Cocoon Generator

[Jane&Angus]

We are thinking of fitting an inboard silent generator, an expensive solution, needing careful thought, does any one have any advice or can anyone recommend a make?

 

We like to moor in the middle of nowhere and don't want to run our vintage engine to charge our batteries.

 

Any advice on this will be much appreciated.

 

Jane & Angus

[The Bagdad Boatman (waits)]

The honda 2i is better than the opposition but needs to have the exhaust piped to the outside.

[bizzard]

Check out ''Mase'' Small Yanmar diesel water cooled built in cocooned generators.

[Tuscan]

We are thinking of fitting an inboard silent generator, an expensive solution, needing careful thought, does any one have any advice or can anyone recommend a make?

 

We like to moor in the middle of nowhere and don't want to run our vintage engine to charge our batteries.

 

Any advice on this will be much appreciated.

 

Jane & Angus

 

 

We are all electric and have a large cocooned beta marine generator In the bow. Very quiet and as you say an expensive solution but like you we like to be in the middle of nowhere and don't run the engine.

[Biggles]

There seems to be a double posting of this. Here's what I said in the other.

 

If you can fit it in and can afford it go for a 1500rpm 4 pole model. They produce a better sine wave than 3000rpm 2 pole.

[magnetman]

it depends on power useage.

 

if the requirement is mainly to charge batteries you can get a compact dc unit like the HFL traveller with a decent battery bank and a good inverter for occasional ac use but if the main requirement is high ac wattage for long periods of time then a 1500rpm set is certainly going to be better but also more expensive bigger and heavier.

 

I don't really think the farymann 3000rpm ac units are worth the money

[blackrose]

The honda 2i is better than the opposition but needs to have the exhaust piped to the outside.

 

If you mean the Honda EU20i don't think a petrol generator is quite what he had in mind. They're not inboard generators.

 

If money was no object I'd have one of these, but I doubt there's space on a narrowboat.

 

http://www.northern-lights.com/marine/M673LD3.html

Edited May 27, 2013 by blackrose

[Chalky]

To do it properly you want one of these:-

 

http://www.bladonjets.com/applications/power-generation/bladon-jets-micro-power-generator-case-study/

 

12kW and 1/10 weight of the diesel equivalent and 1/4 of the space.

[blackrose]

Unfortunately it's just a design concept and not a product.

Edited May 27, 2013 by blackrose

[peterboat]

why not solar panels? cheaper cleaner and possibly longer lasting than a gennie.

 

Peter

[ditchcrawler]

Maybe they wont power a washing machine/dryer in the winter

[BEngo]

First think carefully about what you will actually do with the generator. If it's just for charging batteries than a 240v generator is not going to be a good solution since it will be on very low load during the final stage of battery charging. Solar would be better, or a dedicated small engine/ large alternator combination for dull days and winter. If it's for washing machines and dryer as well then the washing machine will only really load up a big machine when it's heating the water. Again, perhaps a dedicated small engine and travel power solution

 

 

Then, if it really has to be a 240v generator:

 

As has been said 1500 rpm is better than 3000 for noise/vibration and engine life, but much more expensive to buy.

Look for something with a well-known engine so spares are available on the cut and with a well known generator unit. Lots of the cheap generator bits are Chinese copies of Italian units which weren't that good originally.

 

Try to get a proper Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR), not a capacitor regulated one as the voltage on cap regulated genny units varies a lot with load and can be nearly 300 V off load.

 

Ask to see the waveform on a scope- most small generator waveforms are cr@p, with plenty of high frequency harmonics to upset things electronic.

 

 

Getting it installed so it's quiet, and complies with the BSS, but is accessible for maintenance, is another subject again.

 

Might be worth a call to Ron Davis (RoDa Generators in Portland, Dorset) as he specialises in built-in marine gennies. I have no other connection but he was helpful, supplied my 6 KVA generator and I'm happy with it.

 

N

[OldGoat]

Echo all the above.

Beta make a large range of generators with a thriving export market - now isn't that great, somebody actually EXPORTING - mostly using Kubota engines, well known for their reliability.

 

Please, please avoid the 3,000 rpm units, they are incredibly noisy, probably not very fuel efficient as you are pushing a small unit near to its limit.

 

I first read this thread and picked up "all electric" from another post - but that's not you.

I'm sorry, but I don't think a separate genny just to charge the batteries is a sensible idea. I suspect you're bothered about glazing bores in your (unspecified) vintage engine? These units were designed to run 24/7 at slow speeds and probably at well below their power capacity, the result is that reasonably well maintained they "go on for ever". In any event - whatever engine it is - your normal cruising use only LIGHTLY loads the engine.

 

If only to charge the batteries and assuming your use of electrics is light, might I suggest you:-

Double (or more) the battery capacity,

fit a much larger alternator (or two) plus a battery management system - Adverc etc.

 

The result won't glaze the bores,

will be more efficient (?) than a modern engine spinning much faster

You'll be able to charge up your batteries at less frequent intervals

you won't "waste" precious space on a separate unit.

It'll cost a lot less.

 

 

 

[smileypete]

Would be nice to know more about the OPs electrical needs and alternatives.

 

These days usually the expense of a cocooned genny is only worthwhile for a gas free boat with electrical hobs and ovens stuff.

 

'Keith M' on here deals with that kind of thing and could point the OP in the right direction, worth a PM?

 

cheers, Pete.

~smpt~

[blackrose]

why not solar panels? cheaper cleaner and possibly longer lasting than a gennie.

 

Peter

 

Which solar panels can put out 4 or 5kw on a boat?

[magnetman]

the only hint the op gave about power requirements was 'charge our batteries'

 

they didn't mention 4 or 5kw of 240 power but I do agree that would be a sensible assumption or they wouldn't be in the market for a 'cocoon generator'

 

I personally think a dc charging set and a high quality psw 1.5 or 2kw inverter with a good battery bank is the way to go unless you have something unusual like air conditioning or a tumble drier or a welder on the boat in which case 240 5kw is best.

 

that's why I am building myself a diesel powered dc charging set

:

Edited May 28, 2013 by magnetman