Which generator for boat?

[m0ssy]

Looking to purchase a Genny for the boat.

Worked out that around 2.2kva should be enough.

Wasn't sure on whther to go for a 'traditional' type generator or one of these 'Inverter Sine Wave Generators'

From what I can see the plus's for the inverter generator is that is it small, portable, quiet, packs a punch and could be ideal for keeping on the boat.

Bad point is they are much more expensive.

Has anyone had experience of these portable 'Inverter Generators'? Are they any good?

[Simpo Two]

I looked into this last year.

An inverter runs off your batteries so will take charge from those. The best are sine wave as they replicate mains electricity and some devices can object to the mashed up wave of the cheaper ones.

A petrol generator is more complex and makes a noise, which might bother you or your neigbours. As you would expect, the quieter they are the more they cost...!


I don't think you'd want to take 2200W from 12V batteries. Most hand power tools are <1000W.

[m0ssy]

Simpo Two said:

I looked into this last year.

An inverter runs off your batteries so will take charge from those. The best are sine wave as they replicate mains electricity and some devices can object to the mashed up wave of the cheaper ones.

A petrol generator is more complex and makes a noise, which might bother you or your neigbours. As you would expect, the quieter they are the more they cost...!


I don't think you'd want to take 2200W from 12V batteries. Most hand power tools are <1000W.

? I don't understand simpo, why am I taking 2200w from my batteries? The inverter generator is still petrol run and would actually charge my batteries not the other way round.

My pressure washer is 1800w, the tv on the boat is x watts and there is a kettle and other appliances too so 2.2KVA is ample.

[Simpo Two]

Sorry, by inverter I thought you were taking 12V DC and turning (inverting) it into 220-240V AC.

[m0ssy]

Simpo Two said:

Sorry, by inverter I thought you were taking 12V DC and turning (inverting) it into 220-240V AC.

Ok mate, I see what you mean but I am replicating the titles the manufacturers give them so something like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/SDMO-Inverter-Neo-3000-2-6...

[Simpo Two]

Nick Motorvator's when he's not looking. He will be able to improvise another from one of his fridges

[MOTORVATOR]

Simpo Two said:

Nick Motorvator's when he's not looking. He will be able to improvise another from one of his fridges

I know you don't think I'm watching but I am.

Mossy I have one of those invertor generator thingys sitting in the back garden. You're welcome to it if it helps out.









P.S. It doesn't bloody work. Cheap german thing that I got off ebay for 110 quid that turned up in pieces. Seller sent loads of spare parts and got it working for a couple of months while I was doing the old boat up. As soon as I launched and thought that'll be handy out on the water it packed up again and resisting the temptation to dump it over the side it has sat in my back garden for the past four years.

It's a splendid faded yellow colour and the wife has incorporated it as part of her flower garden but I'm sure we could dig it out, then we could have another epic thread like the roof one.

[tr7v8]

m0ssy said:

Simpo Two said:

Sorry, by inverter I thought you were taking 12V DC and turning (inverting) it into 220-240V AC.

Ok mate, I see what you mean but I am replicating the titles the manufacturers give them so something like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/SDMO-Inverter-Neo-3000-2-6...

That is a normal generator with a petrol engine, but uses inverter type chopper technology to give a better quality smooth sine wave rather than the normal spiky unregulated output.

[mickrick]

http://fischerpanda.com/marinegen/ac-generators/ac...

[MOTORVATOR]

Spot on Mick, got a Panda 8 myself, but I reckon that panda 4 is somewhere about £7500 more than the op wanted to spend.

[Rum Runner]

Big fan of Northern Lights units, guessing though the 4.5 will be to big.

[m0ssy]

Thanks for the kind offer Motorvator but bearing in mind you live in the regions of Essex there must be some local 'pi keys' willing to clear your backgarden of all the junk accumulated over the years?

Just to clarify, a nice portable quiet genny, which is capable of loading around 2.2kw, no need to go silly now and suggest generators that need fixing in, produce 10000w and are worth approximately half the value of my boat!

I don't really mind what make it is as long as its capable of doing the job and wont break on the first start up (or within 2 years +)

I want it suitcase sized
Needs to be min of 2.2kw
reliable
useage would be on average 20 hours a month for 6 months of the year

Saw these unknown gems on fleabay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190629629717?ssPageName=...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390361250398?ssPageName=...

I looked at honda, but to be honest the thought of parting with a bag of sand on something that doesnt get used that much is a nono

Edited: P i k e y is not allowed?

Edited by m0ssy on Friday 20th January 15:09

[tr7v8]

m0ssy said:

Thanks for the kind offer Motorvator but bearing in mind you live in the regions of Essex there must be some local 'pi keys' willing to clear your backgarden of all the junk accumulated over the years?

Just to clarify, a nice portable quiet genny, which is capable of loading around 2.2kw, no need to go silly now and suggest generators that need fixing in, produce 10000w and are worth approximately half the value of my boat!

I don't really mind what make it is as long as its capable of doing the job and wont break on the first start up (or within 2 years +)

I want it suitcase sized
Needs to be min of 2.2kw
reliable
useage would be on average 20 hours a month for 6 months of the year

Saw these unknown gems on fleabay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190629629717?ssPageName=...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390361250398?ssPageName=...

I looked at honda, but to be honest the thought of parting with a bag of sand on something that doesnt get used that much is a nono

Edited: P i k e y is not allowed?

Edited by m0ssy on Friday 20th January 15:09

OK is it 2.2kW continuous or start up? In other words what do you want to run off it. If it is heavily inductive (motors etc.) The you're probably looking at about 3kVa

[Simpo Two]

m0ssy said:

My pressure washer is 1800w, the tv on the boat is x watts and there is a kettle and other appliances too so 2.2KVA is ample.

I didn't think you'd be pressure washing for 20 hours a month for six months of the year

An LCD TV doesn't take much power and to boil a kettle there's a gas ring (presumably) - so maybe you don't need as much power as you thought...?

Do you have shore power and if so is it adequate or do you need 2.2Kw when moored up a creek?

[MOTORVATOR]

Simpo Two said:

I didn't think you'd be pressure washing for 20 hours a month for six months of the year

You obviously haven't seen the state of his boat.

[mickrick]

Sorry didn't notice you said portable. Must read slower...
Then I was going to say Honda, they're really quiet. But I see you're wanting something for nowt. So I give up.
Have you thought about increasing the size of your battery bank, and using an inverter?

[m0ssy]

tr7v8 said:

OK is it 2.2kW continuous or start up? In other words what do you want to run off it. If it is heavily inductive (motors etc.) The you're probably looking at about 3kVa

2.2kva on start as my guess was around 1900w running, I looked at the wattage of all appliances I could run and apart from a kettle (2000w) the highest wattage appliane was the pressure washer at around 1700/ 1900w as previously mentioned. 3kva would be nice, but I am not sure it is necessary to go that high

Simpo Two said:

I didn't think you'd be pressure washing for 20 hours a month for six months of the year

An LCD TV doesn't take much power and to boil a kettle there's a gas ring (presumably) - so maybe you don't need as much power as you thought...?

Do you have shore power and if so is it adequate or do you need 2.2Kw when moored up a creek?

I know what you are saying simpo but... the fact is I go tidal means if I want to give the hull a mid season blast with a pressure washer I can beach her and blast one side, I have shore power but am moored above teddington lock. Nice to have the option.

MOTORVATOR said:

You obviously haven't seen the state of his boat.

Oi! Not all of us can pay our daughter an "Aryton" to clean the boat for us on a Sunday morning, I bet you can't remember how to switch a vacuum on chap!

mickrick said:

Sorry didn't notice you said portable. Must read slower...
Then I was going to say Honda, they're really quiet. But I see you're wanting something for nowt. So I give up.
Have you thought about increasing the size of your battery bank, and using an inverter?

Bingo, something for nothing, got it in one, look after the nuggets and the notes look after themselves Michael Funny thing about the batteries is I have 3 X truck batteries in there currently, and have a rubbishy inverter (its a touch old) already, but I left a small light on a few months ago in the boat, It has taken me a Week to re-charge the batteries! a week! although I only have shore power between 8am - 8pm, but even so, 60 hours charging.


A thread resurrection will be in place soon as I have taken all the mahogany handrails off, soon to come out will be the external chrome supports for the rails, the mahagony bases on the deck for the chrome supports will be replaced, and loads of other jobs. She is even going to be booked in for a full antifoul/anodes replacement and any hull repair/ filling in the next month or so. (gets me out of the house )

[mickrick]

Oh NOOOOOO! Not more builders foam!

[MOTORVATOR]

m0ssy said:

MOTORVATOR said:

You obviously haven't seen the state of his boat.

Oi! Not all of us can pay our daughter an "Aryton" to clean the boat for us on a Sunday morning, I bet you can't remember how to switch a vacuum on chap!




A thread resurrection will be in place soon as I have taken all the mahogany handrails off, soon to come out will be the external chrome supports for the rails, the mahagony bases on the deck for the chrome supports will be replaced, and loads of other jobs. She is even going to be booked in for a full antifoul/anodes replacement and any hull repair/ filling in the next month or so. (gets me out of the house )

I wish. Have to rely on the labrador to pick up the scraps.

Been thinking very hard about my next task. Strip old antifoul, Epoxy if needed and new antifoul, new shaft seals, new rudder seals, new props etc etc.

Was going to do it over the next few weeks but decided to leave it in the water and bugger off skiing instead and pay a couple of Kosovans to do it when I get back.

That'll leave me free to take pics, drink tea and post about my hard efforts.

[Searider]

Machine Mart, as well as supplying the Honda ones, also have similar under their Clarke brand for much less money.

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...