Suitcase generator suggestions?

dgadee

dgadee

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I understand the dangers of generators .... but the crew demands a hair dryer and I can only see two practical solutions: marinas or a small suitcase generator. The dry shampoo suggestion was met by a look that said, "are you an idiot".

What size is needed? I presume something to run a hair dryer would be sufficient for battery charging.

Any suggestions for suitable purchases?
 
Anything will do for that. I have a little 2-stoke one I don't use any more if it's of interest.

Alternatively you could fit an inverter.
 
Bobc said:
Anything will do for that. I have a little 2-stoke one I don't use any more if it's of interest.

Alternatively you could fit an inverter.
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Not sure that's the case. Some hair driers are over 2000w on their highest settings. Would need a big bank of batteries for an inverter to supply this sort of current for any length of time. Some travel hair driers are below 1000w, but in my experience woman always complain that they are not powerful enough.

I would suggest a 2kw genny and a drier especially selected for the boat that doesn't draw more than about 1800w on any setting.
 
dgadee said:
I understand the dangers of generators .... but the crew demands a hair dryer and I can only see two practical solutions: marinas or a small suitcase generator. The dry shampoo suggestion was met by a look that said, "are you an idiot".

What size is needed? I presume something to run a hair dryer would be sufficient for battery charging.

Any suggestions for suitable purchases?
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My solution to a hairdryer is to fit a tube onto the eberspacher hot air outlet. A bit like the hair dryers you get in hotels! As for a suitcase generator Honda do a good quiet one that is easy to stow.
 
We tried the suitcase generator solution, but it was an absolute pain - both to store and then to use. It's noisy and the fumes were horrible. We fitted a large alternator and a 3kW inverter instead. We run the engine when the hairdryer's in operation, which is less antisocial as the noise (for other boats) is almost non-existent. We only run it during the day and while it might be a bit extreme (and maybe not very good for the engine to be run for a short period of time), it keeps the girls happy.
 
Shuggy said:
We tried the suitcase generator solution...It's noisy and the fumes were horrible.
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Pretty sure it's meant to be vented, isn't it? Not just left running in a cabin.

The Honda EU2.0i has been on my wish-list for years now, and I don't even have any use for one.

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Really neat, and lightweight (25kg) and so quiet. And it can link to a second one, and it can run on LPG.

I worked out that cost-wise and weight-wise, it makes more sense than Honda's other 'suitcase' generators, bigger and smaller...

...in fact, aside from not needing it, the only reason I haven't got one is that I've read some appallingly low predictions regarding gennys' lifetime running hours (not just Hondas)...

...so the idea of buying one and using it at any time other than in an emergency, begins to sound jaw-droppingly costly.
 
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HWMO bought a Kipor 3000Ti many moons ago and it is still running having clocked up the best part of 2k hours. The equivalent one nowadays is the IG2600 (2.3kw continuous rating) and as they are available for less then £600, they are around ½ the price of the lower powered Honda EU2.0i which dies at 1.6kw.
HWMO's gets an oil change once a year and maybe a new spark plug if we are feeling flush.
We use a piece of "eberspacher" flexible exhaust pipe to extend the genny's exhaust around 1½m directing this over the stern. This reduces the noise even more and so far does not seem to have had any ill effect on the motor.
Spares (if needed) are readily available next day mail order from Kipor UK. http://www.kiporuk.co.uk/
 
Hard to go wrong with one of Aldi's specials from last week if you can still find one. 2kw inverter gennyy for £270 with a 5 year guarantee.
 
dancrane said:
Pretty sure it's meant to be vented, isn't it? Not just left running in a cabin.

The Honda EU2.0i has been on my wish-list for years now, and I don't even have any use for one.

maxresdefault.jpg


Really neat, and lightweight (25kg) and so quiet. And it can link to a second one, and it can run on LPG.

I worked out that cost-wise and weight-wise, it makes more sense than Honda's other 'suitcase' generators, bigger and smaller...

...in fact, aside from not needing it, the only reason I haven't got one is that I've read some appallingly low predictions regarding gennys' lifetime running hours (not just Hondas)...

...so the idea of buying one and using it at any time other than in an emergency, begins to sound jaw-droppingly costly.
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That's identical to mine ...... which I've just switched off after a couple of hours charging the batteries at 50A and raised house battery voltage from 12V to 12.5V (with fridge/freezer running)

The Honda is very quiet and is plugged into the shore power lead and barely increases in volume from idle when I switch on the battery charger. Whilst its running we plug all the laptops and tablets ( 5 on board this trip) into the boat mains sockets and it does not make any difference to the volume at all ........ but flick on one of the calorifier immersion heaters (1.5 kW each) and the noise escalates to "disturb neighbouring boat" levels so we just run the engines for 20 minutes to heat the water.

Hair dryers would have the same effect as the immersion heater I guess. Possible but to do but preferably not at an antisocial hour.

Richard
 
dancrane said:
..in fact, aside from not needing it, the only reason I haven't got one is that I've read some appallingly low predictions regarding gennys' lifetime running hours (not just Hondas)...

...so the idea of buying one and using it at any time other than in an emergency, begins to sound jaw-droppingly costly.
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I bought mine 2nd hand in Nov 2011. Used it to keep me going off grid, spending 3-4 nights a week on board with all the gizmos. I'd guess I run the Gennys about 6-8 hours a week at least, so nearly 2,000 hours in my ownership, and no sign of the end of its life.

Where did you read these predictions... I've heard nothing other than that they are the best, and run forever....
 
Richard10002 said:
I'd guess I run the Gennys about 6-8 hours a week at least, so nearly 2,000 hours in my ownership, and no sign of the end of its life. I've heard nothing other than that they are the best, and run forever....
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I'm relieved to be wrong...or to have been made doubtful about small generators, by false reports of their life-span.
 
I bought a Yamaha similar to the Honda but with the ability to turn off the fuel while it is running so you can drain the carb before storing. Previous Kippor failed after 4 years. The circuit board would have cost more than I paid for it.
Always useful to have when cruising.
 
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