hyro generator keeps trippping

What is any test equipment have you got? Can you tell if your generator is in sync with the grid? Do you have a phase matching meter? Can yo measure your out put voltage? Do you have an oscilloscope to hand pref' a dual trace. Or can you set up a sync scope with a lamp so that the two phases you wish to bring together are fed one either side of the lamp when it stops blinking and goes out your two supplies are in sync. no neutral these connect together as normal. The tripping could as yo say be caused by the wave shape not being a nice sign wave do you generate at full line voltage AC? Some answers would help further you cause.

I said i thought the problem might be that the wave shape not being a nice sign wave, I'm not sure 100 percent sure what the problem is, that's why i asked the question mate?

yes we do generate at full line voltage

i just thought i would ask the on the off chance why i was on line

answer to your questions

yes,maybe,no,yes,no

No need to get shirty about it I'm not looking over you shoulder am I?

If you want help then be reasonable I gave you good advice and asked the right questions.

If you want to get any more info don't rely on me to help out if that is your attitude dood!

Agree with you . . . I was going to give a long list of advice to our guest, but, not now. Attitude is everything when your hand is out.

Yeh i'm sorry i didn't think i was being shirty, it's problery just the way i come acorss. I'm very greatful for everyone's advices. Truely.

Theres them that know and there's them that think they now? will i'm the one that thinks he knows, that's why i want to learn more on this. so please can you continue to give me a list of ideas why this annoying hydro generator keeps tripping. a list of things that it could be so that i can go away and try and get back to you.

sorry again and thanks for all you help.

As long as you have the voltage phase relationship in sync you should be able to make it work. It can be tricky to get right first time but with the lamps you can fine tune quite easily. It is best to use more than one due to the possible failure of a single filament causing a false sync. The wave shape can only be determined by the use of an oscilloscope if you can borrow one it will give you the closest look at what is going on. Is there any one local to you like a TV technician? An analogue multimeter can give you some idea about the genset if when you look at the needle it "ticks" goes up and down the scale by a few volts this indicates a problem. You need some one on site really to solve this, sorry I am in the UK and the private jet is broken down just now, you know how it is just when your needed it kicks up.

Synchronize with 3 Dark lamps and close Breaker.

Now adjust excitation/water flow rate to maximize load INTO GRID.

Should Work if you have the machine/water energy backup right.

How well is the generator speed regulated?

Before you start looking at wave shape, etc. check that your frequency /
Gen. speed isn't drifting which might be expected in a small hydro set-up.

You may need some form of dynamic control to stay in synch with the utility.
As you are geared up, small variations in turbine speed will be multiplied.

As a quick & dirty solution you might try a heavy fly wheel.

The 50Hz (60Hz) Grid will keep the small NEW generator locked in Synchronism.

You need automatic Lead/Lag excitation Control and Hydro Power to remain locked .

Any Flywheel can only cause disaster to Synchronism.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYONES HELP.

Ill try looking into all these methods

If your Mains grind is live, then check for Sychronization and Phase sequence. If you are using for power generation then try to connect to grid through series Chokes. If the generator is being over-loaded the series reactors will take care of the over load.

You stated it trips when it's used for reverse power. Does that mean your normal mode is to use power from the grid to run the generator as a motor for pumping water? Is there possibly a reverse power relay in the protection scheme that is doing its job and tripping the generator in the reverse mode? What type of protective relaying is employed? Does the breaker have undervoltage tripping. It may need a time delayed bypass while bringing the generator on line. There is also the possibility that you have an improperly adjusted or worn latch in the breaker trip mechanism.

Only the last posting appears to give a possible answer to the problem as I understood it from the originalk request.....to clear things up:-

Is the problem seen when generating or when pumping water back?