New Westerbeke generator, no alarms

[rondds]

Back in the Fall of 2013 I replaced the original dead generator on this boat with a new one. The installation is documented HERE if you care to read it.

Everything was literally plug-n-play. WB uses the same connectors on their new generators that they did back in 2001 so the harness for the remote starting panel was identical and works flawlessly. The only problem is that I don't get any alarms. For example, that typical Sea Ray squeal (oil pressure low) that you hear when you toggle to the first position on the ignition switch doesn't happen. The generator has never shut down on me but I'll assume that if it did I wouldn't get any audible notification.

Anyone have an idea why this might be so?

 

[dpmulvey]

I never got an audible on my old gennie. Interesting on the plug and play. I toasted my engine after a miserable shaft blow out. I replaced my 4.5 w/ a 5kW Lo CO. I had to have a lot of custom work done.

 

[src]

On my WB (2000 era), the only alarm I have ever heard was for the secondary low oil pressure sensor when I had it unplugged for diagnostic purposes, and I don't recall seeing any other alarms mentioned in the documentation, and the only other indicator I know of is the red light on the "status panel" at the helm. I suspect that there just wasn't any provision for them at the time.

 

[rondds]

David
I called one of the distributors when I was in the planning stages, armed with the part number for the old harness plug (which I was able to look up in the manuals of the old gen) and it was the same part number or the harness plug on the new gen. Worked like a charm. The new gen is a 7.0 BCGD Low Profile. The old one was a 7.2 BCGT (?). Whatever this vintage 380 came with.

src
I don't have a panel with the idiot lights - had that on my previous boat. I have the LCD display that's real hard to read. When I hear a squeal (like with my stuck hi water bilge pump switch) I lean over and try to make out what the display says.

So you're saying that when you put the switch in the first position at startup, you don't get the same alarm that starting the mains produces? Oddly, my boat was repowered by one of the POs and my startup alarms for the mains don't always squeal, even when the engines are cold.

 

[src]

So you're saying that when you put the switch in the first position at startup, you don't get the same alarm that starting the mains produces?

Correct, I get no "tone" from the generator switch. The only time I got an audible alert of any sort was when I disconnected the second oil pressure sensor - which the manual described as specific to Sea Ray installations. I suspect that any additional alerts would require an upgraded control package from WB (assuming that such a thing exists). I'm always envious of the other boaters who can get an actual trouble code.

 

[rondds]

Got it. So I am not alone!
I can't say if there were every any alarms on this boat b/c when I bought it the gen was dead as a doornail. Battery cable was even disconnected.

 

[fc3]

Westerbeke does not provide an abend signal, so Sea Ray usually installs a work-around by connecting a second oil pressure sender that's wired to the alarm panel. If the generator's switch is on and the oil pressure sender sees no pressure, the alarm sounds. The wire for the alarm sensor is in the wire loom to the generator, but it is not part of the westerbeke connectors. Look for an extra wire with a female spade connector that's hanging free.

 

[rondds]

Will check...thanks Frank. However, that separate wire will have nowhere to be connected to on this gen, correct?

 

[fc3]

probably

 

[Lazy Daze]

Ron, I don't get a chance to work on generators all that much (so I'm not sure I can offer any information that is too specific), but basically speaking, and engine is an engine is an engine. Check the area around where the oil filter screws onto the block. That's a typical location for an oil pressure switch. It might already be installed, or there could be a plug there - in which case, remove plug and install switch. Depending on the level of description in the manual, there might even be mention of this there. Whether the boat end is wired to receive the signal, or not... I do not know - I'll defer back to Frank on that.

Worst case... you can buy oil pressure switches (quite inexpensive, actually) with alarms (audible or visual) and wire in your own as they are SUPER simple to do. Places like Summit Racing or maybe even NAPA would have kits. NAPA would definitely have pressure switches - not sure about the kits.

 

[rondds]

Ok. No dangling white wire. Not sure I'll get too much more involved with this. Just don't like not knowing if something shuts down, but as long as it shuts down we're good!

 

[mistercomputerman]

I wish my genset was that purty.

 

[fwebster]

But, you use yours, Rick.

Some of the Northern guys keep them as bilge trophies for the day they need to impress someone or post a photo.

 

[MasterFab]

Who did the installation? It's a bit sloppy......

Dale

 

[Mike Blake]

OH NO! I'm just glad it's not a Honda in there.

 

[rondds]

410s are notorious for winding up with wet (rusty) generators. 380s not so much.
C'mon Frank, I've got 52 hours on it in a season and a half! Same as the boat.
Dale, a couple of schlubs helped me with that job - Frank would likely refer to them as "Daryl, Daryl and Daryl." ;-)

 

[fc3]

Pull it out and apart, Rick. Then it's really easy to paint.

I did mine in 2006

 

[HUMPH]

Westerbeke paint or something else? Their paint is brutally expensive!

 

[fc3]

I used two spray cans of gawd awfully expensive westerbeke paint.

 

[mistercomputerman]

Ha, at 2500+ hours, it will get painted in place.