Generator Test
A week or so before a cruise test your boat's generator under full load to prevent any problems that could pop up while you're underway.
by Vincent Daniello /
Tue, 6 Dec 2011
Generators see only light duty on most day trips. A week or so before a cruise — leave enough time to call in a mechanic — run the generator under full load for half an hour or so and monitor frequency, volt, and ammeters as well as generator engine gauges. A 10kW generator should carry about 40 amps of 240-volt DC power (or 80 amps of 120-volt power) without black smoke, overheating or running slowly, and without a significant drop in volts or Hertz. The water heater, oven and stove are good loads sources, but avoid using anything with electronics — including air conditioners — if you’re intentionally loading the generator until it slows as low volts or Hertz might damage electronics.
