Routine Generator Service:
The generator oil is easily checked.
Remove the forward cover on the generator
by turning the two knobs on its upper
corners; if you are only accessing the oil
dipstick and fill, it will tilt enough to do this.
The dipstick and fill cap are easily visible.
It shouldn’t be necessary to add
coolant, but if you do need to, use 50-50
antifreeze mix adding it to the coolant tank
on the starboard side of the generator sound
shield cabinet (you can access the heat
exchanger itself under the generator sound
shield through the access port on the top of
the shield.)
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.
Before repeated starting, shut off sea water supply to avoid water-
locking the engine! Then, remember to turn it back on when the
generator starts!
4F2: AC Ground Fault Interrupters
Under the forward
companionway top step
are the ground fault
interrupters (GFI’s) that
protect users of AC
aboard the boat from
shocks, just as they do in
modern homes.
If there is no power at an outlet, check to be sure one of these has not tripped. If one
has, reset it. If it trips again, investigate items that are plugged into the boat’s AC outlets to be
sure that a device is not defective.
Looking into generator behind its front panel. Red arrow points to dipstick,
yellow to oil fill cap, blue to coolant tank.
Section 4F: Electrical Systems, AC 4.9
