How Do I Know if My Generator is Overloaded?

Generators are devices that are often used in the event of an emergency. If a big storm passes through and wipes out the power to your area, having a generator ready to go will always be a relief for your family. Beyond the matter of convenience, generators can also keep your family safe from the cold of a winter power outage, and they can allow necessary medical equipment to continue running even during a power failure.

For these reasons, you never want to start up your generator only to discover that it’s not working properly! One of the most frustrating issues that can happen with a generator is a failure to produce electricity, even when the motor is running and the elements seem to be working properly.

Electromagnets, explained

Generators typically run using electromagnetism. In simple terms, an electromagnet is created when electricity is running through coils of wire. This electricity creates a temporary magnetic field, which only exists while it’s hooked up to electricity and will disappear when that power source is removed.

Electromagnets have several advantages over permanent magnets. For example, the magnetic pull strength for an electromagnet can be adjusted by changing the current. It can also be turned off by removing the current entirely 

A permanent magnet retains the same pull strength all the time. The strongest electromagnet in existence is about 20 times stronger than the strongest permanent magnet!

In a generator, the electromagnet is used to create voltage and a current that can keep your home devices running no matter what.

Why isn’t my generator producing electricity?

With a basic understanding of how electromagnets work, you have an idea of how the different parts of the generator are working together to create an electrical current. If your generator is not producing that electrical current, the electromagnetic field is not being created properly, even if the motor seems to be running as it should. It’s likely that the conductor coil is not rotating!

Your generator might be running but not producing electricity because it hasn’t been used in a long time. Like a car, generators require regular maintenance to ensure that they’re working their best. 

A generator that hasn’t been maintained in a long time might not reliably work when you and your family need it the most! Our seasoned professionals at Northside Power provide maintenance services to give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing your generator will be working when you need it. But in the meantime…

How can I fix it?

Typically, the generator failing to produce electricity is a problem that requires a little bit more technical expertise than the average person possesses.

For someone who doesn’t have that level of technical skill, trying to fix the generator yourself might be unsuccessful at best, and downright dangerous at worst. A generator has lots of moving parts that can cause injury, and an inexperienced person trying to make repairs to it might cause a fire or seriously injure themselves.

Time to call in the experts

At Northside Power, generators are not just something we do – they’re everything we do! We know that generators can be needed at the most unexpected times. That’s why we have a 24/7 hotline to provide emergency assistance to get you the answers and repairs you need as quickly as possible. 

Give us a call at 501-315-7213 and we’ll work through the problem with you, no matter the time of day or night. We pride ourselves on our fast response times and knowledgeable professionals, who will arrive ready to resolve the problem as quickly and efficiently as possible.