A generator control unit (GCU) includes a fault detection system configured to generate a direct current (DC) voltage signal based on a difference of a DC-equivalent voltage between the positive and negative exciter gate drive signals. The fault detection system further outputs a fault detection signal indicating the fault status of the gate drive integrated circuits based on a comparison between the DC average voltage signal and a threshold value.

A power generation system includes a rotating machine having a mechanical rotational output. An electrical generator is connected to the mechanical rotational output, and has an electrical output electrically connected to a power distribution system. A generator control unit is controllably coupled to at least the electrical generator. The generator control unit includes a memory and a processor. The generator control unit is configured to operate in conjunction with an overvoltage protection unit including a redundant overvoltage operational test system. The redundant overvoltage operational test system includes an operational amplifier configured to operate as a voltage follower during a first mode of operations, and as a point of regulation gain amplifier during a redundant overvoltage operational test.

Disclosed is an alternator overvoltage protection circuit having a TRIAC and a MOSFET. The TRIAC is electrically connected to the MOSFET and the TRIAC is electrically connected to a magneto. The TRIAC is configured to ground the magneto when triggered by the MOSFET. The MOSFET is electrically connected to an alternator and configured to conduct when the alternator operates in an overvoltage condition. Also disclosed is a method of alternator overvoltage protection for a piece of outdoor power equipment, the method including providing a TRIAC and an alternator rotated by an engine having a magneto, wherein the alternator outputs a voltage when rotated by the engine. The method further includes configuring the TRIAC to ground the magneto when the alternator operates in an overvoltage condition, thereby disabling the magneto, which stops the rotation of the engine and stops the alternator from outputting voltage.

A computer-implemented method is provided for detecting broken bar faults of an induction motor during operations. The method includes steps of injecting a frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) voltage signal to the voltage source to power the motor, acquiring, in a time domain, a signal of a stator current powering the induction motor via an interface, performing Fourier Transform (FT) on the stator current and the injected FMCW signal to get spectra of the stator current and the injected signal, computing cross correlation between the spectrum of injected signal and the spectrum of stator current, extracting a fault signature at frequency f=2(1s)f.sub.0 in the cross-correlation function, and detecting a broken-bar fault in the induction motor if the fault signature magnitude is greater than a threshold.

A power generation system includes a rotating machine having a mechanical rotational output. An electrical generator is connected to the mechanical rotational output, and has an electrical output electrically connected to a power distribution system. A generator control unit is controllably coupled to at least the electrical generator. The generator control unit includes a memory and a processor. The generator control unit is configured to operate in conjunction with an overvoltage protection unit including a redundant overvoltage operational test system. The redundant overvoltage operational test system includes an operational amplifier configured to operate as a voltage follower during a first mode of operations, and as a point of regulation gain amplifier during a redundant overvoltage operational test.

An exciter circuit for an externally excited synchronous machine, comprising two voltage supply terminals for a voltage supply, two exciter current terminals configured to be connected to an exciter winding of the externally excited synchronous machine, and a bridge circuit coupled to the voltage supply terminals, a controller, a protective arrangement at a side of the exciter circuit with the exciter current terminals, wherein the protective arrangement includes a semiconductor switch switched in series with the exciter winding and a freewheeling path running in parallel with the exciter winding and having a connection point between one of the exciter current terminals and the semiconductor switch, wherein the freewheeling path has a diode which, in operation, is blocking in an exciter current flow direction, and a conversion resistor, wherein the controller, in operation, opens the semiconductor switch when a de-excitation signal is present.