1500 rpm generators

ccscott49

ccscott49

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I'm in the market for a 1500 rpm genny, 5-7 kw. 230v 50hz. Price is always a consideration!
Any pointers would be appreciated, looking myself of course, but any help always welcome.
Thanks folks!
 
ccscott49 said:
I'm in the market for a 1500 rpm genny, 5-7 kw. 230v 50hz. Price is always a consideration!
Any pointers would be appreciated, looking myself of course, but any help always welcome.
Thanks folks!
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You'll find them about 150-160% of the price of higher revving gensets, so your pious wish for a low price is an oxymoron.

Try this link http://www.toolstop.co.uk/sdmo-xp-t...-canopied-diesel-generator-5.5kw-/-6kva-p5752

They are rare and expensive beasts in the 2nd hand market as well.
 
1500 rpm has to be ONAN but be prepared for it to rather big and heavy when compared to a 3000 rpm unit. I originally speced ONAN but found it was too big to get into the boat! ended up with PAGURO (half the weight) and its been very good. Made sure of silencing for the exhaust and its very quiet - at least no noisier than the ONANs I have heard.
 
charles_reed said:
You'll find them about 150-160% of the price of higher revving gensets, so your pious wish for a low price is an oxymoron.

Try this link http://www.toolstop.co.uk/sdmo-xp-t...-canopied-diesel-generator-5.5kw-/-6kva-p5752

They are rare and expensive beasts in the 2nd hand market as well.
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I did get a quote from UCS in Brixham, 3000 rpm, 3500 quid, 1500 rpm, 4750! So you are not far out. I may go with them, as I can get it modded to my spec, for exhaust bend etc.
Have to build my own soundshield, but thats not a problem, have a mate who works in fibreglass!
 
If you're worried about rpm and want a quieter genny with less running and maintenance costs then why not go for a 12 volt one that runs at the speed it needs to provide the load. Add an inverter and you have AC as well - but since most of our requirement is for DC charging an AC genny is not the answer.

Search the archive for more on this. Ours is a Fischer Panda 4 KVA that charges at 280 amps. It runs the aircon via a Victron inverter.
 
sailinglegend420 said:
If you're worried about rpm and want a quieter genny with less running and maintenance costs then why not go for a 12 volt one that runs at the speed it needs to provide the load. Add an inverter and you have AC as well - but since most of our requirement is for DC charging an AC genny is not the answer.

Search the archive for more on this. Ours is a Fischer Panda 4 KVA that charges at 280 amps. It runs the aircon via a Victron inverter.
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I had considered this, but with a watermaker and other high draw stuff, a charging genny and inverter was just not the way to go. I want the reliability of a 1500 rpm set. I have a FP 4KVA unit now and have alkready had, 1 complete new winding, with fitting 3000 euros, 6 new capacitors, @ 60 euros each, 2 new electric waterpumps at 180 euros each, 2 new fuel pumps @ 120 euros each, numerous other smaller spare parts, I may have another windings problem, the genny has run 1200 hours! I've had enough of FP and their gensets, thanks.
 
Life Span

Has a post gone missing ? (sure I saw one discussing life expectancy on generators - which was interesting).

Anyway where ever I saw it got me thinking and I have a contact so I asked him.........don't know if this adds to the debate at all but here is his response:

Life Expectancy

As a rules of thumb......

1,500rpm sets about 10,000 hrs

3,000rpm sets about 5,000hrs

Onan 4kW (2,400rpm) about 7,000hrs.

The "ideal" Genset speed is 1,500rpm. They are smoother, quieter and generally last longer as they are less "stressed". The problem is, the 1,500rpm sets need bigger engines to give the same power at lower speeds so they are bigger than a 3,000rpm equivalent.

The smaller output sets i.e. 3 - 5kW (single cylinder) sets tend to go in smaller yachts where space is very limited hence the compact high speed 3,000rpm sets are normally fitted. The Onan 4kW sets are a bit of a compromise - the engine runs at 2,400rpm and through the gearing of the belt drive runs the alternator at 3,000rpm. This means the engine is not quite so stressed as the 3,000rpm sets and, being a twin cylinder, is very smooth.
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Yes a post has gone missing, most odd. I wonder if FP asked it to be pulled.

>1,500rpm sets about 10,000 hrs
3,000rpm sets about 5,000hrs

Disagree with that. 3,000 rpm lifed at 450 to 550 hours max 1,000 with repairs. 1,500 rpm 8,000 hours. The yellow jersey for reliability is held by Northern Lights closely followed by Westerbeke.
 
Every year at the end of the ARC they do a survey of gear gen sets being one item tested/compared. I think its the Northern Lights set that tests every year above all others. How you finding Corfu?
 
I'm curious (because I have an FP) about the "3,000 rpm lifed at 450 to 550 hours max 1,000 with repairs". What dies on them that makes them uneconomic to do more hours? Does the engine wear out/need rebuilding? The windings? The electronics? Do they die from corrosion?

BTW - IIRC, the US spec ones are 3600 RPM

When compared to a 1500 RPM gens, it seems logical (to me!) that the faster ones die sooner for mechanical reasons as they're whizzing away at 3000 RPM plus, even from a cold start.

However, the majority of unhappy threads/blogs I've seen about FP gens don't mention the engines failing, except on the very small gens. Corrosion seems to be the most frequent issue, as the aluminium winding housings on older gens were raw water cooled. Other issues often relate to capacitors problems.
 
mocruising said:
Every year at the end of the ARC they do a survey of gear gen sets being one item tested/compared. I think its the Northern Lights set that tests every year above all others. How you finding Corfu?
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So far, loving it! Back aboard now, off tomorrow cruising for 10 days or so then back to the grind for two weeks!
By the way, found a 1500 rpm set, 2000 hours, very reasonable cost.
 
npf1 said:
I'm curious (because I have an FP) about the "3,000 rpm lifed at 450 to 550 hours max 1,000 with repairs". What dies on them that makes them uneconomic to do more hours? Does the engine wear out/need rebuilding? The windings? The electronics? Do they die from corrosion?

BTW - IIRC, the US spec ones are 3600 RPM

When compared to a 1500 RPM gens, it seems logical (to me!) that the faster ones die sooner for mechanical reasons as they're whizzing away at 3000 RPM plus, even from a cold start.

However, the majority of unhappy threads/blogs I've seen about FP gens don't mention the engines failing, except on the very small gens. Corrosion seems to be the most frequent issue, as the aluminium winding housings on older gens were raw water cooled. Other issues often relate to capacitors problems.
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The engine on my small set (Farymann) has been fine, the windings on mine are also fresh water cooled from the engine, (slightly later model) but just keep having windings problems, dont know what it is this time, cant be arsed to be honest, will get it checked, come winter, but all but bought a 1500 set, which I will fit this winter and if the FP can be repaired, relegate it to emergency duties, where I have at present an air cooled diesel mase 4 kw genny, which I guess I will sell on.
 
"having windings problems" - might well be a capacitor problem then. In case you weren't aware, it's fairly straighforward to check them and change any that have died - the manual covers the topic reasonably well.

If you do need new capacitors, get the make and spec of them then call an electric motor specialist, such as these guys: http://www.powercapacitors.co.uk/Power_Capacitors_Site/About_us.html, as they cost about £10 to £15 each for exactly the same ones that FP sell for £70!
 
npf1 said:
"having windings problems" - might well be a capacitor problem then. In case you weren't aware, it's fairly straighforward to check them and change any that have died - the manual covers the topic reasonably well.

If you do need new capacitors, get the make and spec of them then call an electric motor specialist, such as these guys: http://www.powercapacitors.co.uk/Power_Capacitors_Site/About_us.html, as they cost about £10 to £15 each for exactly the same ones that FP sell for £70!
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Yes, thanks for that, I am aware of the capacitor problems, I have just changed them, I suspected the old ones were breaking down, when I checked them. The fault still persists, the output is well down, maybe producing about 2 kw, no signs of the engine labouring or black smoking, herz is fine, just low output. I will get the local agent chappie here to have a look at it, runs everything else, just not my watermaker, but you can hear the hoover "hunting" when on, its about 2kw. Watermaker is fine on marina power and not drawing excessive current. I dont know enough about these gennies to check the individual coil outputs and wouldnt know what the output is meant to be anyway, FP uk are no help. Or rather havent replied to my questions.
 
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