Genset 1500 v 3000

[Island Packet]

I know gensets running at 1500 rpm are less noisy than those running at 3000 rpm and also have other advantages.

My question is has anyone used both and if so how noticeable is the difference in noise?

I have a 6kw fp and am thinking of replacing it with a 8 kw 1500 rpm genset. Any thoughts on which are ultimately the most reliable makes?

 

[david_bagshaw]

I know gensets running at 1500 rpm are less noisy than those running at 3000 rpm and also have other advantages.

My question is has anyone used both and if so how noticeable is the difference in noise?

I have a 6kw fp and am thinking of replacing it with a 8 kw 1500 rpm genset. Any thoughts on which are ultimately the most reliable makes?

chalk and cheese. about 1/5 of the noise,

replaced a zeise with an 7.5 kva onan. now at 3000 hrs service items only so far should be good for + 10K hours. wouldnt consider anything else now. engine is kubota 3 cyl

clearly remember its first start, it ran with me waiting for it to get to speed. climb out of lazarette to go and see how low the out put voltage was, only to see a full output!

In Zeirekzee being told by h master, dont start gennies, with him standing on top of the exhaust, while it was on full output. He couldnt believe it was running.

definately fit a water separator on the exhaust, I fitted the standard halyard one

 

[ARE]

I know gensets running at 1500 rpm are less noisy than those running at 3000 rpm and also have other advantages.

My question is has anyone used both and if so how noticeable is the difference in noise?

I have a 6kw fp and am thinking of replacing it with a 8 kw 1500 rpm genset. Any thoughts on which are ultimately the most reliable makes?

We sell both high speed and low speed generators and I will allways try to push customers towards 1500rpm generators, the noise is very noticeable less. it is also the tone of the noise, at 1500rpm to noise is a low gentle purr, where as at 3000rpm it is a higher pitched noise. as you say they have other advantages like a longer servicable life, longer time between services and better motor starting performance. but remember the down side of this is that they are larger in size.

As for what is ultimately the most reliable, I would suggest you look at either a Kohler, Northern lights or a Cummins Onan.

Depending where you are in the country you are, you are welcome to pop into our office (peterborough) and I will show you the difference in Noise. PM if your intrested

Anthony

 

[Dockhead]

What everybody said. Huge difference both in volume and, maybe even more important, tone of the sound. Also vibration.

Three-cylinder 1500 RPM gensets in sound enclosures make a pleasant, relaxed, loping sound which is barely audible. They are made to run continuously, and sound like it. On my boat, where the Kohler 1500 RPM genset is also inside a closed engine compartment, you can't even tell it's running if the Eberspacher is going.

Two-cylinder 3000 RPM gensets make a nervous, loud sound like a motorbike, and produce a lot of vibration to boot.

I haven't seen figures, but I would bet that service life and reliability is also quite different between the low-stress, heavy, 1500 RPM gensets and the much more highly stressed 3000 RPM ones.

The only downside to 1500 RPM gensets, besides cost, is that they are much larger and heavier than 3000 RPM ones. They simply won't fit on many yachts.

Now you might think -- I live on battery power, and I'm only going to run the genset for the odd hour or two at anchor. But remember that your battery charger only works at full output for a short time before the batteries' acceptance rate starts to fall. So most boats I know with gensets run them actually for a few hours every day. So if the sound is unpleasant, it can really spoil the cruising experience.