Generator idea.

No Regrets

No Regrets

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I currently have a Birchwood 25, so plenty of underfloor space in the engine bay, and a defunct Propex gas heater, which I might get round to removing and repairing someday.

In the meanwhile, I wondered about using my Honda Eu20i Generator to power some electric heating whilst on the move, and securing it in the engine bay, which is always very cool (Currently inhabited by a Ford crossflow, used on the upper Thames only at 1500rpm) and has a constantly running ventilation fan.

My question is, is the fan likely to provide enough ventilation to remove any exhaust fumes, or is this a stupid idea?

Thank you for your considerations... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Engine blower fans are typically about 4000 litres/min, so that's more than enough to cope with the exhaust from the Honda's tiny engine. However, it would be wise to have ducting running from the fan to the area of the exhaust outlet on the Honda, so that the fumes are captured immediately. The Honda needs cool fresh air too, so it might be worth arranging an intake duct to deliver air to it. As I recall, the Birchwood has 2 clamshell vents on the transom, with the fan fixed to one, so the other could provide ducted cooling air.
 
Barking idea IMHO, carbon monoxide is a silent killer. If you want heat put a radiator in the cooling circuit and a fan.

Pete
 
I would want as suggested to capture the fumes at source and duct directly outside as CO is not a nice gas (have inadvertently 'tried' it when a boiler flue became blocked), in addition would suggest ensuring that the generator is firmly secured so it can't move about etc.

The fresh air is vital, and as stated before the standard ventilation for the engine bay should suffice, the other observation I would have to make is that the max output is 2KW for that generator and would not advise running it at that constantly (not sure what the duty cycle is - would need to check) - so say 1kw - this is a small fan heater not on full - is so little heat worth this and the potential problems ?

I would want to fit a "proper" heater or why not repair the propex?
 
Thanks so far....

Just to clarify things a bit:

This is a boat with an open cockpit, and the Honda would only be run while underway, so there would be copious amounts of air circulating thoughout the cockpit, and no way would CO be a problem as far as people were concerned. I'm not quite that thick... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
This system would never be used for cabin heating, as I could easily relocate the Honda to a clear spot on the bows or the bathing platform if I really needed heat when moored (Or indeed the hookup at the Marina whenever poss)
I suppose the main engine itself would die first as it's enclosed in the same place, and sucks in air from the engine bay too....perhaps it would act like a 'Coalminers Canary' ?

Heating is to be provided by Infra red heaters, mounted on the roof of the cockpit, which are not affected by wind, these are smaller versions of patio heaters, so silent and effective whatever the weather. They will be removed come nicer weather. Total power 1.2KW so won't stress my beloved Honda, nor get heat blown away like a fan heater.

So, just to recap: Engine and Genny in engine bay, enclosed and vented by the standard fan extractor system (I'll have to check the exit area of course, to make sure it doesn't vent inside the cockpit, but I would imagine not, as it's primarily to ensure the cockpit and engine bay are fume-free in the first place!

I just wondered if the fan would be adequate...so perhaps not by the mixed opinions!?


Thanks again. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
She has a gas detector fitted, but this may be LPG. I could use one of those stick on jobs perhaps?

I can't imagine the little Honda producing anywhere near enough fumes to seep through the floor and gas people in an open cockpit though, it's pretty draughty on a good day!
 
Why not rig up a 240 volt fan so that whenever the genny is running the fan is running?
I would also box in the genny to make it air tight and sound-proof with inlet and outlet ducting to provide free flowing ventilation and cooling.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I just wondered if the fan would be adequate...so perhaps not by the mixed opinions!?

[/ QUOTE ]As I posted earlier, typical 3" bilge fans are rated at 4 cu m per minute - ie 4000 litres/min. Your little Honda genny has, I think, a 98cc engine running at say 4500rpm, so it'll produce about 220 litres of exhaust per minute. I reckon a 4000 l/min fan would suck most of that out quite satisfactorily.
 
OK, so I need a CO sensor as a precaution.

Thats easy, and sensible.

Boxing it in with an Air cooled engine is not an idea that exites me much, both in terms of effort, and possible heat build up, especially if a fan fails... (Although it may suffocate before it overheats) and I want to remove the genny regularly.

Or just get the propex sorted... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
Or get an Eberspacher/Mikuni/Webasto heater.

OK, they run on diesel and No Regrets is petrol, but you could fit a small dedicated tank for the heater's fuel and you will not gas yourself!
 
It all sounds horribly inefficient to me. Paying for petrol at full road price to run a genny that is probably less than 50% efficient to run an electric heater. Meanwhile that bilge fan is blowing so much waste heat out into the atmosphere, and if you're unlucky sucking warm air out of the cabin at the same time.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I'm not quite that thick...

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm afraid you are !! You will die far far sooner than an engine . /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

regards
terry
 
Not horrobily ineffient, in the sense of using what you already have. I think I would want the exhuast vented over the side somehow. I think CO may not be a problem (depending on layout of boat), but the smell, noise and dirt from the exhaust might be.
I've wondered about converting a small genny to water cooling, shame to waste all that heat....
Or mount genny on transom like a liferaft canister?
 
Hang on, for those who missed it first time around:

The engine and generator are in a vented engine room, substantially sealed from the cabin, which we don't use when underway.

With me here Gents?

We will be in the OPEN (Note the word 'open' as in 'open to the air' cockpit basking under infra-red heaters, while the genny powers them up in an area substantially sealed from the OPEN cockpit.

I won't be in the bloody cabin, so in the highly unlikely event any shreds of CO will make their way in, there will be nobody in there to breathe it...

Still with me?

The idea of the bilge fan blowing hot air out is fine, as I don't want the hot air from the Genny, I want the heat from the Infra red tubes...

Now if the fan pushes air IN to the bilge, I can imagine waste product being pushed out of every orifice under pressure, so CO leaching might be an issue.

If the fan sucks the waste out, then it will not be a problem, as the bilge area will have a very very slight negative pressure, so nothing will escape, other than via the fan.

I cannot get gassed in such an open cockpit though...

I was wondering about the heat build up, and exhaust fumes in the engine room, but it appears the fan will remove far more than the genny can produce.

HOWEVER.....see the 'PROPEX' thread, just to keep you happy!

Cheers to all of you by the way /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Have you no faith ....the UK weather will warm up...havn't you heard of global warming.
I may be wrong but I reckon the above head ifra red radiators will be a huge disapointment. I reckon you will end up with fried brains and frozen feet.
You would be much safer with the gen out on deck. regards olewill
Who has hardly missed a day swimming around his boat in the last 5 months.
 
There was a thread a few weeks ago - i cant find i now - someone attached a flexible exhaust rom his honda and exited it via a web/eber exhaust skin fitting - so no fumes or smell etc.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hang on, for those who missed it first time around:

The engine and generator are in a vented engine room, substantially sealed from the cabin, which we don't use when underway.

With me here Gents?

We will be in the OPEN (Note the word 'open' as in 'open to the air' cockpit basking under infra-red heaters, while the genny powers them up in an area substantially sealed from the OPEN cockpit.

I won't be in the bloody cabin, so in the highly unlikely event any shreds of CO will make their way in, there will be nobody in there to breathe it...

Still with me?

The idea of the bilge fan blowing hot air out is fine, as I don't want the hot air from the Genny, I want the heat from the Infra red tubes...

Now if the fan pushes air IN to the bilge, I can imagine waste product being pushed out of every orifice under pressure, so CO leaching might be an issue.

If the fan sucks the waste out, then it will not be a problem, as the bilge area will have a very very slight negative pressure, so nothing will escape, other than via the fan.

I cannot get gassed in such an open cockpit though...

I was wondering about the heat build up, and exhaust fumes in the engine room, but it appears the fan will remove far more than the genny can produce.

HOWEVER.....see the 'PROPEX' thread, just to keep you happy!

Cheers to all of you by the way /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

So just to check, is the heating for when you are sitting outside while sailing (warmed from the heat of the cabin)? Would a set of thermals and a cup of coffee be an easier solution?
 
Who has hardly missed a day swimming around his boat in the last 5 months
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Now you are making us jealous....You ll be telling us next its barbies in the cockpit with gentleman George and livaboard Lil /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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