Generator Questions

[BobnLesley]

We're thinking of buying one for a variety of reasons/tasks, but thought that rather than just get a 800/1000 watt jobby, we as well have one that's big enough to run an electric fan heater in extremis, as we've no heating on this boat. Now our little blow heater says it's 1.5kw on the high setting, but I'm presuming that we'll need a genni with a bigger power output than that to a) make the heater heat and b) not blow-up the genni after twenty minutes. So: What's the smallest genni output that's likely to be capable of running a heater for a few hours without overheating itself? And what about a recommended manufacturer? I gather that the Honda isconsidered the best, quietest, etc. but for the usage we're anticipating, we don't want to pay the premium pricethey charge for one; at the same time, we don't want a £200 chinese-whizzer off ebay that'll die in six months.

Oh, just realised that we'll probably be buying it in the USA; anyone know if they do 220/240v units there, or will it just be 100v?

 

[cliff]

Do not let other people's prejudice hurt your wallet. I (and many others on here) have Kipor gennys of various sizes - while made in China they are not "chinese-whizzers" by any means but if you want to take that view then go buy a jap-**** copy of the Kipor - honda make them I believe - and pay 2½~3 times the price. I am sure you will sleep better.
Back to the Kipor - I have a 3000ti with maybe 1400 hours on it and no issues or break downs. Change the oil bi-annually and treat it to a new spark plug now and again - all it needs to keep it running sweet.
Spare parts are readily available though I have not needed any to date.
2.7kva continuous rating. Noise vs jap copy no noticeable difference up to 1½kw (jap copy limit) - over 1½ kw the Kipor is noisier but it is putting out more kva's
Newer models of the Kipor are the IG range - I would suggest you get an IG2600 - will give you 2½kw continuous so 1½kw for your fan heater and 1kw in reserve for battery charger or kettle or .........
At the price you can replace it after a few years and still be cheaper than the jap copy.
ps my 3000ti is 8 years old and still going strong

 

[mikemanor]

I have a Honda 10i 1KVa which is "silent running" and which I run on the bathing platform. However, when running on max load it is far from silent - and I wouldn't want to run it for more than a few minutes. When running at low load - battery charger/12v systems and a TV - it is indeed quite quiet.

Whichever type you go for, put it on max load before you buy it to check that the dB level is acceptable to you - and your neighbours.

 

[cliff]

I have a Honda 10i 1KVa which is "silent running" and which I run on the bathing platform. However, when running on max load it is far from silent - and I wouldn't want to run it for more than a few minutes.

Never a truer word spoken - the hondas are not as quiet as some would have the rest of us believe when running on or near full load - I am glad one honda owner has admitted it publicly - when will the rest wake up, smell the roses and tell teh truth....

 

[pmagowan]

I was given one of the Honda ones as a very generous present and it has always worked well. I have no experience of other 'suitcase' type but the Honda is considerably quieter than the standard generators we use at home. It was most useful when trying to do work on the boat on a swinging mooring but on a cruise I prefer not to have any noise other than the birds and the water and perhaps a bagpipe at precisely the right number of miles distant.

 

[Ripster]

We have Kipor 2000 and its been very reliable. Not as quiet as a Honda its true, but 1/3 the price when we bought it some four years ago. Much of the noise come from the exhaust output (surprise surprise) so if you get some tube (eber exh or I used some copper pipe) to fit over the end of the outlet and then poke into the drink a few inches, it quietens it even more. I start mine, fit the tube, then remove it before stopping to avoid any sucking back that may or may not occur.

 

[superheat6k]

For regular 1.5 kw I would suggest at least 2.5 kva continuous rating. Even at this rating you won't run the heater plus a kettle at the same time.

At this size then perhaps an installed watercooled 3.5 -4 kva set, or may be an Eber D2 for the heating, as this will be cheaper to run.

 

[cliff]

Much of the noise come from the exhaust output (surprise surprise) so if you get some tube (eber exh or I used some copper pipe) to fit over the end of the outlet and then poke into the drink a few inches, it quietens it even more.

I found all I needed to do was slip piece of eber exhaust about 2ft long onto the Kipor silencer - no need to dunk it in the drink - to deaden the sound even more although the 3000ti is as quiet as the jap copy kw for kw (unless I was testing it against a real noisy jap copy)

 

[cliff]

For regular 1.5 kw I would suggest at least 2.5 kva continuous rating. Even at this rating you won't run the heater plus a kettle at the same time.

At this size then perhaps an installed watercooled 3.5 -4 kva set, or may be an Eber D2 for the heating, as this will be cheaper to run.

Duh! I do - run heater and kettle at same time - labours a bit just before it trips out if I plug in the toaster as well ..... - the 3000ti has no problem giving 2.7kw continuous

 

[rosssavage]

Again and again this one eh?

My kipor (ig2000) is I've forgotten how old - six years at least.

Occasional oil change, one new plug in that time and never skipped a beat.

Was at henley a few years ago - I had my kipor, friend had his brand new posh Honda 2.0. They sounded the same to my ears. Interestingly, his got nicked and my cheap kipor didn't. I also paid a third of the cost!

Two years ago I bit the bullet and bought a recon pukka 3kva diesel jobbie - heaven. Instant power at the touch of a button, diesel frugality and convenience, and a soft burble from the transom exhaust.

 

[William_H]

I think you will find that a blower heater at 1.5kw will heat the boat air up pretty quickly. If you run it on low power (if it has such a setting not low thermostat setting ) it will be a lot lower power consumption though it will heat the boat more slowly.
It seems to me a lower powered gen running a heater on low power might suit better in a semi continuous type operation. good luck olewill

 

[GrahamM376]

We also have the 2kw Honda, rated at 1600w constant. Will run fan heater OK but, when on maximum load is not quiet. Reason we went for the Honda (having binned some 2/ cheapos) is that parts and service is good throughout Europe, even worldwide, wheras parts for some makes is impossible in some countries.

 

[Otter]

A small Eber and a small generator may be a better bet? The noise and vibration even of one of Cliffs whisper quiet jobies would drive you mad if you ran it constantly in the winter. A well installed small eber will heat the boat and a small 1kw genny will charge the batteries, heat the calorifier (750w element) and charge mains laptops etc.

 

[cmedsailor]

Sorry if I am asking something different but need to clear something in my mind.
A 1KW generator (such as the Kipor IG1000) says rated current 3.9amp (for 240V). Does that means if you connect it to the usual shore power plug of the boat the maximum charge will give is 3.9amps per hour? That seems extremely low even ignoring the limitations of the charger maximin current; eg a usual 20 amp one.

 

[neale]

Sorry if I am asking something different but need to clear something in my mind.
A 1KW generator (such as the Kipor IG1000) says rated current 3.9amp (for 240V). Does that means if you connect it to the usual shore power plug of the boat the maximum charge will give is 3.9amps per hour? That seems extremely low even ignoring the limitations of the charger maximin current; eg a usual 20 amp one.

No, as long as your mains charger does not draw more than 1000 watts,or whatever the continuous rating of the genny is, it will operate normally and charge the batteries just the same as if you were plugged into shorepower.

 

[ctva]

A small Eber and a small generator may be a better bet? The noise and vibration even of one of Cliffs whisper quiet jobies would drive you mad if you ran it constantly in the winter. A well installed small eber will heat the boat and a small 1kw genny will charge the batteries, heat the calorifier (750w element) and charge mains laptops etc.

My thoughts exactly as I was reading down the thread. This is the set up we have as running an electric heater is expensive and noiser than an eber. Also the Honda 10eu which we have is liftable with one hand which is great when lifting in and out of the locker.

 

[Richard10002]

Sorry if I am asking something different but need to clear something in my mind.
A 1KW generator (such as the Kipor IG1000) says rated current 3.9amp (for 240V). Does that means if you connect it to the usual shore power plug of the boat the maximum charge will give is 3.9amps per hour? That seems extremely low even ignoring the limitations of the charger maximin current; eg a usual 20 amp one.

Watts = Volts x Amps, so 3.9A at 240V is equivalent to 83A at 12V, so your 1Kw genny will power an 83A charger.

It's not quite this simple, and I think it was recently agreed that it might be sensible to limit the Amps drawn at 12V to about 50.

 

[William_H]

Sorry if I am asking something different but need to clear something in my mind.
A 1KW generator (such as the Kipor IG1000) says rated current 3.9amp (for 240V). Does that means if you connect it to the usual shore power plug of the boat the maximum charge will give is 3.9amps per hour? That seems extremely low even ignoring the limitations of the charger maximin current; eg a usual 20 amp one.

The concept of 3.9 amps "per hour" indicates a bit of confusion. It is just 3.9 amps.
That compares with the capacity of your shore power outlet which might be rated at 15 amps. So a lot more power available from shore power. If you start to plug appliances into the boat system and so generator you need to know the power usage of the appliance and recognise that the usage is cumulative for all appliances being used. Anything that produces heat will be of concern. ie need to be checked.
Of course this 3.9 amp rating at 250vAC is far different from the 10 amps your charger might charge the batteries at. This is because power which is the real concern is a function of voltage and current. So 1000 watts is 3.9 amps at 250v is equivalent in power to 12volts at about 80 amps. good luck olewill

 

[timchapman]

When choosing a car almost nobody goes for the cheapest available, far from it. This attitude never seems to apply to generators.
The best long term investment for a generator, by far, is a fresh water cooled installed diesel one. Unfortunately you have to own one for a year or two before you realise how wise you were with your money!
Nobody who lugs a rusting petrol generator onto the deck in the rain, then listens to its noise and smells it's exhaust will agree with this.

If your only real goal is heating then go for an ebserspacher/webasto; far better solution.

 

[pelicanpete]

Oh, just realised that we'll probably be buying it in the USA; anyone know if they do 220/240v units there, or will it just be 100v?

You will have great difficulty finding a UK spec. generator in the USA. Expect to find only 110-120v/60 cycle (as opposed to 50 cycles for the "European" model). The outlets will be different, too. Plan to buy new 110v appliances (which are cheap enough in the US). FWIW I have a Honda EU2.0 which I highly recommend. Often overlooked is that they retain their second-hand value and can be sold on without sweat!