Which Generator?

[Doorman]

Having recently moved onto a long term mooring and in doing so, relinquished the comfort of a shoreline supply at the marina, we decided to recruit the use of a frame generator that I'd had from my contracting days. Although adequate in its capability to power the Victron inverter charger, I did have reservations about the long term effect it would have on the electronic components within this expensive piece of kit.

 

So, I decided to trawl the Internet in search of an alternative generator with a 'filtered' output in order to preserve the Victron. It was also noticeable, that when the generator had fluctuations in rpm, the changeover relay in both the Victron and our Mastervolt changeover device would reverberate in a manner somewhat akin to a bloody Woodpecker pecking on a nearby tree. In searching, I came across a chap down South who specialises in Honda generators and discovered that his web site has great tips on what is most suitable for your needs. If you can't find a specific genny that's listed, you can email him and he's more than happy to guide you through the complexities of available units.

 

This guy is well versed in both mechanical and electrical matters relating to generators and is well worth a call if you have any issues in this department. He's user friendly too!

 

My link

 

Mike

Edited January 19, 2013 by Doorman

[nb Innisfree]

Our 2kva Kipor inverter genny works well with our 3kva Victron Multiplus, we have only had one problem and that was my fault. As our washing machine did its cycle the power assist dial was set incorrectly and it kept cycling erratically between the genny and domestic batteries with the Kipor revs going rapidly up and down as it tried to keep up, an impossible task. I wandered off for 20 mins or so out of earshot, When I returned I altered the dial and all was well but the next time I came to use the Kipor it was dead, cost me £40 to have a new circuit board fitted. So I wouldn't worry too much about your Victron they are pretty bulletproof and can take a lot of abuse.

[Amwris]

Good Morning!

 

Thanks for the recommendation. I visited the site and found it very informative.

 

Cheers

 

Phil

[rjasmith]

Excellent site - thanks for putting up a link to it!

 

Richard

[bargemast]

Good site, this man seems to know his trade and is even willing to help the less forunate out, with second hand parts, and genny's.

 

Peter.

[Tesla]

That's a great site, even I can understand it...Well almost...

[Grace and Favour]

interesting link Mike . . . .Many thanks

[Taslim]

Having recently moved onto a long term mooring and in doing so, relinquished the comfort of a shoreline supply at the marina, we decided to recruit the use of a frame generator that I'd had from my contracting days. Although adequate in its capability to power the Victron inverter charger, I did have reservations about the long term effect it would have on the electronic components within this expensive piece of kit.

 

So, I decided to trawl the Internet in search of an alternative generator with a 'filtered' output in order to preserve the Victron. It was also noticeable, that when the generator had fluctuations in rpm, the changeover relay in both the Victron and our Mastervolt changeover device would reverberate in a manner somewhat akin to a bloody Woodpecker pecking on a nearby tree. In searching, I came across a chap down South who specialises in Honda generators and discovered that his web site has great tips on what is most suitable for your needs. If you can't find a specific genny that's listed, you can email him and he's more than happy to guide you through the complexities of available units.

 

This guy is well versed in both mechanical and electrical matters relating to generators and is well worth a call if you have any issues in this department. He's user friendly too!

 

My link

 

Mike

 

Thanks. Quite some link. That guy has a passion?

 

taslim.

[lewisericeric]

Thanks for the link. Something we also need to look into mostly for the winter, as we too are without shoreline.

[Doorman]

Our 2kva Kipor inverter genny works well with our 3kva Victron Multiplus, we have only had one problem and that was my fault. As our washing machine did its cycle the power assist dial was set incorrectly and it kept cycling erratically between the genny and domestic batteries with the Kipor revs going rapidly up and down as it tried to keep up, an impossible task. I wandered off for 20 mins or so out of earshot, When I returned I altered the dial and all was well but the next time I came to use the Kipor it was dead, cost me £40 to have a new circuit board fitted. So I wouldn't worry too much about your Victron they are pretty bulletproof and can take a lot of abuse.

 

Hi,

 

We also had a Kipor inverter genny that worked very well. When we invested in a Fischer-Panda fixed generator that's going to be installed soon, we decided that we wouldn't need the Kipor. That is, until we managed to secure a long term mooring without a shoreline supply.

 

We now feel that it is better to run a frame genny that's positioned away from the boat that can also power my tools together with charging the battery bank. The Kipor was a good investment and I wouldn't hesitate in having another one.

 

Mike

[sam pig]

I love my 2KV Kipor more than life itself..

 

Carry on

[MoominPapa]

+1, as the young people say. I bought a second-hand generator from this chap and highly recommmend him. He gave freely of good advice, and the generator he said was in good condition, was, and came at a very reasonable price.

 

MP.

[Doorman]

+1, as the young people say. I bought a second-hand generator from this chap and highly recommmend him. He gave freely of good advice, and the generator he said was in good condition, was, and came at a very reasonable price.

 

MP.

 

Another satisfied customer.

 

Although I tend to moan about daft things on here and probably drive people mad (including my long suffering wife), whenever I find a good supplier, or business that provides good reliable service, I like to endorse their efforts and reward them with good word of mouth advertising.

 

This guy is well worth a mention!

 

Mike

[waterworks]

Having recently moved onto a long term mooring and in doing so, relinquished the comfort of a shoreline supply at the marina, we decided to recruit the use of a frame generator that I'd had from my contracting days. Although adequate in its capability to power the Victron inverter charger, I did have reservations about the long term effect it would have on the electronic components within this expensive piece of kit.

 

So, I decided to trawl the Internet in search of an alternative generator with a 'filtered' output in order to preserve the Victron. It was also noticeable, that when the generator had fluctuations in rpm, the changeover relay in both the Victron and our Mastervolt changeover device would reverberate in a manner somewhat akin to a bloody Woodpecker pecking on a nearby tree. In searching, I came across a chap down South who specialises in Honda generators and discovered that his web site has great tips on what is most suitable for your needs. If you can't find a specific genny that's listed, you can email him and he's more than happy to guide you through the complexities of available units.

 

This guy is well versed in both mechanical and electrical matters relating to generators and is well worth a call if you have any issues in this department. He's user friendly too!

 

My link

 

Mike

Pete Power is a good bloke when it comes to repairing Honda's. He has supplied parts for me, and i reccomend him.

[slammer]

Hi,

 

We also had a Kipor inverter genny that worked very well. When we invested in a Fischer-Panda fixed generator that's going to be installed soon, we decided that we wouldn't need the Kipor. That is, until we managed to secure a long term mooring without a shoreline supply.

 

We now feel that it is better to run a frame genny that's positioned away from the boat that can also power my tools together with charging the battery bank. The Kipor was a good investment and I wouldn't hesitate in having another one.

 

Mike

 

Hi Mike

Your Kipor is still going strong and worked great all last year,I have just serviced it and have put it back to bed whilst we have the shoreline. Great little genny and works well with my set up , cheers for the sale. See ya soon mate take care.

Stan .

[Mac of Cygnet]

I have no intention of buying a generator, but out of curiosity I had a look at the site. It's great! I have never come across a commercial site so forthright, unpushy and even humorous and helpful as this. He has got to be a good guy.

[Doorman]

I have no intention of buying a generator, but out of curiosity I had a look at the site. It's great! I have never come across a commercial site so forthright, unpushy and even humorous and helpful as this. He has got to be a good guy.

 

Hi Mac,

 

It took me all of a couple of minutes to realise that this guy knows his stuff and as you say, he's down to earth and unassuming. He guided me onto what was most suitable for our needs and explained that he had a second hand machine that would fit the bill. It was only after contacting him did we meet a local boater who had a similar generator that he no longer required so we opted for that instead.

 

Still, when I explained this to Pete he was still very helpful with advice. Most other companies would probably move on to their next potential sale and discretely ignore you, not this guy.

 

His web site is now amongst our favourites and I shall be buying from him in future for my service parts.

 

Thanks for all the similar comments that simply reinforce what I came to believe,

Edited January 20, 2013 by Doorman

[luctor et emergo]

I must say, on a different note, that I find this obsesion with little gennerators a bit bemusing. Now any serious boat will have a serious diesel generator, simply to provide electric. The main engine is for propulsion, and the generator for generating. It is accepted that such a generator will run almost all the time. Indeed, many barges, and widebeams, have a ssimilar set up. A proper diesel fired generator. Why not narrow boats? Why faf about with ( potentially very dangerous) petrol genny's? Seperate chargers? Extension leads?

[Chris Pink]

Because it is best to use any generator in an efficient manner so if you are using 1kw a 1kw (and a bit) generator is favourite.

 

Quiet diesel inboard generators tend to start around 5kw and are only a sensible choice if that is the amount of power you use.

 

Most liveaboards I know are of the 1kw users. There are examples of electric only boaters and they have generators to match.

 

I agree that a cocooned water cooled 1.5 or 2 kw installed generator would be the ideal but 1. I don't know of one and 2. It would be a lot more expensive than even a Honda inverter generator

 

And thanks for the recommendation he seems like a good 'un

Edited January 20, 2013 by Chris Pink

[Chris Pink]

..

Edited January 20, 2013 by Chris Pink

[Doorman]

I must say, on a different note, that I find this obsesion with little gennerators a bit bemusing. Now any serious boat will have a serious diesel generator, simply to provide electric. The main engine is for propulsion, and the generator for generating. It is accepted that such a generator will run almost all the time. Indeed, many barges, and widebeams, have a ssimilar set up. A proper diesel fired generator. Why not narrow boats? Why faf about with ( potentially very dangerous) petrol genny's? Seperate chargers? Extension leads?

 

Hi,

 

please see my post #10, where I explained why we decided to opt for another generator even though we've invested in a dedicated fixed diesel generator.

 

I believe that people 'faf' about with petrol genny's, separate chargers and extension leads simply because the cost of a dedicated diesel generator might be cost prohibitive.

 

Besides, when on our mooring with the potentially very dangerous petrol genny (that can be converted to run on LPG gas) that's situated away from our earholes, we can comfortably watch Coronation Street, Emmerdale Farm or even Eastenders if we're feeling too happy and want depressing, without the constant drone of the diesel genny in the background.

 

Mike, the couch potato.

[luctor et emergo]

Hi,

 

please see my post #10, where I explained why we decided to opt for another generator even though we've invested in a dedicated fixed diesel generator.

 

I believe that people 'faf' about with petrol genny's, separate chargers and extension leads simply because the cost of a dedicated diesel generator might be cost prohibitive.

 

Besides, when on our mooring with the potentially very dangerous petrol genny (that can be converted to run on LPG gas) that's situated away from our earholes, we can comfortably watch Coronation Street, Emmerdale Farm or even Eastenders if we're feeling too happy and want depressing, without the constant drone of the diesel genny in the background.

 

Mike, the couch potato.

 

Of course, I forgot about the conversion to SAFE lpg gas...

 

And I'm sure that your neighbours are equally comfortable, when your genny is humming away on the towpath

[Chris Pink]

A suitcase generator on the towpath is worse than a diesel mounted on a boat?

[Doorman]

Because it is best to use any generator in an efficient manner so if you are using 1kw a 1kw (and a bit) generator is favourite.

 

Quiet diesel inboard generators tend to start around 5kw and are only a sensible choice if that is the amount of power you use.

 

Most liveaboards I know are of the 1kw users. There are examples of electric only boaters and they have generators to match.

 

I agree that a cocooned water cooled 1.5 or 2 kw installed generator would be the ideal but 1. I don't know of one and 2. It would be a lot more expensive than even a Honda inverter generator

 

And thanks for the recommendation he seems like a good 'un

 

A good and sensible reply.

 

Pete explains how the inefficient use of a generator creates premature carbon build-up in the cylinder head/valves and the occasional heavy load is beneficial. Similar to how running your boat engine 'off-load' can cause glazing of the bores.

 

This is why I sought to gain good advice in the first place. It is all too easy to believe the hype of glossy adverts in boat mags etc., and spend hundreds if not thousands of pounds unnecessarily.

 

Of course, I forgot about the conversion to SAFE lpg gas...

 

And I'm sure that your neighbours are equally comfortable, when your genny is humming away on the towpath

 

I can see that you're not quite in sync with this topic, or for that matter, towpath generators. That is your choice and you are most definitely entitled to it, as are the numerous others who choose otherwise.

 

ETA I will be sourcing a more efficient muffler for our genny, even though we have very few neighbours within earshot where we moor. So much so, when we considered our boat specification, we included a hospital silencer for the engine. This, although modern in its design, is far more tolerable than listening to a Bolinder, JP2 or National engine thumping away to provide electricity on board.

 

P.S. We love this type of boat but we also love Coronation Street more!

Edited January 20, 2013 by Doorman

[DandV]

Not for a narrowboat but for an off grid cottage, (and off road) here in the Marlborough Sounds. I am considering replacing, or rather supplementing our cheap open frame noisy Chinese 2kva generator which has been great for operating power tools and the fridge when the solar system has gone dark, with a generator more compatible with the Victron inverter charger. The Kipor 2kva peak inverter generator sells about at a 30% discount on the Honda 2kva unit. Is the price premium of the Honda worth it? Peak charging load on a Victron 1600/40 24V is about 1kva which it should allow it to operate in parallel with a full sized 230V fridge and two 11w CFF lamps. I am yet to acquire the Victron USB kit to reprogram the inverter/charger to be hopefully acceptably tolerant of the Chinese generator to allow the battery charging function. Need to get sorted as we intend spending a lot of time there when we are in exile in six month stints from our yet to be purchased narrowboat in England.

Have briefed the troops in England so the serious search is underway. Kiwidad, KiwiPeter are going to get some company! The blue ensign with red centred stars will fly proud on English canals!

 

Kipor or Honda?

 

Don & Val