Generator Brushes Arcing Problem

Do you care to explain what CBLF is ?

Don't know what 'CBLF deviations' is supposed to mean.

If this is an AC unit (the brushes are for slip-rings), then I'd check....

Runout of the rings (if bad, check the vibration and tolerance of the shaft bearings). Once the problem is fixed, you'll have to 'turn' the rings to get them back into round. Even if round, roughness caused by contact with a brush holder or other rigging can cause the brush to vibrate and spark.

Same hardness of brush as recommended by manufacturer? Extremely hard brushes can sometimes spark under normal operation. When replacing, have they been 'seated' to match the curvature of the rings? Is the face of the brush all one smooth and shiny surface? If there seem to be two or more 'polished' areas, then it's shifting around. When only part of the brush face contacts the ring, the current density is high and can cause sparking. If the face has chips missing around the edges, it may be impacting the ring and shattering the face.

Brush spring tension (can allow 'chatter') and bursh holder alignment. The holder must hold the brush consistently and not allow the brush to wobble back and forth. If the brush moves even slightly, then it never gets completely 'seated' as it shifts position. Especially if the machine was recently serviced.

Color of the slip ring face Absolutely bare brass/silver is *not* good, too much friction. Should be a slight brown coating. But too dark can be bad as well. This sort of thing can be oil contamination (too dark, 'sludge' buildup on rings). Too shiny, look for atmosphere contaminants like some paint thinners and solvents in the area. They will 'reduce' the 'brass' surface and the bare brass does not have the best performance (higher friction with the brush can cause chatter).

Do you swap the field leads periodically, or perhaps you can't do that with this machine?

I could probably go on some more, but these are things that I remember seeing on a variety of different machines.

daestrom

Carbon Based Life Form

"Rowbotth" wrote... ...

a/k/a Cockpit Error

--s falke

Yeah, sure.

Things like not cleaning up oil, and having the hydrocarbons attack the oxidation between sliprings and brushes, for instance.

And most recently we're told the sparking had to do with paint fumes attacking the oxidation between brushes and sliprings. This time, we had to have the sliprings ground?

This is the type of thing that I'm wondering about. How many more of these type of "cockpit errors" are going to get us?

HR.

Any silicone sealants/adhesives used near brushes? By some, that's the new scourge of brush wear.

--s falke

Yep. Some paint fumes can 'reduce' the oxidation layer. See my other post.

That's like asking how many ways can someone make a mistake. You can break them down in different categories, mechanical, chemical, electrical. Or maybe operation, maintenance, environment. Or 'dumb, dumber, dumberer' ;-)

Proper seating when replacing. Proper adjustment of holder position and spring tension (especially after turning the rings). Too much vibration/chatter within the brush box because of poor fit. Allowing too much shaft vibration.

Adequate humidity (too low and the layer formed on the rings will be worn off, leading to high brush wear rates). Atmospheric contaminants (paint fumes, fuel-oil, gas, or even lube oil fumes, exotic chemicals).

Over current. Under current. Poorly bonded 'pigtails' (more a manufacturer's defect). Not connecting all the leads so some current flows through the brush-box into the brush. Routing the leads where they can chaff and fray. Not reversing the leads periodically to even the electro-chemical reactions.

daestrom