Suitcase generator installation

[Tranquillow]

I've recently purchased a 2KV suitcase generator to charge batteries and run emmersion heater on extended anchoring jaunts but having looked at some of the comments here and elswhere, I'm concerned about the noise to other boats. I have heard of people installing these sets into a cockpit locker, using an eberspacher exhaust outlet and tube, together with a ducted fresh air blower attached to the air cooling inlet grill, with a standard socket connection to the shorepower socket.

It all seems very plausible and would certainly be quieter than running a Bukh 36 which shouldn't really be run under no load anyway. Having quickly surveyed my 35 footer, there seems ample room out through the back of the cockpit locker, close to the transom. So the exhaust pipe (which the manufacturers say should not be extended) could be made no more than 40cm or so.
Has anyone had any experience of such a set-up. There must be some serious drawbacks, otherwise everyone would have done this and saved about £5K on a pucker genset?

 

[tinkicker0]

Running a non manufacturer specified petrol generator on a boat, esp in the cockpit area is a very dangerous thing. The hull could fill with CO and suffocate everyone aboard.

If you feel you must, close all the hatches and put it at the bow pulpit, at least the exhaust has a chance to fall overboard before it reaches the cockpit.

I have also heard tales of people in boats downwind getting overcome by the fumes. Google CO poisoning / US coastguard.

My advice is not to do it though. Your Kipor is better left ashore

http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/accumulate.aspx

 

[sarabande]

TK has not underestimated the potential dangers. The danger of exhaust gas blowing back inboard when the wind is astern is very real (there was a CHIRP report on this about a year ago).

However, if you are going to do this, then:-

1 the cockpit locker must be properly sealed to prevent any escape of exhaust gases. The power cable will also require sealing

2 exhaust and intake must be from separate sides of the boat to prevent the intake sucking in the exhaust

3 the genny should be capable of being lifted out when being refuelled, to prevent any fuel fumes accumulating in the locker

4 adequate ventilation must be provided to prevent heat build up in the locker and in the suitcase itself after the genny is stopped

5 provision should be made for directing a fire extinguisher into the locker without having to open the cockpit lid

6 you may find that the genny requires a rubber pad on which to sit, as it could cause sympathetic vibration in structural panelling

7 you might wish to consider wiring a remote "kill switch" so that the genny can be stopped, err, remotely

8 to be picky the locker should be completely lined with fire-resistant panels

9 to be even pickier, you may wish to seek approval from the insurance company

10 the genny should be capable of being firmly strapped in, to prevent it moving under operation or from being at sea



EDIT
MCA report
http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/safety_alert_no_7_-_cm_poisoning_-_3rd_apr_06.pdf

 

[cliff]

I've recently purchased a 2KV suitcase generator to charge batteries and run emmersion heater on extended anchoring jaunts but having looked at some of the comments here and elswhere, I'm concerned about the noise to other boats. I have heard of people installing these sets into a cockpit locker, using an eberspacher exhaust outlet and tube, together with a ducted fresh air blower attached to the air cooling inlet grill, with a standard socket connection to the shorepower socket.

It all seems very plausible and would certainly be quieter than running a Bukh 36 which shouldn't really be run under no load anyway. Having quickly surveyed my 35 footer, there seems ample room out through the back of the cockpit locker, close to the transom. So the exhaust pipe (which the manufacturers say should not be extended) could be made no more than 40cm or so.
Has anyone had any experience of such a set-up. There must be some serious drawbacks, otherwise everyone would have done this and saved about £5K on a pucker genset?

I run a Kipor 3000ti onboard which normally resides in a cockpit locker when not in use. When in use it is lifted out of the locker and sits on the cockpit seating near the stern where it has plenty of "ventilation". While the 3000ti is quiet in operation I found what little noise there was was mostly from the "phut-phut-phut" of the exhaust. This I reduced by fitting a 3 foot length of eber exhaust over the exhaust outlet on the genny (was a nice push fit so easy removed for storage) and directing it over the coaming and overboard.
From a couple of boat lengths away I cannot hear the genny running, infact I would say the eber exhaust makes more noise than the genny!
As for connecting to the boat 240v system, I plug into the shore power connection using a short extension cable.
OK, it is not as convenient as a built in unit but it is cheap and the genny can easily be removed from the boat and taken home or even ashore (for the not so infrequent barby on the beach)
This setup has worked well for many seasons and despite various comments about not extending the exhaust (from both the manufacturer and the "doom and gloom merchants") I have not noticed any adverse effects doing so and with over 1000 hours on the genny I am happy to continue with the same setup.

 

[Tranquillow]

Many thanks for the advice however, I think the warning storys are a little extreme. I certainly don't plan running the set whilst asleep and I have a multi sensor Co detector and alarm on board already. The plan as stated was to have the exhaust gasses going out through the transom, so how would this differ from a petrol engined mobo anyway as far as the risk of Co poisoning is concerned?. The engine is only 100cc, under 3hp. Surely this is no more risky than an outboard for the tender? I agree about the risks of petrol vapour and would always remove it to refuel. There is a specific air intake on the side of the set which I understand is where the air is sucked in to provide the forced cooling. My thought was to use a length of cooker hood metalic ducting running from this intake up to a grill on the aft combing, possibly aided by a bilge blower fan which would run on after stopping the genny. However, I didn't plan sealing the whole locker. Clearly, one would have to use the thing sensibly and be aware of potential risks to others. As stated, it would only be used at anchor, not in close proximity to moored up boats in a marina as shown in the MCA/US coastguard warnings. Any further comments, negative or positive would still be welcomed.

 

[Toutvabien]

Genny

We run a similar set up to Cliff, not plumbed in but just run on deck, exhaust pointing down wind and away from the cockpit, when needed. We used this set up whilst living on board for a year and it worked fine. When we got to the carribean several other boats copied our set up as it was seemingly more reliable, and easier to fix, than the those boats that had installed gen sets. It got us out of trouble on a number of occasions and, used alongside our solar panels and wind generator, made us independent of shore power. If you want to run large power hungry devices such as washing machines and large freezers then they are probably not up to the job but for other applications it seems fine. Not sure why you would want to plumb it in if it is for use at anchor though.

 

[Tranquillow]

Suitcase Gen

Many thanks, the reason I wanted to 'plumb it in' was to further reduce the noise pollution in quiet anchorages. I haven't started the Kipor yet. I only bought it this week and geting cold feet over my project, was thinking of sending it back. (I've got 7 days) but of course, I can't fill it with oil and fuel and run it, if it'sgoing back, so I don't really know how noisy it is. All the advertising blurb says 50-70dbs but the set has a sticker on it saying 91dbs!!

I'm encouraged by the two positive experiences though, so will probably keep it even if I use it as cliff and toutvabien have.

 

[cliff]

Nice to know I am not the only one running the genny "on deck" when needed although I run mine in the cockpit usually - can't be arsed carrying it forward and at anchor or on a buoy the stern is always down wind.