Generator Question

[george2064]

When you are moored and run your generator do you also have the engine room blower going? I was wondering for better ventilation?

 

[CAMELLA]

I run my blower anytime the boat engines and genny are on.

 

[Four Suns]

Deleted.

 

[Bridog]

George2064, Come to the "dark side" http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14288&highlight=generator

 

[Cincy Aquaholic]

Only when I'm sleeping as an added precaution for any CO leak into the bilge.

 

[CAMELLA]

Only when I'm sleeping as an added precaution for any CO leak into the bilge.

Don't forget about the gas fumes!

 

[Southpaw II]

I run mine primarily to remove heat. To see for yourself, velcro a remote thermometer somewhere in the ER. I keep one there to monitor my bilge temp in the winter, but also have realized how hot it does get when the engines are running. You can get the indoor/outdoor unit from Radio Shack (not advertising) with one remote for about $30.

 

[tobnpr]

Wrong section, but as referred to in the thread mentioned above- YES, run the blower(s).

Just like mains at idle speed, there's not enough air circulating through the ER with only the gen running to provide adequate ventilation.

 

[Tonka Boater]

Wrong section, but as referred to in the thread mentioned above- YES, run the blower(s).

Just like mains at idle speed, there's not enough air circulating through the ER with only the gen running to provide adequate ventilation.

What he said. I will only add that I run the blower anytime the main or gen is running....not just at idle speed. Even at higher speeds I don't think there is enough natural ventilation.

 

[tobnpr]

I agree. Now that I own a gas boat again, I will run them all the time. So what if I have to replace a burned-up blower (they're cheap). The additional safety factor is worth it IMO.

 

[JV II]

Wrong section, but as referred to in the thread mentioned above- YES, run the blower(s).

Just like mains at idle speed, there's not enough air circulating through the ER with only the gen running to provide adequate ventilation.

I estimate the volume of my ER to be 300 cubic feet. My mains total 16.2 liters of displacement and idle at 600 RPM, therefore circulating 9,720 liters of air per minute (343 CFM) in the ER at idle. My 2 blowers combined circulate 300 CFM. How much air flow is considered adequate? I'm thinking 343 CFM is adequate, but really, is there a formula? At idle, my mains replace all the air in the ER every 60 seconds.

I do run the blower with the mains off and generator on to clear out the heat and any potential CO or fuel vapor.

 

[NorCal Boater]

I run the blowers before I start the engines but once I get air moving past the boat I turn them off. I have never had a problem with heat or poor performance due to restricted air. Summertime temps here can get into the 100 degree area often.

I do run the blower when the genny is on but I do not run the genny at night.

 

[Moose]

My gen will not start unless the blower is on. Good advice, run it.

 

[sbw1]

Yes. I believe there is a formula. When my boat was new, I received a letter from Tiara indicating that the blowers were determined to be undersized and needed to be replaced. They came to my house and swapped out the old ones for new. I believe they cited a USCG regulation in the letter as the reason for the change. Don't know what the formula is but you could probably Google it and find some regulation.

 

[fwebster]

At idle, your engine will not replace all the air in the engine room........they will intake and exhaust that volume of air, but that air the engines process is pulled in the hull vents and is what is near the breather intakes which are located at the the top part of the engine space. It isn't the air you run the blowers to replace.

The bilge blowers are ducted with their intakes at the lowest part of the bilge so the blowers will evacuate explosive fumes which are heavier than air and sink much lower than the normal engine intake source so your analysis may be mathmetically correct, it could also get your a$$ blown off.

 

[Tonka Boater]

At idle, your engine will not replace all the air in the engine room........they will intake and exhaust that volume of air, but that air the engines process is pulled in the hull vents and is what is near the breather intakes which are located at the the top part of the engine space. It isn't the air you run the blowers to replace.

The bilge blowers are ducted with their intakes at the lowest part of the bilge so the blowers will evacuate explosive fumes which are heavier than air and sink much lower than the normal engine intake source so your analysis may be mathmetically correct, it could also get your a$$ blown off.

You articulated what I've always been told. Even at cruising speed their is no air circulation in the closed engine room. I know that I will be corrected if I am wrong, but there are no fresh air intake vents into my ER that would allow for natural air circulation at any speed.

 

[JV II]

At idle, your engine will not replace all the air in the engine room........they will intake and exhaust that volume of air, but that air the engines process is pulled in the hull vents and is what is near the breather intakes which are located at the the top part of the engine space. It isn't the air you run the blowers to replace.

The bilge blowers are ducted with their intakes at the lowest part of the bilge so the blowers will evacuate explosive fumes which are heavier than air and sink much lower than the normal engine intake source so your analysis may be mathmetically correct, it could also get your a$$ blown off.

I'm going to have to make some holes in the bottom of my boat and plug up those pesky hull vents.

 

[Alegria]

I run my blower anytime the boat engines and genny are on.

I am with B-Fitting on that one,:smt038 I run them any time the engines are on or the generator. On the remote start on my panel there is a nice note from Sea Ray that tells me to run the blowers when ever the generator is running... So I do..