portable generator

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ErikKiekens

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What about the following idea for my extended cruising trip:
I buy a 2000W portable generator such as the Honda EU20i. Whenever I need 220V and/or want to charge the ship's batteries, I get the generator out while under sail, plug the generator's outlet into the shorepower inlet, and fire up the generator.
Is this feasible or am I missing something?
Erik
 
ErikKiekens said:
What about the following idea for my extended cruising trip:
I buy a 2000W portable generator such as the Honda EU20i. Whenever I need 220V and/or want to charge the ship's batteries, I get the generator out while under sail, plug the generator's outlet into the shorepower inlet, and fire up the generator.
Is this feasible or am I missing something?
Erik
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Yes it is feasible thats the simple way to do it.
No you are not missing anything

A permanently installed genny can be wired in but it needs to be via a "transfer switch" so that you cannot have shorepower and genny connected simultaneously. The plug in method easily achieves the same thing for a portable genny.

There will now be a discussion about earthing !
 
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I also have a 2000 watt petrol generator which I use sometimes when away for a few days.I use it as a back up in case the batteries go flat, although I have a solar panel. However, I do not use it as often as I thought I would. But if you are away for long periods, It would be useful. Naturally, storing too much petrol can be a problem. It runs my heaters, kettle and everything else that is power hungry. It is a nice to have rather than a must have.
 
ErikKiekens said:
What about the following idea for my extended cruising trip:
I buy a 2000W portable generator such as the Honda EU20i. Whenever I need 220V and/or want to charge the ship's batteries, I get the generator out while under sail, plug the generator's outlet into the shorepower inlet, and fire up the generator.
Is this feasible or am I missing something?
Erik
Click to expand...

The exhaust fumes from a petrol generator are potentially lethal if circumstances should lead to the fumes entering the boat interior.
 
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC said:
However, I do not use it as often as I thought I would....... It is a nice to have rather than a must have.
Click to expand...

Same here, ended up selling the Honda 20iand buying 180w of solar panels. Erik, you might be better off with the smaller 10i if you only want to charge the batteries. The 12AH I have used today running the heating will be replaced over the next week by the panels and then they will hold the batteries at a float charge.

Pete
 
Pete7 said:
Same here, ended up selling the Honda 20iand buying 180w of solar panels. Erik, you might be better off with the smaller 10i if you only want to charge the batteries. The 12AH I have used today running the heating will be replaced over the next week by the panels and then they will hold the batteries at a float charge.

Pete
Click to expand...

I've used the Honda EU20i plugged into the shore power cable for the last three years as I only had a small amount of solar. However, I've just bought 400W of new solar (currently awaiting delivery) so I'm wondering whether I might be able to bring the Honda home and sell it. It's probably been run for less that 30 hours since new.

The solar panels will never heat up the domestic hot water like the Honda does so I could keep it just for that. However, running the engines for 30 minutes will do that so perhaps the Honda will be a luxury I could manage without.

Richard
 
I'm on a narrowboat with no access to shorepower and only 100W of solar panels in the not very sunny Manchester.

I've used a Honda EU20i to charge my batteries via the shorepower inlet for over 5 years. Works very well. I make sure the exhaust is pointed over the side, and that the wind isnt blowing it into the boat. If you are sailing, (except for downwind), and the exhaust points over the stern, I cant see how any gas can get back onto the boat.

My charger outputs up to 80A and the genny handles it fine.
 
Works well but will NOT usually fully charge your batteries as it is normally only run for 1-2 hours. Best bet is to fit as much solar as you can. Use the generator if there's a shortfall. Run it early in the day and solar will top up for next 5-6 hours. That's how I manage when in same anchorage for a week or two. I have enough solar to avoid the need for daily generator runs.

The generator would normally just get flooded batteries back to 80% in absence of solar panels. You don't absolutely need to get to 100% every day but it helps improve battery lifespan to get there as often as you can manage.
 
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Mistroma said:
Works well but will NOT usually fully charge your batteries as it is normally only run for 1-2 hours. Best bet is to fit as much solar as you can. Use the generator if there's a shortfall. Run it early in the day and solar will top up for next 5-6 hours. That's how I manage when in same anchorage for a week or two.

The generator would normally just get flooded batteries back to 80% in absence of solar panels.
Click to expand...

Mine gets them to 100% and then enables me to equalise for a few hours if necessary. Takes about 3 hrs to get down to a small tail current if I've drawn around 150Ah.
 
Engine, Solar and WG are main source for charging. 2kW gen is emergency backup for charging and to use power tools with no access to shore power.
I run the gen on the aft deck plugged into the boat mains circuit. If you have the room to carry one plus fuel, then do it.
 
ErikKiekens said:
Thanks for your comments. I would use the generator not just for charging the batteries, also for some 220V applications. It's decided! Love this forum.
Click to expand...
:encouragement:
good choice, I have a 10e, quiet enough to not disrupt the anchorage and tough as old boots. Plus mistroma is bang on about getting fully charged, takes a loooooong time so unless you run the genny for hours dripping in the last few amps solar really is required if you want to be nice to your batteries
 
ashtead said:
Are the Honda versions quieter than others though and are small 10i the quietest of the Honda versions ?
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The Honda's have a quiet low speed setting for running things like a battery charger. If you then plug in a calorifier, the speed automaticaly ramps up to generate the extra amps required and then they are noisy, although the Honda is probably the quietest of the bunch if a little pricey. However, they won't run at an angle and have a cut off probably based on the oil pan level. Only ever used ours whilst stationary at anchor or in harbour so I could direct exhaust fumes down wind. Sitting them on a rubber mat helps cut down the noise and vibration when they are running to a point were you don't really notice it down below.

After decades of motobikes, chain saws and dive compressors it was really nice to start the Honda first time every time, it just worked. If I bought another it would probably be the 10i and fit a smaller heater element to the calorifier because the 20i is quite big to store on a small yacht.

If you can live without the hot water, then solar and an inverter solves most of the electrical needs.

Pete
 
ErikKiekens said:
What about the following idea for my extended cruising trip:
I buy a 2000W portable generator such as the Honda EU20i. Whenever I need 220V and/or want to charge the ship's batteries, I get the generator out while under sail, plug the generator's outlet into the shorepower inlet, and fire up the generator.
Is this feasible or am I missing something?
Erik
Click to expand...

Tried this and it was a poor second to using the boat engine. It was noisy, smelly, cumbersome and since it required the use of petrol and gave off exhaust gasses it was risky. Sure if you can put the genny on the pontoon and walk away to the pub for a hour it would help but then why not use the pontoon power. And if you are at anchor, do you really want to destroy the peace and quiet?

It takes several hours to fully charge a 50% depleted battery - 30 mins with a generator running wont do the job.
 
Richard10002 said:
Mine gets them to 100% and then enables me to equalise for a few hours if necessary. Takes about 3 hrs to get down to a small tail current if I've drawn around 150Ah.
Click to expand...

How do you measure 100%? Are you using extremely high charging voltage? Or are you using something other than flooded lead acid batteries? I'd be interested in improving my setup.

I measure % with Smartgauge and temp. compensated SG. This pretty much agrees with estimated current in/out and totals from other instruments recorded daily over a few years.

I see you are also talking about a few hours. My point was for OP not to expect 100% after 1-2 hours.
 
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It's the most common way of annoying people in anchorages and also of killing your family with carbon monoxide poisoning.
 
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