Fischer Panda i5000

S

Saintlysimon

Active Member
Joined
27 Feb 2016
Messages
61
Visit site
Hi,

Does anyone have any experience of the Fischer Panda i5000 installed on something 35-40ft.

Interested in noise levels, vibration and general ownership feedback.

They look like great bits of kit but are not cheap installed. Install takes one week aparently.

Thanks
 
We're based in Gloucestershire - the installation is £1800 if we can get the boat south but more of they have to travel.

More interested in feedback on how the system performs really. Other option is a little Honda geny - which may just suffice and offer a major saving.

Thanks
 
Saintlysimon said:
We're based in Gloucestershire - the installation is £1800 if we can get the boat south but more of they have to travel.

More interested in feedback on how the system performs really. Other option is a little Honda geny - which may just suffice and offer a major saving.

Thanks
Click to expand...
I'm in the same boat. I also looked at the FP and was very disappointed at the price, it wouldn't tempt me away from a Cummins genset. In the meantime I use a Honda portable on the swim platform but it's very antisocial, I'm often too embarrassed to use it. Mind you I'm enough of an old git to be pi**ed off if fellow boaters (especially raggies) complain to me after they deliberately anchor right next to me or they don't complain to the nearby super yacht for having a disco all night.
Sorry for the rant.....so if you find a cheaper, good, generator let us know.
 
That's interesting. I thought - wrongly it appears - a little Honda 2kw suitcase type would be very quiet. I fancied an FP mainly because it's out of sight and runs from the diesel tank - but at 8k all in - it's quite a chunk of money.

I thought the Honda suitcase would be acceptable during operation for other boaters around me. Perhaps not. And I certainly wouldn't want to annoy anyone.
 
Saintlysimon said:
That's interesting. I thought - wrongly it appears - a little Honda 2kw suitcase type would be very quiet. I fancied an FP mainly because it's out of sight and runs from the diesel tank - but at 8k all in - it's quite a chunk of money.

I thought the Honda suitcase would be acceptable during operation for other boaters around me. Perhaps not. And I certainly wouldn't want to annoy anyone.
Click to expand...
I have the 2000 suitcase model and it's a lovely bit of kit. There is a silent mode which is quite quiet but that only works on a very low draw. In order to charge your boat's batteries or use any kind of appliance it revs high and loudly. And a plastic boat doesn't help deaden the sound.
 
volvopaul said:
A week to fit a generator!!!! Most are a 2 day job unless access is difficult and there isn't a suitable base to screw it to.
Click to expand...

That's what I thought. I clarified and they confirmed it is a 5 day install. This was quoted on an Antares 30 which I believe has a suitable spot, so no mention of creating any special base for it to sit.
 
Where are you putting it? The FP guy at the boat show told me that the engine room is the best place because it's already sound insulated and I guess closer to the fuel supply and electric etc. But if you have to put it in the lazarette he recommended you make a stand so you can still store things underneath it. Otherwise it makes the lazerette useless for storing big items anymore. It sounded like good advice to me.
 
A lot of the <5 kW generators are generic using Paguro designs with Farymann engines. These are great little generators but suffer from lack of use and in particular exhaust valve corrosion.

My last boat was 30 years old when I sold her and had accumulated all of 65 hours on the generator, and during the two years I owned her I had the head rebuilt twice.

I then routinely ran the generator for at least 30 minutes under load each month to keep the valves clean and free. That's 6 hours per year so do the maths and you see that test running easily exceeds the running actually required.

I never installed nor paid for the generator, but it would have been far cheaper and simpler to have installed an extra 4 or 5 100 AH batteries and an inverter / charger to match, plus a gas hob with a conventional kettle for tea at sea.

If you are headed offshore for some serious long distance sailing then yes fit a generator, but in this situation I would look for a proper indirect cooling unit with at least 2 cylinders and > 6 kW.
 
We bought a 1KW suitcase for our last boat, and in fact virtually never used it as too noise and takes ages to charge the batteries

Our latest boat has a 3KW inboard diesel genset. I was not sure we would use it much but actually use it quite a bit to run a kettle etc. Being inboard it is less noisy for neighbours.

A word of warning though it they can take up quite a bit of storage space in your lazerette depending how much space available

Would I buy one if it was not already fitted- probably not for the cost for a relatively small amount of use
 
superheat6k said:
A lot of the <5 kW generators are generic using Paguro designs with Farymann engines. These are great little generators but suffer from lack of use and in particular exhaust valve corrosion.

My last boat was 30 years old when I sold her and had accumulated all of 65 hours on the generator, and during the two years I owned her I had the head rebuilt twice.

I then routinely ran the generator for at least 30 minutes under load each month to keep the valves clean and free. That's 6 hours per year so do the maths and you see that test running easily exceeds the running actually required.

I never installed nor paid for the generator, but it would have been far cheaper and simpler to have installed an extra 4 or 5 100 AH batteries and an inverter / charger to match, plus a gas hob with a conventional kettle for tea at sea.

If you are headed offshore for some serious long distance sailing then yes fit a generator, but in this situation I would look for a proper indirect cooling unit with at least 2 cylinders and > 6 kW.
Click to expand...

Agree -similar experiance .
We had a FP 4500 circa 2003 -direct cooling ,Ferryman .-like you I ran it as often as I could .That particular engine does indeed have a high water cooled exhaust manifold , the valve is like 1inch or so from the sea water .Imagine what can happen if the boat heals over -more a yacht prob ! -yup it's runs in the cylinder if valve is open !! ---or poor instal ?

Looking at the Op,s 5000i specs -it's now powered by -Kobota and I ndirect cooled -so seemingly that issues has been resolved .
Another -more serious is - how exactly are the winding s are cooled ?
Direct --err OMG -- if alloy ,it relies on anode protection -eventually fails -blows -furs up -fails ,the water passages constrict .I can not tell breifly looking at there site ?-how the windings are cooled -it's important -the older ( mine ) was direct seawater cooled .Not good -alloy + salt !!

MASE --are air cooled -no sea water touches the windings ,and the engines are Yanmar .Mine is a I think 3.5 Kv ,it's got a 1GM yanmar - Ex padi pump engine --feeds the 3rd World -bomb proof .No sea water touches the engine either !

These are indirect cooled too ,with a kinda heat exchanger -anode protected ,looks like a small car rad .
Come in a sound proof box etc and are dead easy to maintain .eg the water pump is a geneic Johnson -every chandlery stocks an impeller -€7 .Belt is a x part with Citreon AX € 3 .-Starter motor VW polo generic part .
Access all easy , on one side at the front ,
FP stuff is only available from FP .-although I think the pump looking @ pics could be a typical Johnson on the new I 5000 ?
I,am v please with our set up -many a time we have been on a vistors pontoon ( no or intermittent Shore power ) or a bouy
It's quiet too .

INSTALATION
.Exhaust ideally should exits the stern -our Itama does
Have a think about that -at the side -one neighbour gets the fumes ? Sunseeker did -upset a few neighbours.
There's a few other nuisances
You can get a 'super silent exhaust kit " whereby the water and gas are seperated - gas can be exited above the WL ,If below it will gurgle -not desirable with neighbours .Water too ( with a sea cock ) --above -too high above its trickles -quite noisy -you dicide how high !
Below -no sound -but you loose the "tell tail " and can,t tell if overheat until auto shut down 5 mins later = shredded impeller £30 each from FP
Ideally both just high enough above the WL for a tell tail and at the stern .

I bet that install price is for cheapest easiest , option ?with the shortest runs .

Don,t sit it on a flat surface either .It will resonate -bounce sound back ,Sunseeker did this with my FP -
Best place is between the bearers in the E room and a large air gap under it ,-the Vee - on a frame .Itama did this -no resonations ,

I like little Genys -it's a bit like comparing station clocks to fine watches -- quality and install not all the same ---when you dig deeper .
 
Portofino said:
Agree -similar experiance .
We had a FP 4500 circa 2003 -direct cooling ,Ferryman .-like you I ran it as often as I could .That particular engine does indeed have a high water cooled exhaust manifold , the valve is like 1inch or so from the sea water .Imagine what can happen if the boat heals over -more a yacht prob ! -yup it's runs in the cylinder if valve is open !! ---or poor instal ?

Looking at the Op,s 5000i specs -it's now powered by -Kobota and I ndirect cooled -so seemingly that issues has been resolved .
Another -more serious is - how exactly are the winding s are cooled ?
Direct --err OMG -- if alloy ,it relies on anode protection -eventually fails -blows -furs up -fails ,the water passages constrict .I can not tell breifly looking at there site ?-how the windings are cooled -it's important -the older ( mine ) was direct seawater cooled .Not good -alloy + salt !!

MASE --are air cooled -no sea water touches the windings ,and the engines are Yanmar .Mine is a I think 3.5 Kv ,it's got a 1GM yanmar - Ex padi pump engine --feeds the 3rd World -bomb proof .No sea water touches the engine either !

These are indirect cooled too ,with a kinda heat exchanger -anode protected ,looks like a small car rad .
Come in a sound proof box etc and are dead easy to maintain .eg the water pump is a geneic Johnson -every chandlery stocks an impeller -€7 .Belt is a x part with Citreon AX € 3 .-Starter motor VW polo generic part .
Access all easy , on one side at the front ,
FP stuff is only available from FP .-although I think the pump looking @ pics could be a typical Johnson on the new I 5000 ?
I,am v please with our set up -many a time we have been on a vistors pontoon ( no or intermittent Shore power ) or a bouy
It's quiet too .

INSTALATION
.Exhaust ideally should exits the stern -our Itama does
Have a think about that -at the side -one neighbour gets the fumes ? Sunseeker did -upset a few neighbours.
There's a few other nuisances
You can get a 'super silent exhaust kit " whereby the water and gas are seperated - gas can be exited above the WL ,If below it will gurgle -not desirable with neighbours .Water too ( with a sea cock ) --above -too high above its trickles -quite noisy -you dicide how high !
Below -no sound -but you loose the "tell tail " and can,t tell if overheat until auto shut down 5 mins later = shredded impeller £30 each from FP
Ideally both just high enough above the WL for a tell tail and at the stern .

I bet that install price is for cheapest easiest , option ?with the shortest runs .

Don,t sit it on a flat surface either .It will resonate -bounce sound back ,Sunseeker did this with my FP -
Best place is between the bearers in the E room and a large air gap under it ,-the Vee - on a frame .Itama did this -no resonations ,

I like little Genys -it's a bit like comparing station clocks to fine watches -- quality and install not all the same ---when you dig deeper .
Click to expand...
Its the first time I've come across Mase and they look very interesting, can you give me an idea of the price installed?
 
Bouba said:
Its the first time I've come across Mase and they look very interesting, can you give me an idea of the price installed?
Click to expand...

Sorry no .It was factory fit std equipment .
If you google them find a local supplier -I suspect they (small genys ) are all ball park with in each other .But like most things the cheapest is not necessary the best -esp with the finer nuances with Genys ,
1- where and what does the seawater come in contact with ?
2- how noisey ? --that's for you -AND your neighbour (s) ?
 
Saintlysimon said:
We're based in Gloucestershire - the installation is £1800 if we can get the boat south but more of they have to travel.

More interested in feedback on how the system performs really. Other option is a little Honda geny - which may just suffice and offer a major saving.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Another vote against a suitcase generator on the bathing platform. I started with a Honda EU20i thinking that it would be quiet enough, but as others have said, it really isn't and I ended up not using it. I then bought a secondhand 4kw Onan and had it properly installed in the engine room, and it has been absolutely brilliant. And very quiet.
 
My second hand rebuilt Zeise 3kva is the best thing I've done for my boat. I, like others, had a Honda that I strapped on the bathing platform (NEVER use it anywhere else - CO kills!!) but the grief of having to carry petrol for it, fill it, pull start it and annoy everyone within 100ft led me to taking the plunge with a properly installed inboard diesel unit.

Mine has the Faryman engine, but I'm river based so touch wood the raw water cooling isn't a big problem. I bought an aftermarket Deep Sea Electronics controller for it, and it's fantastic :)

240v on tap, and some clever outputs from the controller allow me to autochangeover from the inverter and lock out the charger and water heater when in inverter mode.

Wouldn't be without it!!
 
I have installed many generators. 3 or 4 days is about right to when installing with a water seperator in the exhaust system, anti syphon valve, shore / gen change over switch and control panel at the boats main switch panel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top