CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Well-Known Member
one of these; currently at Lidl
https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/MiddleofLidl.htm?articleId=22461
https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/MiddleofLidl.htm?articleId=22461
What size generator?
- Thread starter Homer J
- Start date
Bouba
Well-Known Member
I started with a Honda 2000i on the swim platform. It made me the most unpopular man in the anchorage. I wish I had thought of putting it in the dingy. I could have then stood on my deck like all the other boaters and wonder where all the noise was coming fromI have a portable Honda EU10i, 1kW genny.
It is very quiet but still intrusive ... it is at it's quietest strapped in the dinghy and trailed behind ... downwind.
Just enough power to make toast, trips when I turn on the water heater. I know when the toast is ready because the Genny goes quiet when the toast pops :encouragement:
View attachment 78100
... and yes, I know, the cockpit teak is on the to-do list
Baggywrinkle
Well-Known Member
I started with a Honda 2000i on the swim platform. It made me the most unpopular man in the anchorage. I wish I had thought of putting it in the dingy. I could have then stood on my deck like all the other boaters and wonder where all the noise was coming from
I have been given a round of applause in an anchorage after shutting off my genny.... in my defence it was an emergency after a day of limited engine use coupled with inadequate battery capacity.
robertj
Well-Known Member
They are a dam not site quieter than running your engine?
Homer J
Well-Known Member
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Well-Known Member
Yes, I have one. very light, easy to start, relatively quiet, and small.
coopec
N/A
William_H
Well-Known Member
That is a bit of a wild statement to make but apparently your experience. Certainly a 1500 RPM gen is likely to last longer and perhaps be quieter but certainly heavier. Fact is a generator weighs more in proportion to its rated power but 3000RPM will give more power for less weight. The 1500 or 3000RPM relate to the fact that you need 50 hertz power and that only comes from 1 or 2 pole pairs on the rotor.
However all that is old fashioned technology as many gens now are effectively DC generators (alternator to diodes) directly coupled to an inverter which generates the 50 hertz. So the engine and generator speed can be slow for low power high for high power often meaning less noise and wear. The down side is that many older or cheaper generator inverters only produced a modified square wave form which can cause havoc with some equipment and is not suitable for induction motors. So if you buy one make sure it produces pure sine wave.
This technology might make you think that an inverter running off your batteries relying on the boat's engine might be the way to go. The down side here is that using 12v to supply an inverter requires huge currents so huge batteries and wiring. But quite OK for low power drain devices. As said it is vital to know the power drain of 240v devices as there can be a huge range of power usage. (200 to 1). But then in many cases you can run devices off 12v direct or use gas for heating etc. So ther eis no answer to suit all people or circumstances. Certainly the weight and stowage plus concerns over storing petrol can be a problem for small/medium sized generators. ol'will
ctva
Well-Known Member
Quick Nautic, ours is a 30l which works well for two in a 34' boat but other sizes are made, well designed and easy to install and maintain. As to timing for a full heat, never really timed it. But the water is always hot once the beer is finished.I didn't know these things existed... How many litres does your calorifier hold and how long does it take to generate enough hot water for a shower? ... I think I may have found my next modification. :encouragement:
https://www.google.com/search?ei=3z...2......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71.ILRtQJGdZ4Q
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Graham_Wright
Well-Known Member
The most important entry in the spec list is "3 year warranty".
I bought from Aldi, 1800 watts, £200. So far, so good. But with that warranty, you can't go wrong!
Mistroma
Well-Known Member
I'm afraid you are wasting your efforts as he trots out this old fact every time anyone mentions a generator. The original post often specifically mentions a suitcase generator and his comment relates more to diesel generators. OP did state suitcase generator in this thread and pretty certain he is thinking of the more usual petrol models.
My Honda EU20i is likely to last forever on that basis as I mostly use it at 1,500 rpm, rarely on full power. Having said that, full chat must be around 2,150 rpm when the inverter is giving about 1.6kW.
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