How to install a Marine Generator

-

 


How to install a Marine Generator

To Install a new generator successfully follow these steps:

1.- Size the capacity of the generator in Kw according to the capacity of the AC Panel in Kw, plus 20% for the safety factor.

2.- Analyze different places in the engine room to install de generator, avoiding: 

- Proximity to propellers
- Locations over the waterline (More than 2 feet)
- Long distances in between the trough full valve and the raw water pump.
- Proximity of the exhaust gases pipe with cabin grills (Less than 15 in)
- Excessive separation between the battery and the Genset

3.- Prepare fittings, hoses, and filters to install the fuel system

4.- Prepare Hoses, elbows adapters, and Muffler to install the exhaust system (Take into consideration antisiphon devices and Water separators).

5.- Prepare battery cables. Size those cables according to the distance in between the battery and the starter. Always install a Battery switch selector.

6.- Ask the owner his preference to install the remote panel and pass the harness avoiding proximity with Antenna cables, AC cables, and Lightning conductors.

7.- Design a secure frame to support the Generator motor mounts.

8.- Install the sea strainer and raw water pump always below the waterline.

9.- Verify that the emergency generator shutdown system is connected with the fire suppression system.

10.-Setup the AC output power of the generator according to the AC power of the boat (European 230V 50 Hz or American 120/240V 60 Hz).

11.- Wire the AC output from the generator breaker to the AC switch selector according to the AWG wire gauge.

12.- Connect the generator frame to the boat bonding system.

13.- Start the generator, then apply load starting with light loads finishing with heavy loads always analyzing the generator response (Gain), the voltage, and the frequency.




Troubleshooting Marine Generators


The Generator won't crank

Primarily this is an electric issue with DC current.
This could be due to a blown 12-volt fuse located on the control panel.
The reading on the voltage meter should be over 10.5 VDC.
A fully charged battery will read 12.6 VCD.
You may possibly have a bad control board or the wiring on the connection may be loose.

* No signal on the starter solenoid
* A bad Oil Pressure Switch. In general, this is an NC switch.
* A bad Coolant Temperature Switch. This is an NC switch.
* A bad solenoid  valve at the input of the fuel injection pump or no signal coming in at the solenoid valve.

A blown fuse (DC) on the main control box.
A bad Run Relay at the main circuit board or at the main control box for analog generators.
An open Preheat circuit.
In general, it is a mechanical issue at the engine.



Get here the Marine Electricity Handbook where you can find all the information on this and many other topics.


                                                              Get the book


Generator Start but Stop suddenly

  • Check oil level 
  • Check oil pressure gauge
  • Check oil temperature gauge
  • Verify continuity on  fuse panel
  • Check seal exchanger cap 
  • Verify coolant level on the heat exchanger and expansion tank.
  • Check water outlet for the exhaust
  • Verify temperature on the raw water pump plate
Bleed the system manually and check for the presence of bubbles on the water separator.
Verify if the fuel solenoid is de-energized suddenly (For Diesel engines)
Verify if the Idle solenoid is de-energized suddenly (For Gas carbureted engines)
Verify if the pressure on the common fuel injection rail is according with the manufacturer's recommendations.

Verify grounding conditions on the control box
Check the rotor excitation from the alternator.
Check fuel tank level
Analyze motor oil conditions by visual inspection
  • Presence of oil
  • Presence of coolant
  • Presence of metals


Low Frequency   ( UF)

Fuel Supply
  • Bad filters
  • Bad Injectors
  • Fuel contaminated
  • Air and Water in the line
Fuel Pump
Fuel Solenoid


Learn more in the following video



If you want to ask questions about this matter directly to Mr. Lopez, or want to receive remote troubleshooting for your boat, schedule a video call with Mr. Lopez.

Mr Lopez Remote Assistance

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Inverters - Sizing, Installation and ABYC Standards

-
Image
 INVERTERS An inverter is a power electronic device that converts direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC); the converted AC can be at any required voltage and “frequency” with the use of appropriate transformers, switching, and control circuits.        Inverters are usually used to supply AC power from DC sources such as solar panels or batteries. It will be useful for emergency electric source   HOW INVERTERS WORK DC power, from a hybrid battery for example, is fed to the primary winding in a transformer within the inverter housing. Through an electronic switch (generally a set of semiconductor transistors), the direction of the flow of current is continuously and regular broken (the electrical charge travels into the primary winding, then abruptly reverses and flows back out).          Output Signal According to output voltage form they could be rectangle, trapezoid or sine shaped. The most expensive, yet at the same time the best quality inverters, output voltage in s
Read more

Semiconductors & Diodes

-
Image
 Semiconductors A semiconductor is a material with properties of metal and nonmetal. In other words, it is a material that depending on external conditions (i.e. pressure or temperature) works as a good conductor of electricity or like an isolator. Elements like carbon, silicon, and germanium are good examples of semiconductors. Any of various solid crystalline substances, such as germanium or silicon, have electrical conductivity greater than insulators but less than good conductors and are used especially as a base material for computer chips and other electronic devices.  Carbon, silicon, and germanium (germanium, like silicon, is also a semiconductor) have a unique property in their electron structure -- each has four electrons in its outer orbital. This allows them to form ice crystals. The four electrons form perfect covalent bonds with four neighboring atoms, creating a lattice. In carbon, we know the crystalline form as diamond. In silicon, the crystalline form is a silvery, me
Read more

Ferrous Alloys for Marine Applications

-
Image
  Carbon Content on Ferrous Alloys Cast iron contains 2 to 4 percent carbon. Carbon steels are classified by the percentage of carbon in hundredths of 1 percent they contain. Low Carbon Steel: Carbon content up to 0.30 percent  Medium Carbon Steel: Carbon content from 0.30 to 0.50 percent  High Carbon Steel: Carbon content from 0.50 to 1.05% Stainless Steel: The carbon content is held to 0.08% maximum. Cast Irons Most cast irons have a chemical composition of 2.5–4.0% carbon, 1–3% silicon, and the remainder is iron. It is usually made from pig iron. Hard skin, softer underneath, but brittle. It corrodes by rusting. Grey Cast Iron Grey cast iron is easily cast but it cannot be forged or worked mechanically either hot or cold. the carbon content is in the form of flakes distributed throughout the metal. Grey Cast Iron Uses White Cast Iron white cast iron has carbide impurities which allow cracks to pass straight through. Since carbide makes up a large fraction of the material, white cast
Read more