2)
Check or listen to the generator exhaust to confirm that cooling water is being pumped.
3)
After a brief warmup of a minute or so, turn the large power selector switch to “Gen”.
(The “Running” light by the start/stop switches should be lit.)
Stopping the Generator:
1)
Switch the large power selector switch in the AC Power Supply panel “Off”. This
removes the load for the generator and allows it to cool down.
2)
After at least a minute to allow the generator to cool down
, press and hold the stop
switch down (toward the stop sign) until the generator comes to a complete stop.
Generator Automatic Battery Charging Function:
The generator system on
Hele Mai
is arranged to automatically start and charge the
batteries whenever battery voltage falls below 11.9 volts. This requires that, when not on shore
power, the shore power/generator selector switch be on “Gen”. The switch should be “off”
overnights between 10PM and 8AM to avoid disturbing vessels at anchor.
Generator Problems:
The generator monitors its own operation, detecting any loss in oil pressure or any
overheating. If either occurs, the generator shuts itself off, and will not keep running when you
try to restart it.
If generator does not start:
Before repeated starting attempts, shut off sea water supply to avoid water-
locking the engine by closing the seawater supply to its sea strainer! Then,
remember to turn it back on when the generator starts.
This is so that you do not seriously damage the generator by having it ingest cooling
sea water that it is unable to evacuate from its exhaust since there is no exhaust pressure!
4F4: AC Source Alternatives: Inverter System
The Inverter Makes AC from DC...
The Inverter is used to
provide AC to the boat
when there is no shore power
. It is
wonderful, for example, to use the inverter to make a pot of coffee when the engine is running
and you are underway, or to watch TV in a quiet anchorage, or use a hair dryer for a few
minutes in the morning. But for long-period use of AC by large appliances, the engine or
generator must be running or you must have shore power
available.
For instance the microwave, typically, will draw
about 50 amps of DC when using the inverter to run it,
so
in six minutes you use one-tenth of an hour at 50 amps, or
five ampere-hours
. That's okay. But what if you want to
cook a roast for 30 minutes? You would use up a lot of
energy on that one job alone! That’s too much; use the
propane stove or oven instead.
For a short task, the inverter is great: no starting the
generator, no noise, no fuss, the power is there. If the
The Inverter itself is in the Engine Room.
Section 4F: Electrical Systems, AC 4.13
