How often to run Generator?

[garmett]

Hello All,
I plan on going out with my 320DA for several nights this holiday wknd.
Not going to be running the air, evenings should be nice and cool.
So with both fridges on, How often to run Genny to keep batteries up?
Thank you,.............have a great Holiday!

 

[JimG]

With both refrigerators running, stereo at times, and some lights at dark... probably once a day for several hours. Time it for when you want hot water and microwave or coffee pot use.

 

[RollerCoastr]

There are too many variables for single answer - even your own routine will have enough variables to alter it. (10 more degrees of temp, or someone opening the fridges more often etc)

Several hours per day is reasonable, and by all means work it into your routine. I fire up it up in the morning for an hour or so to make coffee/breakfast, watch TV, vacuum, shower/heat water etc. I also crank the fridge to it's coldest setting while the genny is running and relax it on battery. Relying on a cooler more than the fridge also helps a lot, as do LED bulbs. I run the genny again for about another hour before bed to make sure I have a full charge to last through the night.

 

[kevin27]

I leave mine running 24/7 when I am off the dock. Why not? Thats what it's for. Even when I had the gas one on the 300DA it was the same.

 

[Bucit]

Unless he's rafting with other boats who don't want to hear or smell it? I start mine at the dock and run it all day as well.

 

[RollerCoastr]

Generators don't like to run without a load. This applies to both gas and diesel - they can both carbon-up. On a "nice and cool" day that the OP described, running it 24 hours a day would be a waste of apx. 21 of those hours. It puts the intervals of the next oil change, governor oil change, belt change, impeller change, plug, cap, rotor and fuel filter change needlessly closer. It's noisy. It smells. It vibrates. It wastes about a $1 in fuel every fifteen minutes. It creates easily-avoidable pollution. It can be rude. It can be dangerous.

When you're surrounded by heat and humidity, run it and be comfortable. THAT'S what it's for! However, when a few amps from your battery can meet all your needs for 10 hours at a time, running the generator when you don't need it's power is at best pointless.

 

[Bucit]

I'm in Florida where heat and humidity is common thus I run it all the time. If he's just worried about his batteries, reduce the DC load and run in 2-3 hours per day (again, depending on the load). My genny burns about 1/2 to 3/4 gallon an hour so if I'm worried about the $$$$ then I probably should find a new hobby.

 

[my DOG HOUSE]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+1 Run it! If you need it or not, but load it, at least a few hours a day. Water heater, AC with the window open, whatever you have too do. Batteries always topped off is a bonus.

********* CO2 sensors a must.*****************

 

[JimG]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+1 Run it! If you need it or not, but load it, at least a few hours a day. Water heater, AC with the window open, whatever you have too do. Batteries always topped off is a bonus.

********* CO2 sensors a must.*****************

I'm sure you mean CO (Carbon Monoxide), not CO2 (Carbon Dioxide)

 

[skolbe]

I like to run it about every 5 hours when cooler. Definitely run for at least an hour at a time and when you wake up and before you go to bed.

 

[my DOG HOUSE]

I'm sure you mean CO (Carbon Monoxide), not CO2 (Carbon Dioxide)

Yea, I know. I was having CO2 problems on my kegerator when I typed it, but you get the point. :smt021 But my CO2 problem is now fixed :smt038. :thumbsup:

 

[JimG]

Yea, I know. I was having CO2 problems on my kegerator when I typed it, but you get the point. :smt021 But my CO2 problem is now fixed :smt038. :thumbsup:

"Kegerator" Love it! Cheers! :thumbsup: