Aldi Generator

[CLB]

I occasionally run a suitcase generator on the bow of the boat when we are at anchor and don't worry in the slightest about fumes and CO poisoning.

The real answer is to be aware of the risk from exhaust fumes and take appropriate precautions to ensure that they don't enter the boat.

I would suggest that the bow isn't the best place for it when at anchor due to the boat most likely lying to the wind, and the CO from the genny being blown across the boat and cockpit. Certainly better to always have the exhaust downwind of your accommodation.

 

[maby]

I would suggest that the bow isn't the best place for it when at anchor due to the boat most likely lying to the wind, and the CO from the genny being blown across the boat and cockpit. Certainly better to always have the exhaust downwind of your accommodation.

Realistically speaking, all town dwellers spend many hours every week with petrol engines running very close by - and if you are walking along a busy road you will have multiple engines substantially larger than the little 50cc lump inside a small suitcase genny running just a few feet away. It's confined spaces that you have to be careful about - if, like john_morris, you have a little genny running on the foredeck, you would be wise to ensure that the hatches are all closed to keep the exhaust out of the cabins. By the time the exhaust has drifted the twenty or thirty feet to the cockpit, it will have mixed with sufficient fresh air that the CO, at least, is not a risk. That's not to say that it might not be a bit too smelly for many!

 

[maby]

thank you for the recommendation. 1/2 price for same noise. For me it always come down to noise. I'm on solar power which meets my every need bar one.... the evening hot showers.

thanks :encouragement:

You'll find that a lot of market traders use Loncins - which has to be quite a recommendation. They will be looking for value for money and will often have the unit running for multiple hours per day, most days of the week. Equally, they need something reasonably quiet - they are going to be standing next to it for hours and don't want to be scaring off the customers!

 

[Elessar]

I would suggest that the bow isn't the best place for it when at anchor due to the boat most likely lying to the wind, and the CO from the genny being blown across the boat and cockpit. Certainly better to always have the exhaust downwind of your accommodation.

if you haven't got a bathing platform it's the best choice. JM would not have put it anywhere without due consideration. Which was the point of his post.

 

[john_morris_uk]

I would suggest that the bow isn't the best place for it when at anchor due to the boat most likely lying to the wind, and the CO from the genny being blown across the boat and cockpit. Certainly better to always have the exhaust downwind of your accommodation.

Our boat tends to lie bow to current as it's got a keel, not necessarily bow to wind. But the point I was trying to make was 'just be aware of the dangers and be sensible'.

 

[Bigplumbs]

All

Some of you are getting quite excited by this generator. These and similar have been and are on eBay now

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...A0.H0.Xgenerator.TRS0&_nkw=generator&_sacat=0

 

[Bbroomlea]

Used at the weekend as spend a few days at anchor. Good and bad.

Good = it heats the hot water
Bad = it wont power a 40ah battery charger

For £100 odd quid I'll keep it but the very thing i wanted it for it wont do :-(

 

[maby]

Used at the weekend as spend a few days at anchor. Good and bad.

Good = it heats the hot water
Bad = it wont power a 40ah battery charger

For £100 odd quid I'll keep it but the very thing i wanted it for it wont do :-(

I'm surprised that it will not run the charger - 40 amps at 12 v - which is a pretty high charging rate - is only 480 W - should be well within the capability of even a small genny. I have just had another look at the Aldi advert and it describes it as an inverter generator, but makes no comment on how pure the sine wave is - I assume that most battery chargers are switch mode power supplies these days and probably not very tolerant of impure sine waves.

 

[Bbroomlea]

Yes I imagine its something to do with the output. I had the hot water turned off at the time so unless there is significant power draw from the battery charger at first turn on then its the wrong type of 'wave'.

I've a dedicated start battery so will never be stranded but wanted to avoid running engines for an hour or so a day if we have a weekend on the hook.

The hot water is very useful though - 30 mins and the tank is warm enough for a couple of quick showers.

 

[maby]

Yes I imagine its something to do with the output. I had the hot water turned off at the time so unless there is significant power draw from the battery charger at first turn on then its the wrong type of 'wave'.

I've a dedicated start battery so will never be stranded but wanted to avoid running engines for an hour or so a day if we have a weekend on the hook.

The hot water is very useful though - 30 mins and the tank is warm enough for a couple of quick showers.

Doesn't it have a 12v battery charger output? They usually do. In which case it should be easy enough to make up the appropriate cabling to charge your battery bank directly.