Replacement Generator or Inverter?

[Greg2]

Had a bit of a disaster with the genny this weekend. It is the original, so twenty odd years old and it had stopped running. Problem seemed to be fuel related so we took it off the boat during the winter and replaced all the fuel components (fuel pump, injector pump etc). Put it back yesterday (not an easy job) and I wired it up exactly as it was when we removed it. To cut a long story short things didn't go well and after an exploded power lead and lots of smoke from the genny (most disconcerting) I am thinking that cutting my losses and giving up on the existing genny is the way to go.

The question is whether to go for a new genny (not cheap) or alternatively an additional battery bank with a quality charger/inverter instead. Pros and cons for each option but the inverter would provide silent 240v for kettle, TV, microwave and sockets as well as additional 12v for longer periods away from shore power. We have a split gas/electric hob and whilst we could mange with just the gas it would probably make sense to replace with an all gas version.

The obvious benefit of a genny is 240v on tap for as long as you want to run it and it will run the battery charger to top up the 12v but they are costly and require maintenance. They are also quite noisy (I am at the lower end in size/type so single cylinder type set up)

Our boating is inland with some coastal and in the longer term we may spend some time around the UK and in the Eurooean waterways. Reality is that we rarely use the genny at the moment, although it did prove useful during a cruise up the Thames.

What does the panel think? Anyone gone down the battery/inverter route? Thoughts/comments/suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[rafiki_]

Certainly inverters have there place, and clearly your 240 supply will be related to battery capacity. How about a halfway house with more batteries/inverter, plus a 2 kVA suitcase gennie? You will then have back up to recharge batteries as and when. Kipor and Honda are both quite quiet. I guess downside is carrying petrol, but I assume you need this for your tender anyway?

 

[Greg2]

Certainly inverters have there place, and clearly your 240 supply will be related to battery capacity. How about a halfway house with more batteries/inverter, plus a 2 kVA suitcase gennie? You will then have back up to recharge batteries as and when. Kipor and Honda are both quite quiet. I guess downside is carrying petrol, but I assume you need this for your tender anyway?

Not a bad thought. Not sure where we would keep it though....aft cabin boat with no lazarette.

I am also thinking about when we come to sell. Do people generally expect a genny on a 41 footer?

 

[jrudge]

There are two answers.

1 if you don't use 240 v much then the inverter option is viable. Do you run enough to charge the batteries?

2. Resale. I doubt that unless the boat is in the med a generator is going to make much odds on resale. Certainly you would probably not get back the relativly considerable cost.

Generators are however useful.

 

[Greg2]

There are two answers.

1 if you don't use 240 v much then the inverter option is viable. Do you run enough to charge the batteries?

2. Resale. I doubt that unless the boat is in the med a generator is going to make much odds on resale. Certainly you would probably not get back the relativly considerable cost.

Generators are however useful.

Reality is that 240v isn't used great deal when away from shore power.

I am also thinking that it may be necessary to change the alternators to increase the level of charge when the engines are running.

I tend to agree on the re-sale point but my lad (who was a broker) seems to think it mattered to people who would be interested in our type of boat.

 

[Flynnbarr]

Two Brooms side by side,one with one without.Which would you choose?
Always handy to have.
Will be on my wish list for next boat.

Little 2kva petrol genny could be stored where the old one resided?
I keep mine in a teak box on the aft deck,does take up valuable space though.
My friend won't keep petrol on his woodie,runs his Honda on gas.

 

[rafiki_]

Just

My friend won't keep petrol on his woodie,runs his Honda on gas.

Does your friend think that gas is less flammable than petrol?

 

[Flynnbarr]

Just

Does your friend think that gas is less flammable than petrol?

He's a woodie I have no idea what goes on in his head

 

[rafiki_]

He's a woodie I have no idea what goes on in his head

 

[Cashbuyer]

Certainly inverters have there place, and clearly your 240 supply will be related to battery capacity. How about a halfway house with more batteries/inverter, plus a 2 kVA suitcase gennie? You will then have back up to recharge batteries as and when. Kipor and Honda are both quite quiet. I guess downside is carrying petrol, but I assume you need this for your tender anyway?

We had a new Kipor and sent it back. Bloody noisy and don't believe the decibel quotes unless you stand it 50 feet away. Also felt very cheap and 'tinny'.

 

[rafiki_]

We had a new Kipor and sent it back. Bloody noisy and don't believe the decibel quotes unless you stand it 50 feet away. Also felt very cheap and 'tinny'.

If you don't believe the approval then raise it with Trading Standards. The things have generally been tested by the Germans (TUeV's) or Swiss (SGS). Would they be slipshod in their approvals?

 

[Greg2]

Uu

Two Brooms side by side,one with one without.Which would you choose?
Always handy to have.
Will be on my wish list for next boat.

Little 2kva petrol genny could be stored where the old one resided?
I keep mine in a teak box on the aft deck,does take up valuable space though.
My friend won't keep petrol on his woodie,runs his Honda on gas.

Assuming that the two Brooms were on a par in other respects then yes, fair point. I guess the question would be whether any price premium would attach to the one with the generator or whether it would just make it more attractive/saleable.

The generator space is under the saloon in an enclosed compartment. Could in theory carry a suitcase genny there but hoiking it out when we wanted to use it would be a pain and the petrol being in that location might not be so good because the ebersplutter is also in there!

 

[Portofino]

Out of interest -what make /size was it ?
A new small Geny will make it more versatile to you + potential buyers .Like extended season ( UK) and EU inland river jaunts . I,am thinking simple fan heater ,cooking sans gaz -no pressure to refil ,hair dryer etc .
Sure all 3000+ rpm are noisey that's not a deal braker.
Mase -small ones are air cooled -water does not get through the engine( yanmar) or windings -therefore for a buyer a good thing ?

 

[Greg2]

It is marked as a Zeisse and is the usual 3000rpm set up with a single cylinder Farryman Diesel engine. I think it is around 4kva. I get the point around versatility but I guess I am wondering whether the capital outlay is worth it.

 

[CharlieAlpha]

It is marked as a Zeisse and is the usual 3000rpm set up with a single cylinder Farryman Diesel engine. I think it is around 4kva. I get the point around versatility but I guess I am wondering whether the capital outlay is worth it.

Well there is a thought, I've recently acquired a boat with a 4Kw Gen but for many occasions you only want to boil a kettle or short burst of the microwave so I was considering getting an inverter as well, so to my point buying a 2Kw inverter might be a good step and then go for the gen if you need it for longer term power when cruising europe (funds/space allowing)

 

[Divemaster1]

.......... I am thinking that cutting my losses and giving up on the existing genny is the way to go.

The question is whether to go for a new genny (not cheap) or alternatively an additional battery bank with a quality charger/inverter instead. Pros .......

If you are considering an additional battery bank + wiring + inverter etc., then this may be an alternative ... still a single cylinder though ... but looks like being available at a reasonable price ... http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/...0m-marine-generator/86804#LSiGQ05ixPhjf1bs.97

 

[Greg2]

B

If you are considering an additional battery bank + wiring + inverter etc., then this may be an alternative ... still a single cylinder though ... but looks like being available at a reasonable price ... http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/...0m-marine-generator/86804#LSiGQ05ixPhjf1bs.97

Interesting, thanks for that

 

[BruceK]

What kind of batteries are you guys running that you could run an inverter in replacement of a genny? In my limited experience the house batteries choke when I use just a 2KW inverter for short periods for electric tool use like drills etc. Running high energy appliances like a microwave etc - no chance. Voltage drops under load and the inverter kicks out.

 

[Prhperio]

There is another aspect to the idea of a large battery bank and inverter along with a generator... A previous owner of our boat ditched the genny and put in a fairly large domestic battery bank and Victron inverter/charger (3kW). This handles the 24v / 240v power issues in that the shore power goes through it and it charges the batteries (or floats the load when on shore power) and obviously gives us 240v when not. All pretty obvious. However, it also will 'supplement' the shore power when needed in that if we're on a 16A supply and we start to draw more than that (kettle/microwave/hob/hair straighteners(not mine!)) as I understand it, the Victron then draws from the batteries to meet the extra demand. It's completely seamless. On its own that isn't a big thing since one could be a bit more sensible about how many things are on at once (do you need straight hair on a boat???) but I think it might be handy in terms of specifying a generator since one might be able to have one that meets 'normal' demand since any 'spikes' the Victron will help out with and that might mean not having to go overboard with the size of the generator "just in case". I presume that there are other similar systems (jfm of this parish prefers Mastervolt IIRC and his experience is not to be dismissed).
Just my 2p...

Paul

 

[Greg2]

Well there is a thought, I've recently acquired a boat with a 4Kw Gen but for many occasions you only want to boil a kettle or short burst of the microwave so I was considering getting an inverter as well, so to my point buying a 2Kw inverter might be a good step and then go for the gen if you need it for longer term power when cruising europe (funds/space allowing)

There might be something in that option Chris. I had been thinking of spending a bit on several extra batteries and something like the Victron mentioned by Paul but maybe an idea to go for something more modest with the inverter whilst we decide what to do in the longer term.