Anybody experience this generator issue?

[Russ Calasant]

Following 5 days of gen running non stop we left a mooring and headed out in good size seas, 5-7ft. I soon noticed my gen shut down and the SR monitor was alarming. After returning to the dock and checking the issue, the temp gauge indicated overheating, the strainer had some blockage but still flowing, checked all hoses. Found the impeller was shredded. Maybe lost suction and she ran dry? Is that possible? Thoughts?

 

[PlayDate]

When was the last time you replaced the impeller? It doesn't take long to shred an impeller if you lost water flow. Congrats on solving the electrical problems.

 

[Quint4]

Perhaps the impeller was on its last leg and your "run dry" theory is correct.
May have been all it needed to finish it off.
Have you replaced it and all is back to normal?

 

[dwna1a]

When you figure it out I'd love to know as well. My Port engine did the same thing this weekend. She ran great going out then suddenly no more water flow. I had shredded the impeller. It was only 1 year old

 

[NotHerDecision]

If it runs dry it will shred the impeller. I say clean the strainer and make sure you have good flow(open the strainer and seacock) then replace the impeller and try again. Good thing the impellers are inexpensive!

 

[juggernaut1]

I had a major blockage on a mooring last summer's holidays whilst on a trip. Seaweed had been sucked up and was backed up against the hose nipple entering the strainer i.e. it didn't even make into the strainer. There was vastly reduced flow but the impellor was cactus. Luckily I had a spare and could change it in short time. I now keep two spare impellors on board.

 

[B BARKER]

I just went through an ordeal a couple of weeks ago and mine quit pumping water and I caught it in time, my strainer was clean but I wasn't getting any water flow so I started at the source. Turned off tru-hull took hose off turned tru-hull back on and nothing ? Poked a phillips screw driver into tru-hull and all kind of leaves came out of it then the water started flying everywhere, it was stopped up all the way not a drop was coming out till I jabbed that screw driver in it !!!!

 

[electricaldoctor]

When your impeller fails, your temperature will rise to the point where a sensor will shut down the generator.

 

[cwiert]

Following 5 days of gen running non stop we left a mooring and headed out in good size seas, 5-7ft. I soon noticed my gen shut down and the SR monitor was alarming. After returning to the dock and checking the issue, the temp gauge indicated overheating, the strainer had some blockage but still flowing, checked all hoses. Found the impeller was shredded. Maybe lost suction and she ran dry? Is that possible? Thoughts?

Hey Russ,

Last Sunday was nasty out there on LI Sound. My dock neighbor was saying that his props came out of the water a few times. Granted, he has a smaller boat than yours (a 34'). It might be a long shot, but do you think maybe with the rough seas you got an air lock when your were coming home in that slop with the genny running? My money is on the sea conditions causing the issue. Either the intake thru-hull came out of the water or maybe lots of bubbles under the boat caused it to loose suction/prime and then the impeller ran without water until it was shredded.

That's all I got for theories. Good luck.

 

[northern]

Some times that happens to us. Our problem is seaweed. I have had main engines plug but mostly the generator. The way we clean it is remove the hose to the inlet of the strainer. Force a garden hose into the hose. I have one size for main engines and one for generator. I secure it with a rad clamp then connect the hose to the boat potable water system then turn on the hose. It cleans the inlet in the hull.