I got a serious problem......

Mike T., Swampeast MO

I believe that some are much better than others at providing "non-spikey" A/C waves at well-controlled voltage levels.

I've heard here that some Tekmars seem especially sensitive to power problems and sometimes experience strange grounding problems that require "non-traditional" grounding. NONE of this however is particularly uncommon with OTHER sensitive electronic components.

It's really hard to fault Tekmar in this situation as the unit likely performed to specification. BY NO MEANS do fuses provide protection beyond excessive amperage over relatively long periods of time. You might want to consult the manufacturer of your generator to determine requirements for sensitive electronics.

There may also be a problem when switching from utility to backup power. I believe switching spikes, strange ground loops and "neutral problems" are quite frequent and can be VERY difficult to troubleshoot.

jay arnold

generator voltage spike

Any help would be appreciated. About 3 months ago I finished building my own home. Full radiant heating with tekmar controls, Budaris boiler and Budaris indirect and a riello burner. Life was good, heat was fantastic and my oil bills have been a pleasure to pay.

And then...I had to push the envelope and add one more little feature; a 5000 KW portable Kawasaki generator. I thought no problem, the generator has a built in voltage regulator, the panel has circuits as an added source of voltage protection and finally my Tekmar has a built in fuse...WRONG. I fried the Tekmar 363, it just cost me $530.00.

And now after replacing my 363 - I still have not got the new control to work. I am assuming it's a programing issue that will most likely be resolved and I will get my money back from Tekmar even if this goes to small claims court. My argument is the fuse in their board didn't blow, instead the voltage blew the board. They refused to replace the board.

The question for anyone who can help is; what can I install from the incoming line of the generator to protect the electronics that control the boiler?

Dave_22

I would use a good surge supressor. A fuse really does nothing against a voltage spike.

Joe_13

Check your Curcuit panel manufacturer

Most offer surge protector breakers or surge units for the whole panel. Don't waste your time with Tekmar. A fuse will not blow if there's no short or the board is within it's amperage pull. The spike in voltage fries electronics.

John@Reliable_3

Got to blame someone!

Not trying to sound like a jerk, but don’t you think it would be wise and cheaper to get professional help, like an electrician or generator service company? I bet it will cost less than the control, never mine what your insurance company will ask after a big crisis!John@Reliable

jay arnold

i hire lots of "professionals", most are clueless. in fact, two licensed electricians installed the generator. and like i said in my earlier post my Tekmar board is still not working. i have had two engineers, one 23 year veteran of boiler work and two licensed electricians attempt to repair. that's why i designed, contracted and completed in 5 months a very complicated and well built house.

this board is filled with very knowledgeable contractors, but that is not typical of the contractor group as a whole...

Dave_22

Here's the thing. Electronics and residential electricity are 2 different things. Some electricians are clueless when it comes to electronics. Not their fault, just some don't ever need to know that stuff. A good surge suppressor usually comes with a guarantee that they will replace whatever blows when it is connected to their product. If your Tekmar was hooked to a surge supressor- they would have probably replaced it for free.

tim from Reed Wright

voltage spike

I'm with the guys at the bottom of the list, a current limiting fuse will not protect against voltage spikes, when the voltage is higher the current is lower. Put in a surge protector to your electronics and that will give you the added protection. Tekmar never said in the literature that they included a surge protector, so they are not at fault.

BillW@honeywell

I've been recommending these for years...

and no, we don't make them! All you folks out there with the sophisticated control systems on your HVAC system, be it wet or scorched, please consider installing a whole house surge supressor, because surges happen all the time, and can fry fan boards, boiler controls, air cleaner boards and other components. Fuses protect from overloads and short circuits, not surges. Cutler Hammer & Square D make these components, and they are installed on your service panel by a licensed electrician. They protect every circuit in your house from any surges from many sources including utility power buying, distant lightning, load switching, and generators. Everything in the house is in danger from these surges, not only your HVAC system. Your computer, big screen TV, kitchen appliances, stereo! Those power strip protectors are better than nothing, but still inadequate. Good luck!

jay arnold

Good points, and to your point I installed a whole house surge protector. But it does not help with the generator issue. I guess I need another surge protector on the line coming from the generator. But, I was under the impression that it only helps if you get a huge surge, ie lightning strike, etc., the surge that fried my electronics came from a small generator. Probably 135-150 volts. Will an inline surge protector help? Also, do they make conditioners that will smooth out voltage and protect from high surges?

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Generator Mfgr.

Might be the best place to start. "Line conditioners" are frequently used with computer equipment, but I believe they are used most with utility power. IF the problem is coming from the waveform or other characteristic of the generator supply whoever made it should be able to tell you the most appropriate equipment to use "downstream".

Dave_22

A lot of the good surge supressors have built in conditioners. They are usually listed in their spec's and provide decent protection against spikes and sags. Knowing this, I should probably use 1 myself!!!!!

Steamhead

I have a suppressor on my panel

and an uninterrupted power supply for my computer, and small surge suppressors on the rest of my electronic gear. The panel suppressor handles the big problems and the smaller units do the rest. Never had a problem.

In your case, a suppressor on the feed from the generator should be a good idea.

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