Portable Generator Test

[Craigmconrad]

Predator 2000 with 4 ft Smartplug working great. No problem running AC, battery charger and AC outlets charging iPad and laptop. Max Amps on Victron shows around 7. Even running generator on ECO mode and no problems.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Craigmconrad]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[GaylesFaerie]

I'm curious how you connected the generator output to the boat? Does that black cable go from the generator directly into the shore power receptacle?

 

[Craigmconrad]

Yes, I bought a 4 ft standard plug to shore power inlet. (15 Amp 115V / 30 Amp 125V – 4’ Cordse) Treat the portable generator just like you would shore power. Some folks said they would get a reverse polarity light, I boaught the plug that fixes that problem. The plug goes into a seperate 110v AC outlet on the generator. (Southwire Company LLC Neutral-Ground Bonding Plug)

 

[GaylesFaerie]

Ah, easy. Thanks.

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

I made a short 30 amp cord to from the HONDA 2200 Companion 30 amp plug to the SMARTPLUG.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SgtAlf]

I use the same setup, but with a 6' cord.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QC ... UTF8&psc=1

 

[watson1987]

I don't know the size of the inverter/charger on the R23, but for larger boats, these setups cannot be used without first going in and changing the battery charger to a lower amperage.

15amp cable out of a generator cannot supply a 30amp receptacle that the boat has. The likelihood (or hope) is that the generator breaker will trip, but it's not an ideal situation.

If you have the Kisae Abso 2000W charger/inverter you can use the little display to change the charging profile to Cb1 which will draw 15amp maximum from the shoreside. The default is Cb3. There are probably still some rules being broken with using this style of cable, but at least it is safer.

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

I have a 60A and a 20A charger on my R-23 (both Kisae Abso). I can use both and stay well below 1800W at 120V (15A) on the generator. The Honda has a Bluetooth app to monitor the load. It pushes to 1850 if I run the 60A charger and the water heater at the same time. That’s why I use the 30A plug on the generator, not the 15A plug.

Over the weekend at the Carolina Beach mooring field, I wanted hot water, so I ran the generator and 60A charger until the water heater turned off, then added the 20A charger until the house bank was at about 90%.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dbsea]

This is a very tempting idea for me, rather than spending $15k on a plumbed in genset. I do have a little shame about my boat friends judging me, and about how best to carry the genset with gas in it (probably shouldn’t be in my hot engine compartment), and where to place it while operating it… but that seems all doable for the cost savings and security.

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

I carry a 1 gallon fuel can in the anchor locker. Any fumes can get carried out the locker drain by gravity.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dbsea]

I carry a 1 gallon fuel can in the anchor locker. Any fumes can get carried out the locker drain by gravity.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

good to know, thanks. Do you think it's safe to store the generator in my engine compartment or is it too hot while the engine is running?

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

I have an R-23 w/ outboard, so I’ve never contemplated that question.

If we don’t have the dinghy with us, I have our generator strapped in the center cockpit locker while underway. When we have the dinghy and motor stored in the locker, I have it in the cockpit while underway.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

If you have the Kisae Abso 2000W charger/inverter you can use the little display to change the charging profile to Cb1 which will draw 15amp maximum from the shoreside. The default is Cb3. There are probably still some rules being broken with using this style of cable, but at least it is safer.

Kisae doesn’t make a charger large enough to trip a 15A breaker. Their 100A (12v output) charger will only pull 10A on the 120V input side. The 2000W inverter charger is only 80A on the charge side, so only 8A on the shore power input side.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[watson1987]

If you have the Kisae Abso 2000W charger/inverter you can use the little display to change the charging profile to Cb1 which will draw 15amp maximum from the shoreside. The default is Cb3. There are probably still some rules being broken with using this style of cable, but at least it is safer.

Kisae doesn’t make a charger large enough to trip a 15A breaker. Their 100A (12v output) charger will only pull 10A on the 120V input side. The 2000W inverter charger is only 80A on the charge side, so only 8A on the shore power input side.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Their documentation says otherwise.
https://www.kisaepower.com/wp-content/u ... 122055.pdf

Cb3 (default setting) - Same as above. Set the maximum current draw from shore power is 30A

In by-pass mode, AC current for 120V house load is supplied by the shore cable, IN ADDITION, to DC charging loads, which adds additional current draw on the shore cable.

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

I think we are talking about different things. Yes, you could pull more than 15A through the inverter charger. I was talking about charging with the inverter charger. You originally mentioned changing the battery charger to a lower amperage. The charger won't pull that many amps. The charger + all the other potential loads obviously could 15+ amps, and is part of standard power management.