eidiohir
Well-Known Member
I just wonder is it worth the trouble of installing a generator or would a powerful transformer rectifier be a better option?
pros and cons of installing a generater
- Thread starter eidiohir
- Start date
Mistroma
Well-Known Member
Could you provide more information about the application? It sounds as if you are asking about getting DC from AC using either a DC generator or dropping mains to DC. Alternatively, you might be asking abut an AC generator vs. an inverter to get AC.
If it is the latter, then you still need to get power from somewhere to supply the inverter. Big impact on battery charging unless power requirements are low or duration is very short. More information would help.
If it is the latter, then you still need to get power from somewhere to supply the inverter. Big impact on battery charging unless power requirements are low or duration is very short. More information would help.
William_H
Well-Known Member
Installing a generator is a major step in providing power and comfort. Diesel powered it will provide electric heating and airconditioning and electric cooking. But of course majorly expensive. My neighbour bought s/h a generator it was beautiful being based on a Kubota 3 cylinder diesel. Most of my other friends would be proud to have that engine for main propulsion.
This kind of generator is popular in mobos around here as a popular weekend away is to an island nearby where the only power you have is your own supply.
An inverter running off a battery is a very poor alternative.You need the power from the engine alternator plus more for inefficiencies and really the amount of power is only suitable for low powered 240vAC appliances. Some people have some success with microwave ovens for short period operation but mostly only for phone chargers etc.
So it is all a question of how much luxury you want and can afford by way of money weight and space. good luck olewill
This kind of generator is popular in mobos around here as a popular weekend away is to an island nearby where the only power you have is your own supply.
An inverter running off a battery is a very poor alternative.You need the power from the engine alternator plus more for inefficiencies and really the amount of power is only suitable for low powered 240vAC appliances. Some people have some success with microwave ovens for short period operation but mostly only for phone chargers etc.
So it is all a question of how much luxury you want and can afford by way of money weight and space. good luck olewill
Ian_Edwards
Well-Known Member
I installed a 5KAV diesel generator this winter. The boat already had a Master Volt 2.5KW inverter charger (100amp charger). My conclusion is that the generator is very useful if you can afford it, it's also quite noisy, but I intend to do something about that over this coming winter. The Inverter isn't really that useful, I rarely use it at full power, except to run a microwave for a few minutes at a time, it takes over 100amps at a nominal 12volts, as William_H says, it's principal use is to run PC's and charge mobile phones and the like, but I don't need 2.5Kwatts to do that. I find that running the generator to charge the batteries and run the water heat is quite effective, the 3 stage charger is more efficient than the engine alternator. This effectively means I run the main engine less and do more sailing. I don't have the excuse, "I'll just put the engine on, the batteries need charging anyway".
If I was starting from scratch I'd install a small inverter, in the 500W to 1KW range a good 3 stage charger of 100amps or more and a generator.
I'd add that the generator is one of the newer variable speed generators with and inverter on the output, so it seems to produce a good sine wave output.
If I was starting from scratch I'd install a small inverter, in the 500W to 1KW range a good 3 stage charger of 100amps or more and a generator.
I'd add that the generator is one of the newer variable speed generators with and inverter on the output, so it seems to produce a good sine wave output.
laika
Well-Known Member
I have a nice, sympathetically installed 4kva generator which was on the boat when I bought it. I only have a 50amp charger, so can't get the best out of it for pure battery charging. I have no a/c, don't use a microwave, have 2 big gas bottles for cooking and heating (when it works) is diesel. I find running the genny anywhere a bit embarrassing even though it's pretty quiet. I run it more to keep it lubricated than to provide power. It makes the boat list slightly to starboard and takes up a lot of locker space. Mechanics is not my strong point so it's a maintenance issue I could probably do without. The only reason I don't sell it and replace it with a bunch of solar panels (I already have a nice pure sine wave 700W inverter) is because it *is* nicely installed, does work very well, I think that one day I *might* just need it to power the angle grinder and I'm not entirely sure how to go about selling it. Mainly the latter (Advertise when in the boat so I can demonstrate it working, or take out first for quick sale? Hmmm...) Certainly wouldn't install one given (a) the deck space for solar and (b) no fancy requirements for mod cons like tv, microwaves etc.
eidiohir
Well-Known Member
Sorry for the delay in getting back to make a reply but i was out of internet range.
The main reason in wanting a genny or something is to provide 240 volts for a tv and dvd player to keep the kids and the grandkids happy. I have a battery bank of 400 amps domestic and 120 for the starter. My three stage charger is 40 amps. I do have a rectiferer that provides 500 watts but I only use it to charge phones and a computer. I am restricted to marinas and harbour due to the demands of my family and there are places I would like to go and a genny would make me independent.
The main reason in wanting a genny or something is to provide 240 volts for a tv and dvd player to keep the kids and the grandkids happy. I have a battery bank of 400 amps domestic and 120 for the starter. My three stage charger is 40 amps. I do have a rectiferer that provides 500 watts but I only use it to charge phones and a computer. I am restricted to marinas and harbour due to the demands of my family and there are places I would like to go and a genny would make me independent.
prv
Well-Known Member
You certainly don't need a generator for that! Plenty of LCD tellies that can be run off 12 volts, and if you must have a 240v one then a moderate-sized inverter would be more appropriate. (An inverter seems to be what you're referring to when you keep saying "rectifier", but that's for converting AC to DC so probably not what you mean.)
Pete
cliff
Well-Known Member
TV and DVD - no problem - a small 300w PURE sine wave inverter would suffice (standby amps requirement is negligible) possibly going a little higher to 5~600w but not needed for TV/DVD.
I have a small 300w PSW inverter for telly, dvd, phone and other small chargers and a bigger (~3kw) jobbie for microwave, vacuum cleaner etc. Power from house batteries 550 Ahr and a Kipor 3000ti suitcase genny for those odd moments when batteries are low. The genny also feeds a 120A 4 stagesd charger
eidiohir
Well-Known Member
That sounds like the system that would suit me. I have never tried to run the tv from the inverter i must try it out soon. I was thinking of buying oneof those honda super silent gennies but they seem to be quite a lot more evpensive than the others but maybe they are the best. I have plenty of space in the engine room to build in a "sound proof" box to house a big genny. So maybe I am nottied to a super silent type?
grumpy_o_g
Well-Known Member
Ironically the first thing the TV and DVD player will do with your 240V AC is convert it down to low voltage DC but there's not much anyone can do about that. There's a few 12V - though there's a bunch of 12V TV/DVD combo's here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_pg...2+volt+tv+dvd+freeview&ie=UTF8&qid=1374788026
This one looks quite nice: http://www.amazon.co.uk/22inch-Full...88635&sr=8-6&keywords=12+volt+tv+dvd+freeview and will draw less than 4 Amps at 12V according to the spec so a standard 110 AH battery would run it for at least 12 hours without problem.
Do a power inventory - normal case and worst case - and see what you will use. If you can stick with batteries I would say it's worth it - you can buy an awful lot of batteries, solar panels and even wind generators for the cost of installing a generator.
This one looks quite nice: http://www.amazon.co.uk/22inch-Full...88635&sr=8-6&keywords=12+volt+tv+dvd+freeview and will draw less than 4 Amps at 12V according to the spec so a standard 110 AH battery would run it for at least 12 hours without problem.
Do a power inventory - normal case and worst case - and see what you will use. If you can stick with batteries I would say it's worth it - you can buy an awful lot of batteries, solar panels and even wind generators for the cost of installing a generator.
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KellysEye
Well-Known Member
We installed a Westerbeke 1,500 rpm generator: note - I asked a number of generator repair shops in the Caribbean which generator they least had to repair least Northern Lights won the yellow jersey with Westerbeke a close second. We used it for battery charging, water maker, kettle and toaster. Under no circumstances buy a 3,000 rpm generator they are lifed for 600 hours, 1,500 rpm generator are lifed for 8,000 hours the same as an engine.