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Post by kris on Dec 1, 2016 18:45:25 GMT
I want to second Jenlyns suggestion of getting your daughter to join the London boaters Facebook group. Starting to live on a boat is a steep learning curve and she will find a lot of helpful people on there. Sorry I don't have much experience of lpg generators. But with a little bit of common sense a petrol generator can be used safely. Yes people do die every year from misuse, but thousands of people manage to use them safely.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2016 18:47:07 GMT
Thanks jenlyn👍 Still quite interested to know if anyone has knowledge of lpg generators tho! Cheers I set my Honda up for lpg. I kept a log on it. To be honest, it was no cheaper than petrol, the only benefit was not having to store petrol. A small Honda or kipor suitcase genny will only require a five litre petrol container. A 20amp charger, and suitcase genny will average about 3-5 litres of petrol a week on her two batteries, running it for an hour and a half to two hours a night. To use lpg, you would need the bigger suitcase genny, Honda, or kipor. She doesn't need the bigger ones, unless she ups the number of batteries. Exactly this. The only other time an LPG conversion scores is for little used Gennys. No problem with fuel being left in the carb going manky. That's easily combated by turning the fuel tap off and running it dry, or in the case of say a Honda were the tap comprises the on/off empty the fuel tank, fire Genny up and allow to run dry. Only slightly more effort to lay one up than faff about with LPG IMHO.
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Post by serena on Dec 1, 2016 18:53:43 GMT
Ok, thanks everyone, I shall research and then purchase a small petrol genny and charger😊. Thank you all so much for input!
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Post by smileypete on Dec 1, 2016 18:57:45 GMT
Given the existing outboard needs petrol, I'd have thought a similarly fueled genny would be the way to go.
It seems most off grid liveaboards near the budget end of things run petrol gennies, even if the main engine is diesel. Would have thought an LPG genny would cost at least £200 more than a petrol version, as even the DIY conversion kits appear to cost £200.
Would have thought an extension to the existing locker or an extra locker would cost anywhere between £100-400, depending on what's needed or where the work is done.
Might be good to contact the insurers to see if there's any requirement on how much extra petrol can be stored for a generator.
If DD has a day job and just needs a little power to run a couple of LEDs and bit of water pump use and a mobile charger, there's 12V 20Ah portable lithium packs starting at about £200, weigh about the same as 4 pints of milk and could be taken away from the boat and recharged in the daytime.
If DD has a smartphone then it might be an idea to ask her to join the forum and then she can talk to us directly? ETA scratch that, the London facebook group sounds like it may be better.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2016 18:58:38 GMT
Ok, thanks everyone, I shall research and then purchase a small petrol genny and charger😊. Thank you all so much for input! Cross a Clarke 1000g off your list. I've had loads thru my hands at work, they are rubbish. I am currently running one built out of 3 dead ones. I wouldn't want to buy one with my own hard earned! If you are on a budget it's Kippor 1000, if not it's Honda or a Yamaha - I'd edge the yam as the eu10 ishr as good as its badge suggest. Obviously, second hand is an option but good gennys hold their money well.
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Post by serena on Dec 1, 2016 19:02:50 GMT
Thanks, unfortunately my offspring thinks she knows it all😀 Yes Kippor looks a goer
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Post by smileypete on Dec 1, 2016 19:07:51 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2016 19:16:35 GMT
The majority of the Chinese stuff is junk though.
Screwfix 800w job not a bad idea as you say, easier to return it in branch rather than dealing with a web based company or worse still eBay!
I think Those chargers are cheaper on the electroquest website - I put the links up a little while back.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2016 19:30:20 GMT
Another make to consider (especially secondhand) is Stephill, they use Honda engines and are available in both 1000w and 2000w models. Slightly louder than their Yamaha or Honda equivalent but nowhere near as angry or nasty as most of the Chinese crap. www.stephill-generators.co.uk/products/HobbygenMade just round the corner from my work but you mustn't hold that against them
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Post by smileypete on Dec 1, 2016 19:34:13 GMT
The majority of the Chinese stuff is junk though. Screwfix 800w job not a bad idea as you say, easier to return it in branch rather than dealing with a web based company or worse still eBay! I think Those charges are cheaper on the electroquest website - I put the links up a little while back. They are cheaper but postage is on top so it works out about the same. Only recommended the Evopower one as the guy that runs ThePowerSite came on the other forum and sounded pretty reasonable, plus someone bought one and found it OK. Got an 'eco throttle' setting too for reduced noise and fuel consumption. I'd agree that some of the super budget deals on Ebay should be given a wide berth.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2016 19:35:01 GMT
I think smileypete's lithium pack suggestion is a Good Idea for a small boat where the occupant has access to mains electric during the day.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2016 19:40:59 GMT
The majority of the Chinese stuff is junk though. Screwfix 800w job not a bad idea as you say, easier to return it in branch rather than dealing with a web based company or worse still eBay! I think Those charges are cheaper on the electroquest website - I put the links up a little while back. They are cheaper but postage is on top so it works out about the same. Only recommended the Evopower one as the guy that runs ThePowerSite came on the other forum and sounded pretty reasonable, plus someone bought one and found it OK. I'd agree that some of the super budget deals on Ebay should be given a wide berth. Oh, I hadn't noticed that! Bloody hell the prices of those have shot up. As i said, our 30a electroquest was £90 odd including postage! I spent long and hard deliberating over Gennys to demote the Clarke, I finally settled on a secondhand EU20I from www.petepower.co.uk/Still strong money but it was the best option in the long run, enough welly to keep up with our higher power demands, made in Japan rather than the Taiwanese new stuff and not deprecating as much tucked away unused just the same as a secondhand one. Decent bloke to deal with too
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Post by serena on Dec 1, 2016 19:46:47 GMT
Thanks for all the suggestions! Lithium is not an option, but thanks very much x
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Post by smileypete on Dec 1, 2016 19:58:43 GMT
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Post by smileypete on Dec 1, 2016 20:03:22 GMT
Oh, I hadn't noticed that! Bloody hell the prices of those have shot up. As i said, our 30a electroquest was £90 odd including postage! There's some super budget 30A chargers on Ebay for £40 but I definitely would not recommend them: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-30A-Car-Battery-Charger-Motorcycle-Battery-Charger-Lead-Acid-Charger-EU-BS-/201730628696Notice the metal case and lack of earth connection at the plug! But if you can sort that out and check the internals are safe it might be a goer. Has a current control so could be run at 20A for extra reliability (hopefully). Agree that the prices of the Electroquest ones seem to vary but post Brexit I think you'd be lucky to get a new 30A one for £90.
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