Delaval 78 on 7000 generator

[Asa Matras]

Just setting up a 78 with a 7000 watt gen. It wont quite kick over and run full speed. It starts smoking. I'm using 10 ga wire cuz the gen. Is only 10 feet away. Is that not heavy duty enough? Any suggestions? Thank alot!

[iby]

Just setting up a 78 with a 7000 watt gen. It wont quite kick over and run full speed. It starts smoking. I'm using 10 ga wire cuz the gen. Is only 10 feet away. Is that not heavy duty enough? Any suggestions? Thank alot!

what size motor? does it say on the spec plate how many amps it draws at a given voltage?

[Asa Matras]

It's a 5 hp motor. FLA is 19.5 amps

[halladaymaple]

From what your telling me a 7000 watt gen set trying to kick start a 5 hp motor? You have an Under powered generator. Pretty sure even a 10k gen set won’t kick over the 78k. I tried the same route with a 76 and. 3 hp motor and it wouldn’t work. I ended up putting a 5.5 hp Honda to drive the 76. Works like a charm.

I was running 10 gauge wire from the ten set to the motor, gave up o it and went to direct drive

Hope you figure something g out for it

[BAP]

It's a 5 hp motor. FLA is 19.5 amps
Starting amps will be much higher. Takes a lot of umph to start a 5hp motor.

[iby]

For 19 amps, you only need 12 gauge wire
I realize there will be a starting spike, but that’s momentary. So you’re more than good with 10ga
Ignore the post above saying your generator isn’t big enough. 7000 watt generator will push nearly 60 amps at 120.

Just to be clear, what is smoking? The pump or the generator?

[BradWilson]

I have a 78 and I'm running it with an 18hp gas motor. There's a big "lug" when it kicks it on. I'd look at using a contactor or a variable drive. I'm curious as well, what is smoking?

[Bruce L]

I have a De Laval 76 pump with a 3 hp motor,tried a 8750/7000 watt generator from Sam’s Club,didn’t have the oomph to run it,too much to start. Now I have a 12000 watt generator,fits the bill with 10 gauge wire. Sometimes on colder days I have to start it with valves open until it gets up to speed,have even had to slip belts off occasionally to just run the motor until it warms up,but that is pretty rare. You could try starting it if you have a way of allowing lots of air in so that it is not trying to build vacuum until it is up and running.

[BAP]

For 19 amps, you only need 12 gauge wire
I realize there will be a starting spike, but that’s momentary. So you’re more than good with 10ga
Ignore the post above saying your generator isn’t big enough. 7000 watt generator will push nearly 60 amps at 120.

Just to be clear, what is smoking? The pump or the generator?
Starting a cold 78 pump with 5hp motor takes a lot more than your normal 19 amp draw. Have years of experience with them and you need good power to start them.

[Shaun]

A motor is an inductive load VS a heater as a resistive load. A 5HP motor will draw 100's of amps on inrush "start-up". A resistive "heater" load will only typically draw name plate amps. This is why it seems the generator should run it but it won't.