Generator run time ?

[Worshamrw]

Run time on generator ?
Have 2015 Seneca 37HJ
will be in 100+f in August
any idea how long I can run, need both a/c.🤔.

[Rustynuts]

Pretty much as long as you have fuel. No published duty cycle on them that I know of.

[Worshamrw]

I'll need to go get fuel, just how long do you think I can run before finding fuel.
Thank you

[Grumpy]

Until you get down to about 1/4 tank, that is about where the pick-up tube for the geny is located. It uses 1/2 to 1 gallon per hour depending on the load so since you have a 75 gal tank you should get 40 to 50 hours of run time before you run out of fuel if you start with a full tank. They do that so you don't empty the tank and get stranded.

[Worshamrw]

Thank you .Thats gives me a good hour number.

[SloPoke]

Originally Posted by Worshamrw

Run time on generator ?
Have 2015 Seneca 37HJ
will be in 100+f in August
any idea how long I can run, need both a/c.��.

Real world for us:

Summer concert outdoor festival for three years now, camping in a hay-field. 95F to 103F were the daytime high temperatures from Wednesday afternoon until Monday, Generator quiet time from 3AM - 8AM. (we had our unit on Energy Command 30 AUTO mode)
We went into the festival grounds with a full tank, Left the festival grounds on just above 1/2 tank. (take that with a bit of skepticism as our Fuel Guage on the Freightliner is flaky... When driving all day after a fuel stop - it says we are full for many miles, then it starts to go down to the half mark slowly - then it starts to go from 1/2 to a 1/4 pretty fast and gets faster at the E mark. It could be actually below half, but I did not stik-measure the tanks.

Originally Posted by Rustynuts

Pretty much as long as you have fuel. No published duty cycle on them that I know of.

Ours says about a half-gallon / hr at 30% load. I would say it is close.

Originally Posted by Worshamrw

I'll need to go get fuel, just how long do you think I can run before finding fuel.
Thank you

I guess that you can go 5-8 days at least - it all depends on how much you run it and at what load.

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Until you get down to about 1/4 tank, that is about where the pick-up tube for the geny is located. It uses 1/2 to 1 gallon per hour depending on the load so since you have a 75 gal tank you should get 40 to 50 hours of run time before you run out of fuel if you start with a full tank. They do that so you don't empty the tank and get stranded.

I agree for the most part in regards to fuel consumption BUT... in our 2015 - we have run our genny when our fuel tank is WAY Lower than 1/4 tank and it NEVER ran out of fuel..

[Worshamrw]

With the luck I have it will run out just as I fall asleep. It'll be in the street curbside running. Projected temp will be 100+, California.

[Worshamrw]

Has anyone taken their unit into freightliner for the fuel gauge issue?

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by SloPoke

I agree for the most part in regards to fuel consumption BUT... in our 2015 - we have run our genny when our fuel tank is WAY Lower than 1/4 tank and it NEVER ran out of fuel..

As you said the gauge may be flaky and that is probably the case.

The industry standard is to put the pick-up tube at the 1/4 tank level so you don't strand yourself. I would check with JAYCO to find out for sure, but both our 2001 DESIGNER and the 2008 SENECA were right at that level. I also know that is where it was for many other brands as well.

[SloPoke]

Originally Posted by Worshamrw

With the luck I have it will run out just as I fall asleep. It'll be in the street curbside running. Projected temp will be 100+, California.

Uh-oh... get ready for an idle-violation if you have a diesel engine running while sitting on the city streets.

Homeless people can camp on the sidewalk and get away with crapping in the gutter, but you can't park on the street and have a diesel engine running. Be careful out there...
I grew up there.

[Rustynuts]

Originally Posted by SloPoke

Ours says about a half-gallon / hr at 30% load. I would say it is close.

When I mentioned Duty Cycle, I was referring to run time vs down time, some machinery and things like welders have duty cycles to let them rest/cool down. Most generators especially diesel can pretty much fun 24/

[SloPoke]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

As you said the gauge may be flaky and that is probably the case.

The industry standard is to put the pick-up tube at the 1/4 tank level so you don't strand yourself. I would check with JAYCO to find out for sure, but both our 2001 DESIGNER and the 2008 SENECA were right at that level. I also know that is where it was for many other brands as well.

I agree that it "should work that way" but in our experience - it doesn't on OUR Seneca, and we have had many trips where our Genny was running to keep our AC running in the back - with under 1/8 of a tank left while on the interstate looking for fuel in the coming exits. The genny never ran out of fuel - not once yet.

[Worshamrw]

Just what I need.��

[RVermont]

My unit shut off once a couple years ago. I dont normally let it get that low. I try to fill at 400 miles or less and always before I get to the camp site.

[rgolding]

Originally Posted by RVermont

I dont normally let it get that low. I try to fill at 400 miles or less and always before I get to the camp site.

This has been our results. I look for fuel when we are at the half way mark on the gauge. I have never had the generator shutdown and the gauge was hovering around 1/4 tank. To my knowledge from our experiences of traveling and living in our unit for 5 years plus, the fuel gauge is on the smaller driver's side tank. The exchange of fuel and balancing of fuel is through a small tube between the two tanks, therefore you may see the gauge go down, but then slowly rise back up. This is all done by gravity, so it will depend on how your unit is sitting, when you look at the gauge.

[Trapper2020]

I once ran mine for pretty much two weeks straight. Only thing I did was turn it off daily to check the oil. Mine was a 12.5 and it did need about a half quart every two days. Good luck with yours.


Enjoy the journey

[Worshamrw]

Thank you

[wducat]

I Have a 2016 37HJ and ran both ac units off Generator for 7 days straight 7x24 (August in Louisiana, doing disaster relief after a flood). Stopped only to change oil mid way through. Started with full diesel tanks, had enough left to get to a truck stop when done. No issues. We routinely go park on the beach on North Padre Island and run for 2-4 days non stop.

Just remember to change your oil every 150 hours.

[Worshamrw]

That's good to know.
Oil change every 150 hrs, that to.
Thank's

[wducat]

It is very easy to forget change or to fudge on the hours a bit, but generators are very sensitive to oil and not changing the oil on schedule could have major Financial repercussions. I won’t go into details, but this is not hypothetical for me. I will say that after replacing 2 generations and one generator motor on my previous 2 coaches, I am much more attentive. I am also very happy to have a low oil shutoff on my current unit 😄.