Ask the Tech: Using Power Pools with Generators

Q.  “Why doesn’t my power tool keep its speed up on my generator and often heats up to the point of being hot to the touch? 

A . Generators make a quasi sine wave when they make electricity.  This is only half of the wave that real electricity makes for your home or business.  Real electricity is a full sine or “pure sine”.  Back in the day (30s-80s), the brush type universal motors used in small portable power tools were made to run on D.C. or A.C. current.  They had no reverse or variable speed.  D.C. generators were welders and the other generators were A.C. current only, but with quasi sine.

Today, almost all portable corded power tools have computer chips in their switches.  Whether it is variable speed, electronic feedback, slow start, electric brake or whatever is next.  These electronic devices are very sensitive to the spicks that generators produce.    Read more