Talking out loud, generator build

[scoobert]

right now i have a ferryman diesel generator, ENTEC.
it needs a rebuild. before i takeoff for distant beaches next winter, i want something reliable.
but i am not sure if it is worth rebuilding.
its only 3500 watts, and very very old. the parts are a bit pricey as well.

i stumbled onto the perkins 402C engine today.
i could fit this to a generator head, and be just fine.
it is water cooled, so would only need a slight mod to work in a boat.

here it is listed as an entire generator for $4500
Slow-Turning Perkins 6,125 Watt Diesel Generator
so i would love to know how much the engine alone costs.
$3000? less?
guess i would need to find a perkins dealer.
do they make a marine variant?

[djmarchand]

scoobert:

Water cooled is not the same as marine cooled. Marine means that it has a raw water to seawater heat exchanger, a coolant cooled exhaust manifold and a seawater injection elbow to cool the exhaust. If these are available from Perkins for that engine they will cost a bunch, probably several thousand dollars. Not worth it.

And I sure wouldn't spend a dime on an old, worn out Ferryman.

Look at one of the medium speed, Kubota gensets like NextGen makes. A 3.5 KW is about $6,000 and a 5.5 KW is about $7,000.

David

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by djmarchand

scoobert:

Water cooled is not the same as marine cooled. Marine means that it has a raw water to seawater heat exchanger, a coolant cooled exhaust manifold and a seawater injection elbow to cool the exhaust. If these are available from Perkins for that engine they will cost a bunch, probably several thousand dollars. Not worth it.

And I sure wouldn't spend a dime on an old, worn out Ferryman.

Look at one of the medium speed, Kubota gensets like NextGen makes. A 3.5 KW is about $6,000 and a 5.5 KW is about $7,000.

David

your correct, it is not the same.
but you need to just add,
heat exchanger $150-200
water injection elbow make your own $50-150
raw water pump. $150ish

IF i can get the engine for $2500 or less, it would work out to a good deal.
i would actually prefer a DC gen set. 600 amps or so. i would keep the throttle remote mounted, so i could control output. 3, 200 amp alternators. i could un-excite them remotely, so i could have 200, 400 or 600 amps. using inverters for the AC units, but more then likely just for smaller items. running the generator would be more fuel efficient then running the engine, to just charge batteries.

$6,000 is a lot. if i can build this one for under $4000 it would be like getting my pacific stove for free!

[Parmenter]

Originally Posted by scoobert

i stumbled onto the perkins 402C engine today.
i could fit this to a generator head, and be just fine.
it is water cooled, so would only need a slight mod to work in a boat.

here it is listed as an entire generator for $4500
Slow-Turning Perkins 6,125 Watt Diesel Generator

Heres another article on something similar with a 402c
A Popular DIYer Generator Build | UtterPower.com

But slow turning? 2800rpm arent they, I suppose slower than a FP.

[Kevin84]

Originally Posted by scoobert

your correct, it is not the same.
but you need to just add,
heat exchanger $150-200
water injection elbow make your own $50-150
raw water pump. $150ish

IF i can get the engine for $2500 or less, it would work out to a good deal.
i would actually prefer a DC gen set. 600 amps or so. i would keep the throttle remote mounted, so i could control output. 3, 200 amp alternators. i could un-excite them remotely, so i could have 200, 400 or 600 amps. using inverters for the AC units, but more then likely just for smaller items. running the generator would be more fuel efficient then running the engine, to just charge batteries.

$6,000 is a lot. if i can build this one for under $4000 it would be like getting my pacific stove for free!

Scoobert, I have to ask. If you're already bound and determined to do it your way despite being advised that there are better options out there, why do you even bother asking for peoples opinions?

[Cheechako]

Sounds doable to me. Add up the prices and try to find the best deal on a ready to use marine gen and see if it's worth your time. You need an engine you can govern to a set rpm not variable rpm. There are things that can go wrong in a self build; some of them I have run into are: Custom sheave broke in half (belt drive), frame cracked a couple of times (engine balance/vibration)
Remember, you are essentially doing a beta test or experiment.... what you dont know ahead of time you will know when you are done. even the simplest design ends up having prototype issues to redesign....

[rw58ph]

Have you thought about adding a cruise gen powered by your main engine? I installed a 5 KW on the Eagles main DD 671. You can buy a generator and electric clutch for 1 grand and use a pulley drive.


I thought cruise gen were somewhat popular on sail boats?

[Parmenter]

Originally Posted by rw58ph

Have you thought about adding a cruise gen powered by your main engine? I installed a 5 KW on the Eagles main DD 671.

Where do you get them, I have found nothing online

add: I did find your post here where you said it wasn't a CRUISEgen at all but an AUTOgen
http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s...0&postcount=11
and I still find nothing for them.

You can buy a generator and electric clutch for 1 grand and use a pulley drive.

Link please.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by rw58ph

Have you thought about adding a cruise gen powered by your main engine? I installed a 5 KW on the Eagles main DD 671. You can buy a generator and electric clutch for 1 grand and use a pulley drive. I thought cruise gen were somewhat popular on sail boats?

Or why not run two monster alts on serpentine belts, but lower their output when underway if needed?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Parmenter

Where do you get them, I have found nothing online

add: I did find your post here where you said it wasn't a CRUISEgen at all but an AUTOgen
Trawler Forum - View Single Post - AuraGen cruise generator
and I still find nothing for them.
Link please.

I've beat these up in the oilfield......they take it

MEPS // Products

as well as theses, the problem with these is you still need to source your own monster alternator.

http://www.vanner.com/wp-content/upl...to_printer.pdf

Of these two systems I prefer the road power (sea power), nice thing is you can couple them to a variable speed engine and still get 60hz power. less load? slow the engine down, more load? speed it up. I've used the 5kw units.

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Or why not run two monster alts on serpentine belts, but lower their output when underway if needed?

my engine does not have a serp belt. wish it did.
i will spec up that alt for sure, but running the main overnight is not good on it when not properly loaded.

[Parmenter]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

I've beat these up in the oilfield......they take it

Thanks
I found these as well

Uflex

BELT DRIVEN GENERATOR | POWER MITE | UNDER HOOD GENERATOR | FABCO POWER

and AC Power on a Boat

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

as well as theses, the problem with these is you still need to source your own monster alternator.

i was thinking of alternators from ford crown vic police cars, albeit rebuilt.

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

I've beat these up in the oilfield......they take it

MEPS // Products

so these are externally regulated? awesome.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by scoobert

i was thinking of alternators from ford crown vic police cars, albeit rebuilt.

not big enough, not nearly big enough......think bus, like greyhound bus.