|
In
the past, much attention was given to portable generator features such
as voltage regulation, speed regulation, or maintenance free brushless
generators. A little known, but now far more important feature has
been overlooked and ignored; the quality of the generated sine-wave
(sometimes known as wave-form).
Just
what is a sine-wave? Electric current is measured in hertz, the
international unit of frequency, and it equals 60 cycles per second.
A single cycle or wave-form, is called a sine-wave and is graphically
displayed to show how clean, or distortion free, a sine-wave can be.
Telephone Influence Factor (*TIF), is another important ingredient of
the power sine-wave. Specification MG 1-22.43 allows a maximum 250
TIF for safe operation of generator electric loads. Most portable
generators will produce a sine-wave that is almost double this TIF
maximum value.
Why
is a clean sine-wave important? Most voltage sensitive loads such
as UPS systems, computers, microprocessors, and all other micro-chip
laden equipment, can withstand up to 10% harmonic sine-wave distortion
and total 250 TIF without the possibility of in-operative or damaged
equipment.
As
shown in above (3) graphs, represented from oscilloscope readings, the
utility power easily is within 10% range, as well as almost all large
1800 RPM stationary generators. Only portable, 2-pole, 3600 RPM
generators, are in question, concerning sine-wave performance, due to
it's limited space for adequate electrical steel laminations and copper
wire. A typical brush type portable generator, will produce
between 15% to 25% harmonic sine-wave distortions. Very few of
this design generator is made, as it is of old design and in-efficient
to operate.
A
typical brushless portable generator with capacitor voltage regulation
will produce from 30% to 40% harmful harmonic distortions to it's
generated sine-wave. This is the predominate generator design in
use, today.
GILLETTE
also uses the capacitor voltage regulator design. However, by
using an exclusive process of skewed laminations and aluminum damping
bars, located at strategic points, we are able to produce clean
electric power, to be below 10% harmonic distortions.
GILLETTE
easily meets this clean power requirement, allowing the smallest amount
of sine-wave distortion and TIF, than any other portable generator.
IN
TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY, WHILE OTHER PORTABLE GENERATOR MANUFACTURERS ARE
STILL TRYING TO CATCH UP, GILLETTE HOLDS IT'S LEAD BY MOVING AHEAD.
GILLETTE'S
EXCLUSIVE ROTOR DESIGN
 All
rotors are generally built in the same manner; 2 winding poles with lead
wire connections to a slip ring (brush type), or diodes (brushless
type). The rotor wires are rotated within the stator core,
producing an induced voltage within stator power windings. Problem
is, this type of power production, usually will have between 15%- 25%
harmonic distortion of voltage sine wave for a slip ring rotor, and
30%-40% for a diode type rotor. This is totally un-acceptable, for
Gillette. However, by using an exclusive process of precisely
skewed rotor laminations and strategically placed aluminum damping bars,
Gillette has been able to reproduce the voltage generated sine wave to
produce an average of only 7% harmonic distortions. To date, this
is still a Gillette exclusive feature, from it's introduction year of
1994.
GILLETTE'S
EXCLUSIVE "POWER-ASSIST" DESIGN
 Gillette
has the largest stator lamination in the world (8-3/4" diameter)
compared to other 2-pole, 3600 RPM portable gen-sets. This large
stator lamination diameter allows 27% more back-iron (the amount of
electrical grade steel that provides magnetic flux circuit path for the
copper field coils), and allows for larger wire slots (we use 35% more
circular mils of copper wire per slot, than all competitors).
These two combined features, allows the single outstanding benefit of
superior electric motor starting ability. Our claim is that of a
40% surge power, available for the 1-1½ second time period that it
takes for a single phase motor, to drop out of it's temporary high
current demand starting winding, to the low current continuous running
winding. Let's look at an example. Model GPN-105E, producing
40 continuous rated amps, will produce 56 amps surge power (40 x 1.4) WHICH
GIVES YOU THAT "POWER-ASSIST" BONUS, WHENEVER YOU NEED IT.
GILLETTE'S
EXCLUSIVE "HEAVY DUTY" DIODES
 The
most commonly replaced part on a brushless portable generator is the
diode (rectifier) circuit. These diodes convert AC to DC power for
energizing the rotor winding circuit. A typical diode rating of
1000 Volts at 12 Amps is universally used in portable generators and
they work fine when gen-set is properly used. If the gen-set is
overloaded by an oversized electric motor (and all operators eventually
do this), there is an excellent chance that the diodes will fail, due to
the tremendous voltage "spike" set up by the back EMF
(electro-motive-force), during starting or stoping of this motor
overload. We have solved these problems of diode failures by our
exclusive winding design, and our over-rating of diodes. We
install 25 Amp diodes at 3200 Volts and therefore it is virtually
impossible to destroy the diodes in a Gillette built generator.
For this reason, WE WARRANTY OUR DIODES FOR LIFE.
GILLETTE'S
EXCLUSIVE "HEAVY-DUTY" CAPACITORS
 Gillette
uses the system of CLC voltage regulation (capacitor load compensating),
which, upon charging and dis-charging of this capacitor, across the
exciter winding, will produce, plus or minus 5% voltage regulation, from
name plate rating. Due to the wear and abuse of this constant
charge-discharge function, the capacitor in all brushless generators,
have become the second most replaced part. Most generators have a
250 VAC capacitor rating. We use a 370 VAC capacitor which allows
33% more capacitor film and dielectric fluid insulator. This
heavier duty capacitor can take the abuses of it's circuitry and for
this reason, WE WARRANTY OUR CAPACITORS FOR LIFE.
GILLETTE'S
EXCLUSIVE "LOAD BALANCE" DESIGN
 Gillette
no longer will use a "Full Power" mechanical switch, for
switch selection of full wattage power on 120 VOLTS and 240 VOLTS, due
to the eventual failures of these switches and the constant confusion on
how to correctly operate this switch. More slot area in the stator
winding slots, to increase the amount of copper wire (as shown in
"POWER-ASSIST" explanation), has been proven to be the better
solution. Our 120/240 Volt generators are of the 3-wire circuit,
which gives full power on 240 volts, but only 1/2 wattage rating on each
of the two 120 volt circuits. If user connects all loads onto just
one side of 120 volt output, and nothing or very little load on
remaining 120 volt circuit, the generator load will be out of balance
across the 2-pole winding and will badly vibrate and chatter. This
is typical on all other 3 wire generators. The Gillette stator winding
is wound in parallel so that any load applied to either 120 volt
circuit, is equally shared across both windings of the 2 pole design.
This "shared" winding stops all un-balanced load problems, and
the increased circular mils of copper wire, safely takes care of
75% of full 120 volt load on both circuits. As an
extra-precaution, Gillette precision balances the rotating rotor.
These rotors, revolving at 3600 RPM (Revolutions Per Minute), must be
precisely balanced to within 4 grams for smoother operation and longer
service life. THESE TWO FEATURES COUPLED
WITH SMOOTH RUNNING OHV ENGINES, GIVE YOU VIBRATION FREE VALUE BEYOND
ALL OTHERS.
GILLETTE'S
EXCLUSIVE "INSULATION" DESIGN
 All
electrical windings will depend on the design of it's insulation system,
to determine it's normal service life, before failure happens.
Most windings will have a Class F, 150°C insulation system.
Gillette installs a Class H, 180°C to 200°C insulation system, in each
Gillette winding. All slot insulations are Class H, 180°C and all
copper wire is double enamel coated at Class H, 200°C. The final
copper winding is emerged into a 100% resin, 200°C insulating varnish,
(no diluting thinners used) and cured for 5 hours at 350°F. THIS
WINDING SYSTEM ASSURES YOU OF A LONGER LASTING WINDING, IN ANY
ENVIRONMENT.
|
