Running with generator on?

tdappleman said:
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...Id=10053&productId=100606954&N=10000003+90401

Thoughts on home versions? If I'm going to replace every couple of years anyway will these suffice?
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While at the Depot the other day I bought a 9V CO detector only. No display though. I was thinking of putting it in the cockpit.

Upon reading the manual it states it is specifically for Home use only. Further research on the web I found where "Marine" Co detectors were different because of wider temp and humidity conditions than in a home.

This is what prompted me to restart this thread and seek educated advice.
 
Uplate said:
While at the Depot the other day I bought a 9V CO detector only. No display though. I was thinking of putting it in the cockpit.

Upon reading the manual it states it is specifically for Home use only. Further research on the web I found where "Marine" Co detectors were different because of wider temp and humidity conditions than in a home.

This is what prompted me to restart this thread and seek educated advice.
Click to expand...

I asked a guy at West Marine about this the other day- he's very experieced- sails to Hawaii and all from Washington state, and he said Lowes or Home Depot.

Interested in what others say here as I'm looking for a couple of more detectors after seeing all the replies here.
 
Have the same one but with the digital readout as my backup. The main one should be hardwired imo however.
 
tdappleman said:
John - what kind of portables do you have?

My 270 didn't have any installed when I got it so I currently have a First Alert smoke and CO which talks as well as beeps. I don't have a generator and do not use the camper enclosure so I haven't really worried about it much. I do want to get one which has the digital readout as I agree with the previous posts as I'd like to understand what my total ppm is and if my actions to reduce are working. I did run across this during a search - the interesting thing is it wirelessly connects to other units and will set them all off if one goes off. Nice feature if one is on deck and the other is in the cabin...

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...Id=10053&productId=100606954&N=10000003+90401

Thoughts on home versions? If I'm going to replace every couple of years anyway will these suffice?
Click to expand...


I honestly don't know which ones I have. I believe that two of them are for home use, but I keep them in the cabin which is climate controlled. I store them with one of 4 AA batteries out. I then put one more battery in to turn them on when we're out on the boat.

The third one is Sea Ray original equipment.
 
Groucho said:
I may have missed this...But is it ok to cruise with the generator running? I've done it @ 6 or 7 mph, but was told by a friend he never runs his while underway.
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To answer your original question from long ago- Yes, that's what it was made for. Any speed up to WOT is fine, as long as you're not cruising down the interstate, trailering the boat.
 
I run my generator while underway and have not had any problems at any speed. Run it while anchored, but I will admit I leave the bilge blowers running also, not due to CO worries so much, but since it is gasoline powered and enclosed in the bilge, along with the boats gasoline engines, hopefully if a gas leak were to occur, it would keep the fumes out, until I discover the leak.

I always raise the hatch and get down into the bilge before starting the engines for a look see and sniff. :huh:
 
how can i search the topic about running the blowers with the gen on. I am sure it is atopic that has been around alot. I used to never sleep with the gas one on because i was paranoid, but now with diesel i turn it on friday when i leave the dock and turn it off Sunday when i return. However i do run the blowers and i have noticed that most of the people around me do not run their blowers. My factory co's went off once this summer when rafted with a lot of other boats with little air stirring. i unhooked and went back to marina as not wanting to risk it.
 
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I would say in your case it is up to you, since you are apparently all diesel. Running with the blowers is one's own decision to make. Sea Ray in their manual does recommend it, but that just may be to cover them against possible litigation.

Since I have gas engines, which means gas fuel tanks, if for some reason gas fumes are leaking from somewhere I would rather (hopefully) have the blowers removing a build up of vapors.

Hopefully if there was also an exhaust leak, it would move a good amount of CO out, preventing it from perhaps seeping into the cabin from the engine room bulkhead which separates the cabin.
 
Pseudomind said:
I would say in your case it is up to you, since you are apparently all diesel. Running with the blowers is one's own decision to make. Sea Ray in their manual does recommend it, but that just may be to cover them against possible litigation.

Since I have gas engines, which means gas fuel tanks, if for some reason gas fumes are leaking from somewhere I would rather (hopefully) have the blowers removing a build up of vapors.

Hopefully if there was also an exhaust leak, it would move a good amount of CO out, preventing it from perhaps seeping into the cabin from the engine room bulkhead which separates the cabin.
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Yes all diesel and the manual does say to run them. I think leaving them on is worth the extra noise considering the down side is the same. (either blowing up or the other is drifting off to sleep.)
 
Back when I had my 280da, I seemed to go through impellers pretty quickly (at least once a season) when I tried to run my generator while going faster than idle speeds. Generator always seemed to shut down due to not enough water pickup at faster speeds. Only reason I could ever thank of was due to how high the boat set out of the water when on plane.

On my 320da I can run the generator anytime at any speed and seems quite happy at all times and has never shut down. The 320da certainly sets lower in the water and just does not plane as high out of the water as my single engine 280da did.

BTW, I run my bilge fans all the time when not at cruise speed.
 
tobnpr said:
I wondered about that as well.
Having two charging sources "on" at the same time is commonplace for me- like all the time when underway with the gen running. I specifically asked Xantrex about the need for my new charger to supplement the output from the generator's alternator, and they said that was fine.
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My new xantrex fries my AGM 31's. Saw in the manual a hand written memo buy the previous owner noting to never run the a/c converter while underway, or leave on indefinitely - as it fries the batteries.
 
Wonder if the the thru hull intake fitting plays a factor?
My ac has a scoop type, genny is flush.
The scoop type has to get better flow
 
captscottc said:
My new xantrex fries my AGM 31's. Saw in the manual a hand written memo buy the previous owner noting to never run the a/c converter while underway, or leave on indefinitely - as it fries the batteries.
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You need to get another charger. Xantrex sounds like is it's definitely not a smart charger.
 
Coz said:
Wonder if the the thru hull intake fitting plays a factor?
My ac has a scoop type, genny is flush.
The scoop type has to get better flow
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You do not want a scoop type strainer fo a generator intake.
It would flood the exhaust system and make its way up into the engine hydro-locking it!
 
Air O'Nautical said:
You do not want a scoop type strainer fo a generator intake.
It would flood the exhaust system and make its way up into the engine hydro-locking it!
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X2. This is spelled out in Westerbeke's installation manual
 
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