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Hobart welder/generator question

S

S.Crum

Well-known Member
Hi Folks, Have a question. I have a 1974 Hobart G-3010 300 amp engine drive welder/alternator (generator). the alternator is a separate 10 KW unit at the rear of the welder generator. Yes industrial heavy duty. Anyhow I just spent most of the morning taking out the alternator brushes for a good cleaning and inspection, I also cleaned and polished the slip rings with crocus cloth. After standing on my head and finangling for several hours everything is back together with no extra parts even. Now considering this is NOT a real fun job I want to repeat with frequency, I recall an old timer saying that the brushes and commutator (slip rings in this case) in a generator should be sprayed with WD-40 after use if the unit will be sitting un-used for any length of time. It makes sense but are there any pitfalls? Would I need to clean off the WD-40 before the next use? I know some electrical contacts like this are not real fond of oily substances in the contact area. Opinions?
Yup getting ready for the wrath of Sandy!
 
Carbon rubbing against copper (or silver or whatever is used) makes a pretty good low resistance electrical contact, I dont think I would like WD 40 to come between or interfere with or add resistance, or even conductivity where it may NOT be wanted.

HOWEVER (1) There is something to be said to reducing the coppers (or silver or whatever material is used) reaction with oxygen (oxidation) which some sort of temporary surface coating could reduce and THEN REMOVE IT PRIOR TO USE but

HOWEVER (2) As soon as the genny spins, the carbon brushes should quickly polish off any oxidation that may have occurred during periods of setting !!!

SO I DONT THINK I WOULD USE WD 40, maybe some sort of electrical contact cleaner if and when necessary

NO WARRANTY chemistry and material science arent my cup o tea. Hey WD 40 can provide a coating which reduces oxidation and it has cleaning properties, but I just dont like the sound of what that old timer said fer some reason ..............

Ol John T and all
 
I thought WD-40 was non-conductive as we used to spray it into distributors when we thought there was enough moisture in there to prevent the engine from starting. WD-40 does leave a film, some people I know feel that film attracts dust and dirt don't think I'd want that in my alternator. Like John said use electrical contact cleaner to clean, I don't know if they make any electrical cleaner with a corrosion inhibitor, my guess is no because the inhibitor will leave a deposit on the contact and you don't want that. The real answer might be just to run the thing a couple times a month for 5-10 minutes, the brushes will clean off the small deposit it might get, on top of that it'll keep the engine fresh and ready to respond when you need it.
 
Well thanks guys! I wasn't thinking it was a good idea myself, so I thought I'd throw it out there and see what you thought. I do keep a spray can of contact cleaner on hand. I don't use this welder/generator near as often as I should but it is sure handy to have around!
 
CRC 2-26...made for corrosion protection and lubrication of electrical components. You can drown a motor in the stuff and it'll still run. It doesn't wreck plastic either. Pricey.
 
I have started many ac generators by pressing on the brushes with a pine stick while the generator is turning.Oxidation on copper insulates.Repulsion induction motors have the same problem.Works on old auto generators too.
 
Yeppers the oxidation isnt as good a conductor (as the copper or silver etc) but one would think after a few turns the brushes should have all that cleaned off. When I was a used tractor dealer I could often clean up the commutators and exercise the brush hold down springys and get the brushes back down n they would start gennin again

John T
 
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