Westerbeke 12.5 BTDA - Starting and Stopping Procedures; The Starting System and Glow Plugs; Starting Procedure Failure and Cautions; Remote Starting and Stopping Operation

STARTING/STOPPING PROCEDURE
THE STARTING SYSTEM
Westerbeke diesel generators use electric starters assisted by
glow plugs for both normal and cold weather starting. The
illustration
below shows a cross-sectional view of one cylin-
der. The glow plug is located in the combustion chamber so
that its tip is in the injector nozzle's spray path. When the
glow plug is energized by the PREHEAT button, the plug
glows red at the tip and assists in igniting the fuel. The result
is a rapid start with less wear on the starter.
This system is common to WESTERBEKE diesels. The start
circuitry
is designed so that the PREHEAT button must be
depressed for the time specified in the preheat chart. Then,
while keeping the PREHEAT button engaged, the START
button is depressed to crank the engine.
NOTE: The START switch will not energize unless the PRE-
HEAT switch is depressed. Depressing the PREHEAT switch
activates the glow plugs in the cylinder head so use the PRE-
HEAT intermittently to avoid overheating the glow plugs.
GLOW
START: While still depressing the PREHEAT switch, depress
the START switch. This will engage the starter solenoid.
Upon engine starting, release the START switch. Do not
release the PREHEAT switch until the oil pressure reaches
5 - 10 psi. Then as long as the high water temperature and
low oil pressure protective circuits do not activate, the engine
will remain energized and continue to run.
NOTE: When starting:
A voltage drop will occur
when the preheat ~witch
is depressed.
Once the engine starts, check the engine's instruments for
proper oil pressure and battery charging voltage. Apply a
light'load to the generator and allow the engine's operating
temperature to come up to 140-150° (60-66° C) before·
applying heavy loads.
NOTE: Some unstable running may occur in a cold engine.
Depressing the PREHEAT switch for 10-15 second intervals
will help stabilize the engine rpm until the operating
temperature reaches 140- 150° F and a load is applied to
the engine.
Failure to Start
Should the engine not start when the START switch is
depressed for 10 to 20 seconds, release both switches and
wait 30 seconds; repeat the procedure above and preheat
longer. Never run the starter for more than 30 seconds.
'A CAUTION: Prolonged cranking Intervals without the
engine starting can result In the engine exhaust system
filling with raw water. This may happen because the
pump Is pumping raw water through the raw water cool·
lng system during cranking. This raw water can enter the
engine's cylinders by way of the exhaust manifold once
the exhaust system fills. Prevsnt this from happening by
closing the raw water supply through-hull shut-off,
draining the exhaust muff/sr, and correcting the cause
of the e,x~esslvsengine cranking. Engine damage result·
lng from raw water entry Is not a warrantable issue; the
owner/operator should keep this in mind.
Remote Starting Procedure
The remote start panel is the same as the engine-mounted
start
panel except that it has a green LEP light and no
gauges. When starting at a remote location, the green LED
lights when the generator is running at approximately 600
rpm. This indicates when the START switch can be released
since the starting of the generator may not be audible.
A. When the PREHEAT switch is depressed at the remote
start/stop panel the LED light will illuminate. When the
START switch is depressed and the starter cranks the
engine this LED light will dim. When the engine starts
the LED light will brighten signaling to release the
START switch. Continue to hold the PREHEAT
depressed for a few seconds to allow oil pressure to build
up which closes the oil pressure safety switch that is in
the series path for i2V B+ to the fuel run solenoid. The
green LED will remain brightly illuminated while the
engine is running.
B. After the generator is started and the START switch is
released, the generator's starter will not crank unless the
PREHEAT switch is operated first because this switch
supplies
voltage to the START switch.
STOPPING PROCEDURE .
1. Remove the AC electrical load from the generator and
· allow the generator·to run for three to five minutes to
stabilize its operating temperatures.
2. Depress the STOP switch and hold it until the generator
is coinpletely stopped.
3. Now release the STOP switch.
Remote·Stopping. Procedure
To stop the generator, depress the STOP switch which opens
the normally closed B+ path for voltage to the engine's run.
-circuit. The STOP switch must be hel'd open until the
generator comes to a complete stop and the green LED light
goes out.
Engine., & Generators
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