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Genny
Jun 24, 2017 11:36:45 GMT
Post by bargemast on Jun 24, 2017 11:36:45 GMT
In the (good ?) old days before we all needed 230/400V AC equipment onboard, and real gensets were still a rare sight on barges,and solar-panels didn't exist,I used to have on my commercial barges only a donkey engine, often a single pot Lister,Petter, horizontal Deutz, Samofa, or something similar to drive a 24V dc dynamo,(not even an alternator, as they came in only later)with a manually adjustable resistor to adjust the Amps, this engine was used aswell to drive a start-air-compressor, deckwash/bilgepump/emergency cooling_waterpump, with different belts and pullies.
It's better for the main engine not to be used long hours idling for battery charging, or low power demanding stuff like a small genny.
But as on most canal/house boats, without a separate engine room, there's rarely enough space for a second (small) engine, the main (and only) engine is often used for this purpose, maybe also because of the difficulty of storing petrol for a portable petrol genny safely onboard.
They are all personal choices, and there are many different possibilities to reach the goal you're aming for.
It's always nice to have a "Hobby idea" or experiment to play with in your spare time, with some spare cash.
I wish you good luck with this nice little project.
Peter.
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Deleted
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Genny
Jun 24, 2017 12:11:26 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2017 12:11:26 GMT
In the (good ?) old days before we all needed 230/400V AC equipment onboard, and real gensets were still a rare sight on barges,and solar-panels didn't exist,I used to have on my commercial barges only a donkey engine, often a single pot Lister,Petter, horizontal Deutz, Samofa, or something similar to drive a 24V dc dynamo,(not even an alternator, as they came in only later)with a manually adjustable resistor to adjust the Amps, this engine was used aswell to drive a start-air-compressor, deckwash/bilgepump/emergency cooling_waterpump, with different belts and pullies. It's better for the main engine not to be used long hours idling for battery charging, or low power demanding stuff like a small genny. But as on most canal/house boats, without a separate engine room, there's rarely enough space for a second (small) engine, the main (and only) engine is often used for this purpose, maybe also because of the difficulty of storing petrol for a portable petrol genny safely onboard. They are all personal choices, and there are many different possibilities to reach the goal you're aming for. It's always nice to have a "Hobby idea" or experiment to play with in your spare time, with some spare cash. I wish you good luck with this nice little project. Peter. We use the main engine because it also gives us hot water. I take your point though, seems a bit silly using an RN as a generator. Mind you a lot of them were used exclusively for that purpose.
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Genny
Jun 24, 2017 16:32:20 GMT
Post by bargemast on Jun 24, 2017 16:32:20 GMT
In the (good ?) old days before we all needed 230/400V AC equipment onboard, and real gensets were still a rare sight on barges,and solar-panels didn't exist,I used to have on my commercial barges only a donkey engine, often a single pot Lister,Petter, horizontal Deutz, Samofa, or something similar to drive a 24V dc dynamo,(not even an alternator, as they came in only later)with a manually adjustable resistor to adjust the Amps, this engine was used aswell to drive a start-air-compressor, deckwash/bilgepump/emergency cooling_waterpump, with different belts and pullies. It's better for the main engine not to be used long hours idling for battery charging, or low power demanding stuff like a small genny. But as on most canal/house boats, without a separate engine room, there's rarely enough space for a second (small) engine, the main (and only) engine is often used for this purpose, maybe also because of the difficulty of storing petrol for a portable petrol genny safely onboard. They are all personal choices, and there are many different possibilities to reach the goal you're aming for. It's always nice to have a "Hobby idea" or experiment to play with in your spare time, with some spare cash. I wish you good luck with this nice little project. Peter. We use the main engine because it also gives us hot water. I take your point though, seems a bit silly using an RN as a generator. Mind you a lot of them were used exclusively for that purpose. When they were used exclusively to drive a generator, the generator needed the power that the RN gave, so the engine had to work, which means the engine wasn't idling with a genny that only required +/- 4Hp to give it's maximum power of +/-2.5kW. If you would have a donkey engine as I wrote about above, and had that drive a genny like the one in the OP, you could have an electric element in your calorifier and use the electricity, or part of it, the heat your water, and don't wear out a beautiful RN for doing just that. When your on the move, there's nothing wrong with getting the engine to make your hot water, as the engine is working to move your boat at the same time. Peter.
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Genny
Jun 24, 2017 16:45:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2017 16:45:11 GMT
We use the main engine because it also gives us hot water. I take your point though, seems a bit silly using an RN as a generator. Mind you a lot of them were used exclusively for that purpose. When they were used exclusively to drive a generator, the generator needed the power that the RN gave, so the engine had to work, which means the engine wasn't idling with a genny that only required +/- 4Hp to give it's maximum power of +/-2.5kW. If you would have a donkey engine as I wrote about above, and had that drive a genny like the one in the OP, you could have an electric element in your calorifier and use the electricity, or part of it, the heat your water, and don't wear out a beautiful RN for doing just that. When your on the move, there's nothing wrong with getting the engine to make your hot water, as the engine is working to move your boat at the same time. Peter. Actually sometimes we do run the generator up to speed up heating water via both methods. Takes about half an hour instead of 2 hours.
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Genny
Jun 24, 2017 17:13:08 GMT
Post by bargemast on Jun 24, 2017 17:13:08 GMT
When they were used exclusively to drive a generator, the generator needed the power that the RN gave, so the engine had to work, which means the engine wasn't idling with a genny that only required +/- 4Hp to give it's maximum power of +/-2.5kW. If you would have a donkey engine as I wrote about above, and had that drive a genny like the one in the OP, you could have an electric element in your calorifier and use the electricity, or part of it, the heat your water, and don't wear out a beautiful RN for doing just that. When your on the move, there's nothing wrong with getting the engine to make your hot water, as the engine is working to move your boat at the same time. Peter. Actually sometimes we do run the generator up to speed up heating water via both methods. Takes about half an hour instead of 2 hours. If you do that with the boat tied up, and the engine only running to help the genny to heat up the water quicker, the engine isn't working and won't be really warm enough, the water temperature may be, but the oil will probably still not be at it's temperature, which isn't very good. I would never do that if I would have such a nice RN engine, and would do everything to make the engine last as long as possible, which could quite likely be longer than I will last myself, and you're running your genny at the same time to speed up the water getting hot. Of course I've no idea what sort of genny you've got and how powerful it is, but I would put the biggest heating element possible in the calorifier that your genny can handle and not run the RN to help. But as were talking here about your boat and your engine, you can do with it whatever you want, I'm only trying to tell you why I wouldn't do it, if I was in your position. Peter.
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Genny
Jun 24, 2017 18:12:18 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2017 18:12:18 GMT
Actually sometimes we do run the generator up to speed up heating water via both methods. Takes about half an hour instead of 2 hours. If you do that with the boat tied up, and the engine only running to help the genny to heat up the water quicker, the engine isn't working and won't be really warm enough, the water temperature may be, but the oil will probably still not be at it's temperature, which isn't very good. I would never do that if I would have such a nice RN engine, and would do everything to make the engine last as long as possible, which could quite likely be longer than I will last myself, and you're running your genny at the same time to speed up the water getting hot. Of course I've no idea what sort of genny you've got and how powerful it is, but I would put the biggest heating element possible in the calorifier that your genny can handle and not run the RN to help. But as were talking here about your boat and your engine, you can do with it whatever you want, I'm only trying to tell you why I wouldn't do it, if I was in your position. Peter. I have heard that's why some people leave it in gear when tied up. To add to the load that is. However on tick over I doubt it would make a lot of difference and it may P off anyone moored behind. Maybe the RN will last 50 years instead of 100 without major overhaul then. As we are CC'ers she does get plenty of work to do. GU, Oxford, Coventry, Trent & Mersey, Caldon, Middlewich, Shropie, Llangollen, Montgomery, Staffs & Worcs, all within the last 2 months!
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Genny
Jun 24, 2017 19:02:52 GMT
Post by bargemast on Jun 24, 2017 19:02:52 GMT
If you do that with the boat tied up, and the engine only running to help the genny to heat up the water quicker, the engine isn't working and won't be really warm enough, the water temperature may be, but the oil will probably still not be at it's temperature, which isn't very good. I would never do that if I would have such a nice RN engine, and would do everything to make the engine last as long as possible, which could quite likely be longer than I will last myself, and you're running your genny at the same time to speed up the water getting hot. Of course I've no idea what sort of genny you've got and how powerful it is, but I would put the biggest heating element possible in the calorifier that your genny can handle and not run the RN to help. But as were talking here about your boat and your engine, you can do with it whatever you want, I'm only trying to tell you why I wouldn't do it, if I was in your position. Peter. I have heard that's why some people leave it in gear when tied up. To add to the load that is. However on tick over I doubt it would make a lot of difference and it may P off anyone moored behind. Maybe the RN will last 50 years instead of 100 without major overhaul then. As we are CC'ers she does get plenty of work to do. GU, Oxford, Coventry, Trent & Mersey, Caldon, Middlewich, Shropie, Llangollen, Montgomery, Staffs & Worcs, all within the last 2 months! Leaving the boat in gear is only destroying the bank and make the engine use more fuel, if the engine doesn't smoke on idle and doesn't make much noice, only anyone moored behind will be P'd off if he/she hates the beautiful sound of an old engine, or is terribly jealous. How many of the maybe 50 years have gone by already ? It reassures me reading that you give the engine plenty of work to do with the impressive list of waterways you've cruised on in the last 2 months, as I was starting to feel sorry for your RN . Peter.
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Post by tadworth on Jun 24, 2017 20:19:58 GMT
Solar has cut out all my generator running, battery charging, and petrol fetching. I like peace and quiet, people running engines and generators at moorings gets on my tits.
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Post by tonyqj on Jun 25, 2017 6:49:50 GMT
Solar has cut out all my generator running, battery charging, and petrol fetching. I like peace and quiet, people running engines and generators at moorings gets on my tits. How does that work out for you in January?
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Genny
Jun 25, 2017 6:58:05 GMT
Post by quaysider on Jun 25, 2017 6:58:05 GMT
Solar has cut out all my generator running, battery charging, and petrol fetching. I like peace and quiet, people running engines and generators at moorings gets on my tits. you'd hate it here then... if it's not Mark and Morag running their engine until about 10pm (for the breadmaker) or Mick giving getting some hot water at 7am its the BOOM BOOM BOOM (that's music btw) eminating from a big barge full of nice people .... let's guess they are either drinking or smoking ALL through the night again last night.... AND later, when they come round wake up, it'll be that awful kind of "come down" music you hear in Yo-Sushi that never actually gets anywhere... kind of like 1 long introduction lasting hours... CAN you tell I didn't get much sleep and couldnt just move the boat because poor andy needed to be up at 5 to drive to work. grrr AS for generators - I've currently got a little 1kva honda which is nice but cant make best use of the combi charger (I have to limit it to 18amp or the genny cuts out) SO for this winter, I'm going to take punt on this one www.screwfix.com/p/impax-imdy2500lbi-2200w-inverter-generator-230v/16100#product_additional_details_containerThe inverter/charger can go up to 90amp so I'll tweak the settings to see how far I can get with it - The solar panels cope with the everything at the moment but it's still a pain having to get engine hours added for a shower so the imersion heater has been trialed with varying levels of success. right - I'm off to the tip (empting the garage out in preperation for the tenant to move in) (to the house - not the garge)
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Genny
Jun 25, 2017 7:01:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2017 7:01:21 GMT
Solar has cut out all my generator running, battery charging, and petrol fetching. I like peace and quiet, people running engines and generators at moorings gets on my tits. How does that work out for you in January? ...and as someone else mentioned, feel reluctant to moor in a nice shaded spot on a hot day. TBH, we'd have solar panels if we were'nt cruising so much. The technology is only going to get better. I think Tadworth has plenty of surface area to put them on too. It's a pity you can't sell some back to the grid Tadworth.
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Genny
Jun 25, 2017 7:21:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2017 7:21:14 GMT
Solar has cut out all my generator running, battery charging, and petrol fetching. I like peace and quiet, people running engines and generators at moorings gets on my tits. you'd hate it here then... if it's not Mark and Morag running their engine until about 10pm (for the breadmaker) or Mick giving getting some hot water at 7am its the BOOM BOOM BOOM (that's music btw) eminating from a big barge full of nice people .... let's guess they are either drinking or smoking ALL through the night again last night.... AND later, when they come round wake up, it'll be that awful kind of "come down" music you hear in Yo-Sushi that never actually gets anywhere... kind of like 1 long introduction lasting hours... CAN you tell I didn't get much sleep and couldnt just move the boat because poor andy needed to be up at 5 to drive to work. grrr AS for generators - I've currently got a little 1kva honda which is nice but cant make best use of the combi charger (I have to limit it to 18amp or the genny cuts out) SO for this winter, I'm going to take punt on this one www.screwfix.com/p/impax-imdy2500lbi-2200w-inverter-generator-230v/16100#product_additional_details_containerThe inverter/charger can go up to 90amp so I'll tweak the settings to see how far I can get with it - The solar panels cope with the everything at the moment but it's still a pain having to get engine hours added for a shower so the imersion heater has been trialed with varying levels of success. right - I'm off to the tip (empting the garage out in preperation for the tenant to move in) (to the house - not the garge) It' would be great if you guys could find some way of generating some income from the boat. Once you break the chains of being moored up more permanently it solves all kinds of issues! How about doing some kind of blog, you write well?
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Genny
Jun 25, 2017 9:04:47 GMT
Post by kris on Jun 25, 2017 9:04:47 GMT
Solar has cut out all my generator running, battery charging, and petrol fetching. I like peace and quiet, people running engines and generators at moorings gets on my tits. How does that work out for you in January? Or February
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Genny
Jun 25, 2017 12:10:11 GMT
via mobile
Post by tonyqj on Jun 25, 2017 12:10:11 GMT
How does that work out for you in January? Or February Or December
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Deleted
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Genny
Jun 26, 2017 13:20:26 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2017 13:20:26 GMT
I have heard that's why some people leave it in gear when tied up. To add to the load that is. However on tick over I doubt it would make a lot of difference and it may P off anyone moored behind. Maybe the RN will last 50 years instead of 100 without major overhaul then. As we are CC'ers she does get plenty of work to do. GU, Oxford, Coventry, Trent & Mersey, Caldon, Middlewich, Shropie, Llangollen, Montgomery, Staffs & Worcs, all within the last 2 months! Leaving the boat in gear is only destroying the bank and make the engine use more fuel, if the engine doesn't smoke on idle and doesn't make much noice, only anyone moored behind will be P'd off if he/she hates the beautiful sound of an old engine, or is terribly jealous. How many of the maybe 50 years have gone by already ? It reassures me reading that you give the engine plenty of work to do with the impressive list of waterways you've cruised on in the last 2 months, as I was starting to feel sorry for your RN . Peter. I was thinking a bit more what you were saying and realised that most of the time when cruising, the engine doesn't get reved up much anyway. It's probably only producing a few HP at the prop most of the time. So in theory the oil won't get 'heated' as much as on a gen set unless you cruise on nearly full power all of the time. Interestingly on the RN we have a brass cased oil cooler. I don't know whether it only cuts in when it's hot, or is 'on' all of the time. The whole subject of preserving the life of engines seems very subjective. I met a guy once with a vintage engine on a boat who swore blindly that oil gets better the more used it is. He told me he never changed it and just 'topped it up' occasionaly. 'They' also say that running an engine on tick over all of the time glazes the cylinders. It's a minefield...lol.
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