Hz APUs and when we liquidated the company one of our sub contractors had them. Shame really as they were fun things but no real practical use for me.

Much the same here, I've no real use for the thing, it's been stored in a barn with a load of other "may come in handy" stuff. I picked the Rover gas turbine up from the same surplus place I bought the Lister from, it's an ex-MOD "portable" fire fighting pump.