Safe to run generator without box insulation?

[jibstay]

I have a sea water cooled Westerbeke generator in what looks like a fiberglass sound enclosure. The enclosure opens from the top like a clamshell.

One side of the enclosure gets opened frequently for maintenance on the generator and the insulation on this side has fallen apart.

Is it safe to run the generator without the insulation?

I can run it without that half of the enclosure installed, but it's obviously much louder.

Thanks in advance.

[Captsteve53]

No issues, apart from more noise, Many generators are sold with the sound shield as an optional extra, Im actually running my Onan right now due to an black out from the mains with both sides removed as was a scorcher today 38-40 degrees C

Cheers Steve

[jibstay]

Thanks Steve, I wasn't clear enough with my question. I'd like to run the generator with the enclosure in place, even though one side of the enclosure doesn't have any insulation.

The box provides some sound reduction, even without the insulation on one side, but I'm concerned about the fiberglass enclosure getting too hot.

[Captsteve53]

The insulation will be there for noise rather than heat,

Standard GRP has a safe operating temp as 540 C OR 1000 F so by that time I believe your gen set will be toast!

If your still worried glue some thin aluminium sheet to the place where you remove the insulation, at least easier to clean, Aluminium melts at 660 C so gives you another 120 C ?

Cheers Steve

[a64pilot]

You will be fine so long as it has an exhaust fan, which I feel sure it does.
However the insulation is very easy to replace, on my German Army air cooled gen, I replaced the insulation, just clean off the old and the new is one side sticky like tape.

[Kenomac]

We have the same Westerbeke with the insulation having fallen off. No issues and not replaced in over five years. It has a second hard wooden cover over the metal cover, so sound isn't a problem.

[jibstay]

Originally Posted by Captsteve53

The insulation will be there for noise rather than heat,



Standard GRP has a safe operating temp as 540 C OR 1000 F so by that time I believe your gen set will be toast!



If your still worried glue some thin aluminium sheet to the place where you remove the insulation, at least easier to clean, Aluminium melts at 660 C so gives you another 120 C ?



Cheers Steve

Excellent, thanks!

[jibstay]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

We have the same Westerbeke with the insulation having fallen off. No issues and not replaced in over five years. It has a second hard wooden cover over the metal cover, so sound isn't a problem.

Thanks!

[Pascals Wager]

Curious about the clam covered gensets, do you attach an extraction duct and blower to them as well as an input airsupply duct?

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Pascals Wager

Curious about the clam covered gensets, do you attach an extraction duct and blower to them as well as an input airsupply duct?

Usually just an exhaust duct and fan. Most have the intakes placed where the cooling is needed most, mine cools the generator itself, the motor is mostly water cooled, the generator head, just air cooled.