|
12-01-2020, 07:06 AM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Maplesville - Home Base
Posts: 3,059
|
Monthly Generator Run Under Load - Regardless
Regardless of the weather I run my Onan 5500 every month with a load. I might miss the first day of the month a day or two, but I NEVER miss doing it monthly. This morning it was 26 degrees when I started it and it hasn't missed a beat for the past 55 minutes. I'm just about ready to shut it down until the New Year.
A bit of exhaust visible due to the cold temperature.
__________________
Ed
KM4STL
2006 GMC 2500HD CCSB 4x4 Duramax/Allison, Titan 52 gallon fuel tank, Prodigy Controller, B&W Companion Hitch
2010 Jayco Designer 35RLTS, Cummins/Onan RV QG 5500 EVAP, Progressive Industries EMS-PT50X, TST Systems 507 TPMS, RV Flex Armor Roof
|
|
|
12-01-2020, 08:46 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: McCalla, AL
Posts: 1,228
|
Good reminder. So I went out and did the same.
|
|
|
12-02-2020, 04:53 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Maplesville - Home Base
Posts: 3,059
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2naEagle
Good reminder. So I went out and did the same.
|
__________________
Ed
KM4STL
2006 GMC 2500HD CCSB 4x4 Duramax/Allison, Titan 52 gallon fuel tank, Prodigy Controller, B&W Companion Hitch
2010 Jayco Designer 35RLTS, Cummins/Onan RV QG 5500 EVAP, Progressive Industries EMS-PT50X, TST Systems 507 TPMS, RV Flex Armor Roof
|
|
|
12-02-2020, 08:45 AM
|
#4
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Rocky Mountains
Posts: 81
|
What do you run to put a load on the generator during the winter?
|
|
|
12-02-2020, 09:17 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,216
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rockymountainRVer
What do you run to put a load on the generator during the winter?
|
I run a space heater. Probably not quite half load, but it's a load for sure.
Last time I did my "exercise", it wasn't hot enough to run the AC for load, and not really cold enough for the space heater. So I opened the door and pointed the space heater outside for my run.
If you happen to have water in your water heater, you could run that on electric. It pulls 10-11A. Between that and the converter, you could probably get pretty darn close to 15A. But it's likely you will have winterized and won't have water in your tank, so if that's the case DON'T run the water heater...
__________________
-2018 Greyhawk 29MV
-2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (JLU) (Primary Toad)
-1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ (Secondary Toad)
-2014 Jay Flight 28BHBE & Ram 2500 6.4L CC 4x4 (sold)
|
|
|
12-02-2020, 11:55 AM
|
#6
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Rocky Mountains
Posts: 81
|
Good suggestions. Many thanks.
|
|
|
12-03-2020, 06:36 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Maplesville - Home Base
Posts: 3,059
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rockymountainRVer
What do you run to put a load on the generator during the winter?
|
Electric fireplace and a couple of ceramic heaters. Instant load.
__________________
Ed
KM4STL
2006 GMC 2500HD CCSB 4x4 Duramax/Allison, Titan 52 gallon fuel tank, Prodigy Controller, B&W Companion Hitch
2010 Jayco Designer 35RLTS, Cummins/Onan RV QG 5500 EVAP, Progressive Industries EMS-PT50X, TST Systems 507 TPMS, RV Flex Armor Roof
|
|
|
02-07-2021, 07:45 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: newtown
Posts: 600
|
When you exercise your generator that is the best thing you can do. This helps keep the static charge in the generator. I have to flash 5 or 6 per year.
|
|
|
02-08-2021, 08:17 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: midwest
Posts: 1,211
|
it's minus 20 this morning.. my generator can get exercise in April...
Drain the carb in the fall and wait till spring.. still works and starts up like new after 11 years....
|
|
|
02-08-2021, 08:23 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: newtown
Posts: 600
|
Because you drain the gas. Most of my work was old fuel. Clean and replace if you can get one.
|
|
|
02-08-2021, 08:24 AM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Where ever the boss says we're going.
Posts: 16,101
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by curver900
it's minus 20 this morning.. my generator can get exercise in April...
Drain the carb in the fall and wait till spring.. still works and starts up like new after 11 years....
|
It's not just the carb since the same applies to the diesel geny's, you can get moisture build-up on the stator and rings.
"Moisture build-up can result in damage to the generator. When you exercise the generator, it heats up the generator windings and eliminates moisture."
__________________
DISNEY LOVERS
|
|
|
02-08-2021, 09:50 AM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 3,912
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by campersam9
Because you drain the gas. Most of my work was old fuel. Clean and replace if you can get one.
|
Seafoam! I run the air conditioner for a load.
__________________
2018 Greyhawk 29MVP-Sold
2023 Jeep Gladiator Mojave
|
|
|
02-08-2021, 10:55 AM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 514
|
Ceramic heater and add the microwave a few times to cycle the load. Not sure if it helps all that much but figure it doesn’t hurt.
__________________
2019 Entegra Odyssey 31L
|
|
|
02-08-2021, 07:50 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: newtown
Posts: 600
|
I would never work on a diesel! The fuel smell. I can’t stand it. I am fussy about my tools. No diesel fuel near my stuff. Gas is bad enough.
|
|
|
02-09-2021, 08:34 PM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: midwest
Posts: 1,211
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grumpy
It's not just the carb since the same applies to the diesel geny's, you can get moisture build-up on the stator and rings.
"Moisture build-up can result in damage to the generator. When you exercise the generator, it heats up the generator windings and eliminates moisture."
|
sadly it is so cold here that all the moisture is frozen...
|
|
|
02-09-2021, 10:01 PM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: newtown
Posts: 600
|
Diesel are not the best for cold climates unless it has a heater. We have ours hooked up to propane. Add a heat blanket to the bottle is a big help. We found that out by freezing one nite. The next day an old RV neighbor told us about that.
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|