I think I ruined my coleman pulse 1850 generator. I was using a skill saw with it and I suppose I overloaded it. Now when the generator is started with no load on it there is very little voltage output (maybe 3 or 4 volts). When I put a heavy motor load on it (power tool or shop vac) the voltage slowly rises to about 90 to 100 volts and the tool will run though not well. Although I admitedly know little it has occured to me that these loads need to invlove motors to get the geny to start producing voltage so I am wondering if this indicates a capacitor issue. Anyways the geny runs great and I hope to get it up again so any sugestions would be welcome.
Thanks

I would lean in the direction of the capacitor,I would need the coleman model number of the unit off of the genset or frame tag to tell you for sure.They use capacitors and also electronic control boxes in their units.The number should start with the letter p.

I would lean in the direction of the capacitor,I would need the coleman model number of the unit off of the genset or frame tag to tell you for sure.They use capacitors and also electronic control boxes in their units.The number should start with the letter p.

Hey thanks for your help, the model number is PC0401855, thanks again for any help.

I just helped a buddy of mine with his big generator after i rebuilt the engine and put it all back together the generator would only put out about 4 to 5 volts replaced the capacitor and it works like a dream now.

thanks, I am going to try a new capacitor, but the one I pulled out of the generator is a 7.5UF, and so far all I have been able to find online is a 7.5MF, should I try that one?
thanks again

Heres the coleman part # and a link to purchase it 0047806
http://www.jackssmallengines.com/searchresults.cfm?cx=008737122150761418589%3Ac24nn qwh7co&cof=FORID%3A11&q=0047806&sa.x=0&sa.y=0#683

Is there a way to test the capicator????

Yes...BUT it will cost you more for the meter then the capacitor

what type of meter are talking about??

what type of meter are talking about??
An ohm meter.

A capacitor is just two closely spaced parallel conductive plates with an insulator between them.
When a potential is applied charge flows up to the plate but can’t bridge the gap. A like charge is repelled from the other side. Until the plate is full of charge it acts like a conductor.

With a 7.5 micro farad capacitor when you put the ohm meter on the terminals it should briefly show resistance and then indicate open. If it is a polarized capacitor put the red lead on +.

An ohm meter.

A capacitor is just two closely spaced parallel conductive plates with an insulator between them.
When a potential is applied charge flows up to the plate but can’t bridge the gap. A like charge is repelled from the other side. Until the plate is full of charge it acts like a conductor.

With a 7.5 micro farad capacitor when you put the ohm meter on the terminals it should briefly show resistance and then indicate open. If it is a polarized capacitor put the red lead on +.


What you say is true, BUT... you could have a 80% bad area in it and not be able to tell. this test only works on low voltage and small to med size caps.
you could need a capacitor meter to measure how much "uf" are in it.

think of it like a car battery. you could have a bad battery but the head lights will go on but not enough power to turn over the engine.
you could have 12 volts and not many amps. same here

If a 7.5 uF cap reads anything but open after several seconds you can pretty much declare it bad.

Another way to test it is with a ESR meter.