Installation manual
DATA
LOGGING
(TROUBLESHOOTING
AID)
Test
procedures
for
Data
Logging
with
Gasoline
Diagnostic
Software-PC
Interface
DESCRIPTION
The
Diagnostic
software
is
a valuable
tool
in diagnosing engine problems. It should
not
replace
basic trouble shooting techniques or
common
sense.
Some
of
our products such
as
the
5.0 and
6.5
SBCG,
and
8.0 through
14.0
SBEG,
along with
non-OBD
20.0
and
22.5
SBEG
do
not have
and
idle mode. That
means
'that
the
engine
must be running before the
PC
Interface
can
begin
communicating.
Models such
as
the
OBD
versions
like
the 20.0
and
22.5
SBEGA
do
have
an
idle mode
and
PC
interface can begin communications before the
engine
is
actually running.
Once
you
have
determined which type
you
have the following procedures will
help
gather
valuable
information.
Start
off
by
collecting data from the time that the
engine
is started.
If
you
have a genset that has
the idle
mode,
start the
PC
interface communicating
and
data logging before
you
start the
~ngine.
If
you
have
an
engine that does not
have
and
idle
mode,
start the
PC
Interface
as
soon
as
possible
after
the
engine
is
running.
Let the
engine
warm up
for
about 1 0
to
15
minutes before trying to
apply
an
AC
load.
Monitor and record
AC
volts and
amps
if
possible.
After the
engine
is
warmed
up, start applying an
AC
load
by
turning on various
devices.
Let the
unit run ateach load change for a couple
of
minutes
so
that the unit
is
stable. Monitor
and
record
AC
volts
and
amps
if
possible at each
load
site. Continue
to
add
AC
load until
the
unit is at or
near
full
power rating. Power is determined
by
multiplying the
AC
voltage times the
AC
amperage.
This
will determine
if
the unit
is
overloaded or not.
After
loading
up
the genset, begin
to
reduce the
AC
load.
Let the unit run at each load site for a
couple of minutes
to
stabilize. Continue
to
reduce the
AC
load
and
monitor voltage
and
amperage
until there
is
no
AC
load on
the
genset.
This
will give a technician a baselin&ofwhat
is
going
on
when the engine is running under a controlled load condition.
Finally, after running
the
controlled baseline test,
this
might sound strange, but
sometimes
the
customer
might
know a particular scenario that will
cause
a problem
for
the unit. Sometimes we
hear
customers say that the unit runs
fine
for awhile
and
when
my
air conditioner
shuts
off
something
happens. Try repeating the scenario that
the
customer mentions.
Always
start by
recordi!1g
data from the start up
for
at
least a couple of minutes with
no
load on the generator to
.
get
a starting point. Then continue
to
record data
until
the
problem
shows
up.
·If
you
have
a unit with
no
idle mode,
and
the unit
shut
down under
some
kind
of
fault,
the data
log
will automatically
stop
and save the
file.
If
you a
have
unit with
an
idle mode,
and
the unit
was
to
shut
down under some kind
of
fault,
you will
have
to manually stop the data
log
to
save
it.
Or
in
the
case
of
shutting
of
the
DC
circuit breaker,
this
will
also
cause
the data
log
to
stop
anq
save
itself.
USING
THE
DATA
All
of
the
data
that
is
being recorded is
also
being displayed on the
PC
Interface in the various
boxes.
The
following
information applies whether you
are
looking
at
the data
file
after it has
been
recorded
or
watching it live in the
PC
Interface.
The
data file
can
be
opened
in most
spreadsheet
software
such
as
Microsoft Excel.
Some
of
the
data
that
is
being collected
is
pretty much self explanatory
and
simple
to
follow.
For
example,
I
think
that
engine temp, air temp,
oil
pressure,
and
battery volts would
be
easy
to
figure
out.
Some
of the other
items
may
be less familiar.
Speed
Simple
enough,
this
is the speed that the engine
is
running.
If
the genset
is
set
up
to
operate
at
60
Hz,
then
the
engine
needs
to
run at
1800
rpm (belt driven units
may
be
different).
If
the unitis
.
setup
for
50
Hz
operation than the engine
sp~ed
will
be
1500
rpm.
~
WESTERBEKE
Engines & Generators
31