1kW generator plugged in to shore-power inlet?

[CaptainBob]

If I plugged a 1kW petrol generator into my shore-power inlet, do you think it could cope?

I'm sure it could manage all my domestic usage, but would that be enough to power the Sterling battery charger I have?

At the moment I've got two 110AH leisure batteries. What if they were both flat? Would the generator be able to run it fo you think?

I'm guessing output from the charger surely can't be more than 50A and therefore P=VI gives P = 14 x 50 = 700W

So it should be fine, right?

I suppose it would be more efficient to allow the generator to kick out 12V direct to the batts - but if I plug direct into the shore-power it makes for a hassle free installation, and gives me mains at the same time.

TY!

 

[Rivers & creeks]

That's what we do but you have to be very careful about what's plugged in. Battery charger and fridge is OK but not much else. To run the carorifier we turn almost everything else off. BTW 110ah batteries would have to be VERY flat to accept a 50amp charge.
The 12v output from the genny is likely to be very small, our 1.4kw genny only gives 6amps 12v, so it's much better to power the 16amp battery charger from it.

 

[CaptainBob]

Fantastic, sounds like it might be a plan.

We're planning to round the UK over the next year or two - and I work on the internet. I'm think the investment in a generator might save us a load in marina fees which is our current alternative.

But then I just got to thinking... would I really feel OK running a generator in a quiet anchorage or non-powered visitor mooring.

I'm not sure I would all that often.

 

[pennycar9]

I used to plug in a 1Kva Honda suitcase generator in to my shore power. It would run our central heating, (normal domestic boiler and pump) Sterling Battery management sytem and lights, would snort abit when the Memsahib would put the kettle on though.Normal usage should not be a problem if you are cautious with your power demands.

Paul

 

[BOATKID]

I am sure the wind & rain will drown the noise out !!!!!!!

 

[nimbusgb]

I have a 1kw Kipor sinewave suitcase gennythat I do exactly that with. Works a treat but i have to turn off the 1kw calorifier element first.

As for noise. Although the genny is quiet already I have a £12 eberspacher heater silencer bought off ebay with a tail of flexible s/s tubing that attaches to the little stub of the exhaust coming out of the genset. With it in place the noise level drops another couple of dB.

 

[michael_w]

But then I just got to thinking... would I really feel OK running a generator in a quiet anchorage or non-powered visitor mooring.

Don't run it before 09:00 or after 16:30 if you want your neighbours to like you!

 

[longjohnsilver]

Hi CaptBob, we were back in the Yealm for New Year, joined by 3 other boats. One of our friends had recently bought a Honda 1kw genny to do just as you hope to do. It is amazingly quiet and would only disturb someone if they were very close by, and even then it's pretty unobtrusive. They've got a 40 odd foot sail boat and it seems to perform as they hoped it would (they also have a wind generator, maybe worth considering?).

Hopefully see you around and about sometime soon.

 

[CaptainBob]

Hi CaptBob, we were back in the Yealm for New Year, joined by 3 other boats. One of our friends had recently bought a Honda 1kw genny to do just as you hope to do. It is amazingly quiet and would only disturb someone if they were very close by, and even then it's pretty unobtrusive. They've got a 40 odd foot sail boat and it seems to perform as they hoped it would (they also have a wind generator, maybe worth considering?).

Hopefully see you around and about sometime soon.

Hi LJS! We were back up the Yealm last weekend. Very chilly, but excellent. Had the place to ourselves - and the ocean

Thanks for that info about the genny - sounds good. We do already have a Rutland 913, but laptops and fridge are hungry on the juice.

Cheers everyone!

 

[Sandyman]

If I plugged a 1kW petrol generator into my shore-power inlet, do you think it could cope?

We do exactly that and never had any problems. I knocked up a small awning to protect our genny from the rain.
Of course consideration for others who's peace & quiet may be disturbed by the noise.

 

[William_H]

AC generator

You need to ensure that the gen produces true sine waves. As older ones do but not necessarily modern cheapies. A sine wave gen is characterised by having the engine run at 3000RPM or 1500RPM to produce 50 hertz while those type that assemble AC from DC can run he engine at variable speeds. Producing a waveform of various shapes. Some not suitable for electronic power supplies or fridges.

Just as a side comment. worth repeating, It is vital that you connect the gen into the actual mains power input socket/plug. This ensures that mains are disconnected before gen is connected.
What is really disastrous is to have a gen and mains connected at once. At the wrong part of the 2 cycles you can get the 380v peak at positive from the mains hitting 380v peak negative from the gen producing 760v with a short across it. bang of mains fuses and gen smoking. olewill

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Fantastic, sounds like it might be a plan.

We're planning to round the UK over the next year or two - and I work on the internet. I'm think the investment in a generator might save us a load in marina fees which is our current alternative.

But then I just got to thinking... would I really feel OK running a generator in a quiet anchorage or non-powered visitor mooring.

I'm not sure I would all that often.

In a quiet anchorage its unlikely that you will have an internet connection. 3G is very limited away from big cities.

 

[david36]

We use a 1 Kv Honda "suitcase" generator with a 50amp Mastervolt battery charger via the shorepower socket to either part charge the domestic batteries or run bits of 230v kit direct. Works fine and has done for five plus years on an occasional basis. Pure sine wave kit seems to work better with battery chargers than their more crude cousins but no doubt one of our more knowledgeable forumites can explain why if necessary.

Without wishing to play Nanny to all concerned, don't forget to be very careful with the dangers from the exhaust from these little generators. Its all too easy to let the CO2 drift back down below and that could seriously ruin your day! However, with a bit of thought and some common sense its not a problem.

Fair winds.

 

[CaptainBob]

Really useful replies everyone, big thank you.

In a quiet anchorage its unlikely that you will have an internet connection. 3G is very limited away from big cities.

I've actually been keeping a little log of connection availability in various locations along the south coast between Dittisham and Truro (that's as far as we've been since I started) and you'd be surprised. I have Three and Vodafone dongles, and a very long USB extension cable. I also have an external WiFi antenna I can extend onto the deck. There's actually only been a few places I've not been able to get online at all.