Exercising The RV Generator

[udidwht]

Mark I agree. I think that the occasional run to dry out the windings is a holdover from the days when the "varnish" coating on the wire was susceptible to moisture absorption, softening the coating leading to shorts. This hasn't been the case for decades.

Yep an old WWII held over. Things have changed quite a bit in electrical terms since then.

 

[whiteva]

Just to be safe, I signed my generator up for

Pilates. ​

 

[Viajeros]

My Onan generator manual suggests exercising the generator for 2 hours once a month under 50% load.

Copied from the manual:
"Exercise the genset at least 2 hours each month if use is infrequent. Run the genset at approximately 1/2 rated power. See LOADING THE GENSET (Page 2-2). A single two hour exercise period is better than several shorter periods. Exercising a genset drives off moisture, re-lubricates the engine, replaces stale fuel in fuel lines and carburetor and removes oxides from electrical contacts and generator slip rings. The result is better starting, more reliable operation and longer engine life

My generator is a Onan 4KW. For loading the generator I run one 15,000 BTU roof top A/C unit + whatever misc small loads I might be using at the time.

How often (or not) do you exercise your generator and how do you load it?

We have a little portable propane champion inverter quiet genny we use to charge up our trailer batteries. In the off season every 8 or 10 weeks we hook it up to our tesla and run it under load for about 20 minutes. So far so good. Looks weird though. 😊

 

[ButchW]

We have a little portable propane champion inverter quiet genny we use to charge up our trailer batteries. In the off season every 8 or 10 weeks we hook it up to our tesla and run it under load for about 20 minutes. So far so good. Looks weird though. 😊

Very smart way to not waste all of those electrons...
Butch

 

[Viajeros]

Very smart way to not waste all of those electrons...
Butch

Yah 😂. We used to use an electric heater as a load. Now at least I can drive a few kilometres on the little bit of propane we use. 😂