Generator brands · Complete sets
Pramac Generator Repairs: Stationary Sets and Portables
We repair and service Pramac generators on site across Gauteng: the stationary diesel sets that back up shops, offices and complexes, and the portable generators used at home and on small jobs. The two lines share a name but little else, so the first question is which kind you have, because it decides how we find the fault and what a service includes.
Established 2006
20 years of experience
24/7 operations
We Arrive Within 1–2 Hours
(usually within 1 hour)
Free callouts and quotations
One-year warranty
Qualified and certified technicians
We Service & Repair All Generator Brands
All generator makes and models
1 kVA–20,000 kVA capability
Two product lines, two kinds of care
| Aspect | Stationary diesel sets | Portable generators |
|---|---|---|
| Typical use | Stationary diesel setsStandby for buildings, usually with an automatic changeover | Portable generatorsHome backup and site tools, connected by lead or a manual changeover |
| Engine | Stationary diesel setsWater-cooled diesel from a specialist engine maker | Portable generatorsSmall air-cooled petrol or diesel engine |
| Starting | Stationary diesel setsBattery and starter, controlled by a panel | Portable generatorsPull start, or a small battery on electric-start models |
| Controls | Stationary diesel setsA controller with alarms, and mains sensing on automatic sets | Portable generatorsA switch, a breaker and on some models a small display |
| Common faults | Stationary diesel setsBattery and charger, fuel, controller alarms, changeover | Portable generatorsStale petrol, carburettor, spark plug, low-oil shutdown |
| Servicing | Stationary diesel setsEngine oil, filters, coolant and controller checks, by hours or time | Portable generatorsOil, air filter, spark plug and fuel care, by hours |
Pramac stationary sets
Pramac is an Italian builder, now part of the Generac group, whose stationary diesel sets range from compact units to large standby sets. Like other European set builders such as Himoinsa and SDMO, it fits engines and alternators from established specialist makers and adds its own canopy, base tank and control panel. Servicing follows the engine fitted, so the engine data plate comes first when we order filters.
The control panel varies with the model and its age. Whatever the module, we read its alarm history before anything else, because the shutdown it recorded points to the fault; the controller alarms guide explains the categories.
Most of these sets stand behind shops, offices, clinics and residential complexes with an automatic changeover. During load shedding they may start several times a day, which wears batteries and starters; where the set is much larger than the load it carries, those runs can also lead to wet stacking. Keep the canopy’s air paths clear and do not store fuel cans or rubbish against it.
Repairing a Pramac portable
Pramac portables pair a small air-cooled petrol or diesel engine from a specialist small-engine maker with a compact alternator, a few sockets and a breaker. Inverter models add electronics that produce a steady 50 Hz supply for sensitive equipment.
Most portable faults follow storage: old petrol leaves varnish in the carburettor jets, the battery on an electric-start model goes flat, or the low-oil switch stops the engine because the level dropped or the set stands on a slope. The engine plate tells us which carburettor parts, plug and filters fit.
The photo shows a portable petrol generator of this kind stripped for engine repair, not a Pramac unit. Small sets like these come apart into engine, tank, frame and alternator, which makes most repairs straightforward.
Putting a portable away between outages
- Close the fuel tap and let the engine run until it stops if the set will stand for weeks
- Use fresh petrol, and a fuel stabiliser if fuel stays in the tank
- Check the oil on level ground with the engine cold
- Keep the battery charged on electric-start models
- Run it under some load every few weeks so problems show before the next outage
- Store it dry and covered, away from living spaces
Never run a portable generator indoors, in a garage or near windows, and never connect it to the house wiring through a plug. Use extension leads to the appliances, or a properly installed changeover.
Servicing and parts for Pramac generators
A stationary set’s service covers engine oil and filters, fuel and water separation, coolant and belts, battery and charger, controller settings and a run under load, at the engine maker’s hours or at least yearly on lightly used standby sets. A portable needs oil, an air filter, a spark plug and fuel care at the hours in its manual.
Spares for the engine and alternator are ordered by those makers’ own part numbers, and we tell you whether each is genuine or a quality equivalent of the same specification. Parts made only for Pramac, such as panels, canopy parts and tanks, are looked up from the set’s nameplate. A maintenance plan keeps standby sets tested between visits, and repairs are carried out where the set stands.
Independent service
We Service & Repair All Generator Brands
Onsite Generator Repairs is an independent generator specialist. We repair, service and maintain Pramac equipment as part of our work on every make of generator.
Manufacturer warranty claims go through the manufacturer’s own network. If your generator is still under warranty, check the warranty terms before arranging work by anyone else.
Brand names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Onsite Generator Repairs is an independent service and repair company.
Service areas
Where we work in Gauteng
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
My Pramac petrol generator starts and then dies. What is wrong?
Most often a partly blocked carburettor or fuel tap, or the low-oil switch stopping the engine. Check the oil level on level ground with the engine cold first; if it is correct, the carburettor probably needs cleaning, which is a repair job.
Can a Pramac standby set start by itself when the power fails?
If it has an automatic controller and a changeover installed, yes. Manual sets can often be upgraded with a suitable controller and changeover panel; see generator installation.
Does Pramac belonging to Generac change how my set is serviced?
No. A Pramac set is serviced by its own engine, alternator and controller. Generac’s gas-fuelled home standby units are a different kind of machine, covered on our Generac page.
How often should a portable petrol generator be serviced?
Change the oil and check the air filter and spark plug at the hours in the owner’s manual, and at least once a year if it is rarely used.
Related pages
Related generator problems
Related brands
Who we work for
Need a generator technician?
- 24/7 operations
- We Arrive Within 1–2 Hours (usually within 1 hour)
- Free callouts and quotations