don't want to run generator all day and night.

R

ronandcarolyn

New Member
Aug 3, 2011
11
macomb michigan
Boat Info
510 sundancer sea ray 2000
Engines
3196 cats
we were told that we have to run our generator all day long while we are running our engines to keep the frig and freezer working. We are doing a 10 day trip to bring our 510 sundancer home, Do you think we need to keep our generator running all the time...how about at night when we are mooring.do we need to keep the generator on all night to keep the frig cold??
 
Without knowing the details on the refrigerator and freezer models you have, the refrigerator may run on both AC and DC. The freezer is most likely AC only. So unless you have AC power the freezer/ice maker will not work.

If you want or need to keep stuff cold while not plugged into shore power and not running the engines, you will need to run the generator. It is possible for the refrigerator running on DC (battery power) for it to drain your battery when the engines aren't running.

Be aware that running your generator produces carbon monoxide. If you plan on running the generator while you sleep, having multiple carbon monoxide detectors on the boat may give you the ability to wake up in the morning.

If you plan on frequently mooring overnight without AC power, you may need to plan accordingly and keep a cooler iced down.
 
I pretty much run my gen all the time while not on shore power. The only time I don't run the gen is when it's cool and I can't load it properly and it smokes. In those instances, I put bottles of water in the freezer and freeze them, put them in the fridge to keep it cold. it doesn't burn that much fuel and they are made to run. You've got a diesel so CO isn't that much of a concern. run the sucker and keep your beer cold.
 
ronandcarolyn said:
we were told that we have to run our generator all day long while we are running our engines to keep the frig and freezer working. We are doing a 10 day trip to bring our 510 sundancer home, Do you think we need to keep our generator running all the time...how about at night when we are mooring.do we need to keep the generator on all night to keep the frig cold??
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I don't think you would have gas engines in a 510 DA if diesel as I suspect you can run the generator if you want all the time, I have a number of friends with big boats that do that. Your battery bank will decide how long you can run your fridge on DC. I have 2 golf cart batteries and I can run my fridge and a 42L 12VDC freezer and all the lights we need for 18 hours before I need to run the generator and charge the battery bank back up. I have a link 1000 with a smart charger that monitors my battery bank for amps out and amps in, it also tells me how long before I need to recharge my batteries. It's a great system, this is the first summer in 7 years we have not gone to the North Channel for holiday, last summer we were 7 weeks anchored out only spent 6 nights at a marina and 3 were because we needed to replace our windlass.

Ken
 
he's got 3196 Cats, the gen is diesel. run the puppy and don't worry about it.
 
Run the generator... Mine is turned on before the boat leaves the dock and is not turned off until it sees another dock (except in Atlantic City and Port Jefferson where you have to run your generator while docked). The thing runs for days and never complains. The appliances on bigger boats are all AC... no AC/DC stuff... time to move up...

Run it with pride...
 
I do not like to have my gen. running all the time and here is not that hot if you are anchored out. A/C is really needed only when moored at a marina, so I have 6 golf cart batteries to run the fridge and the ice-maker. I turn on the gen for cooking or to recharge the batteries once a day. It works fine!
 
Just back from a 4 day run; Over nights on the hook. Generator was on the whole time. Did have to shut down a time or two to clean out strainer due to grass. All the boats in our party had that little problem. Just make sure the impeler and gen cooling system is good to go and you should have no worries.
 
There is no doubt that running the generator full time is no problem, but I find the droning noise a real PITA! The refridgerator and other 12 volt items will be fine when the main engines are running and keeping the domestic battery charged through the alternators.

On our 400DA I fitted a 630 amp hour domestic battery, and when spending a week or two on the hook, would run the gennie for about 4 hours a day, usually morning and evening when cooking and showering, and found that the reserve power of the battery was enough for everything else to keep going for the other 20 hours.

On our new 460, the first job of the winter will be to fit two pairs of Rolls 6 volt 450 A/hour batteries, which will give us 900 amp hours of reserve (realistically you should only use the first 400 amp hours before a recharge).

These combined with an invertor give a wide scope and covers most needs, without the background noise. If A/C is needed, that's a totally different situation and always requires the gennie to be running.

Graham
 
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I also don't like to be in the position where I have to run it. My 420DB gives me the choice since it has number of components that run on 12v DC. So, I use my genny when I need to. I'll keep the genny on while underway or on the hook all weekend long when it's very hot outside. But, when conditions are normal and it's just nice weather I run it only on occasion:

1. For couple if hours at night before heading to bed to coock, recharge the batteries, warm up the hot water, watch TV, etc.
2. In the morning, to recharge the batteries and pretty much have the "house" available to use all the equipment.
3. At least an hour prior starting up the engines to make sure I do it on fully charged batteries.

If your boat doesn't have AC/DC equipment, then other than installing some extra batteries with inverter you don't have much options. Ofcourse you can just shut everything down and the fridges can maintain the cool temps for few hours. But, I think that captains with larger boats don't think it's worth the hassle. I'd say it's a personal preference based on various factors.
 
You are new to your boat so "knowing" your systems is not an option. It took a while but I know what it takes to keep all things running through trial and error (lot's of error).

Generators keep my batteries charged up while running so no gennie underway unless we want air conditioning.
We have gas so we do not run the gennie overnight; ever. I'd rather sweat than take the risk. It's also too load on my model since the engine compartment is under the main salon floor.
Batteries are real low after a night on the hook but my gennie starting battery is isolated to the gennie (highly recommended). Our batter charger is really great so batteries charge up real fast.

My guess is you will "know" your systems by the time you reach home port. Have a great trip.
My fridges are all AC/DC so no need to run gennie when on shore power.
 
Gary, when you say all appliances does that mean the fridges on big boats with different voltage systems (24V?) are not dual voltage? I would understand microwaves, stoves, washer/dryers. If thats true I learned something today.
I too cringe at the thought of them things running 24/7 even though they are built for it. Don't think twice about the road construction arrows running for weeks on end though. Maybe because I'm not paying for the maintenance on those engines.
And I would only feel safe running a Diesel 24/7.

Too the thread starter: Good luck with the new boat. Love those 510DA's. Huge!
 
Skuza said:
Gary, when you say all appliances does that mean the fridges on big boats with different voltage systems (24V?) are not dual voltage?
Click to expand...

The fridge is 120VAC. This is common on boats of all makes beyond the mid-40 range. I've spent many nights at anchor on a 500DA. Every once in a while, because of a noise complaint, or an impeller issue etc, we would try to shutdown the AC circuits overnight. We could mitigate the fridge issues somewhat by turning the temp down before shutdown, keeping the fridge closed, stocking it with ice...

In the end though, it was a hassle to live on a boat designed for AC power, without AC power. The genny on a 510DA is SO far from the stateroom that it will certainly add more comfort than it will annoyance, and with a trip that long, the genny fuel burn is negligible.
 
One additional tip regarding running the generator. I have been using it more this season due to the oppressive heat and found that changing the genset fuel selector switch (port or starboard) every other day helps to draw down both tanks more evenly.
 
We have from time to time run our gen set all night. on the gas engine it uses very little fuel and I have yet to ever smell anything while we are below. I have been told to run it as much as I can to kep the gen from geting loaded up from small run times.
 
wvsundancer said:
I have been told to run it as much as I can to kep the gen from geting loaded up from small run times.
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Certainly shutting it down before it reaches full operating temps is doing it no favors, however, neither is extended running without a load.

I make a point to run mine regularly, with a load and avoid extended no-load operation.
 
Skuza said:
Gary, when you say all appliances does that mean the fridges on big boats with different voltage systems (24V?) are not dual voltage? I would understand microwaves, stoves, washer/dryers. If thats true I learned something today.
Click to expand...

The appliances on the larger boats are not boat/RV type things. The fridge and freezers are Sub-Zero on my boat... same stuff you buy for a house. All 120v stuff.. except the AC systems and water heater... they are 240v. And no way am I taking a cold shower in the morning because I want to save $8 on fuel from running the generator 24 hours nor risking a fridge and freezer packed with food that "warms up a little." You *really* want to cycle your mayonnaise between 38 degrees and 50 degrees? Ever been sick from food-born bacteria because food wasn't kept at the proper fridge temp?

My comments are for low-rpm (1800) diesel generators. That's what the OP was asking about. Gas is a different story...
 
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jrirvine1 said:
One additional tip regarding running the generator. I have been using it more this season due to the oppressive heat and found that changing the genset fuel selector switch (port or starboard) every other day helps to draw down both tanks more evenly.
Click to expand...

I do the same, but had a question that didn't have chance to research yet. There are two shifters (port/stbd) to choose the fuel supply. Both are always point to the same side (either port or stbd). What happens if you move one to port and another to stbd, will this provide fuel supply from both sides evenly or will this create some sort of a problem?

Four Suns said:
..... You *really* want to cycle your mayonnaise between 38 degrees and 50 degrees? Ever been sick from food-born bacteria because food wasn't kept at the proper fridge temp?...
Click to expand...

Very good point that can be easily overlooked.
 
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