Gen-Set usage

You're not going to wear-out the genset, use it, you paid good money for it. I'm on the other end of the spectrum. Our 2000 MH has 27,xxx miles on it, the genset has 1,090 hrs on the clock, starts easily and never fails us. A diesel engine will usually last 6,000 hrs before requiring an overhaul.

Frank, get off your recalcitrant butt and start that genny! LOL!

I try to start ours at least once a month but certainly use it in the summer when coach air is needed. In the 6.5 yrs. that we've had our coach, we have put about 500 hrs. on our 10K Onan. These things can go way over 10,000 hours before any major service from what I've heard.

The coach will be sitting for 2 months and the genny will not get started. It will be garaged in the southern California desert with less than 10% humidity (generally).

Mark

When we first got our MH, I ran the generator about every 6 weeks for about 45 minutes with one a/c unit as a load. unless we'd actually used it during a trip. Since we're always FHU campers, and stay away from hot summer places, we'd only used it once (Eastern WA, July 4th, 108F) so we could run both a/c units.

In Dec 2011, I had a cardiac problem and had 4 stents installed. By the time I got around to going out to the RV to exercise the genny, 4 months had gone by. It hasn't run since. When trying to start it, it backfires like crazy, spits out clouds of white smoke, then dies.

I guess I'll have to get it fixed before we try to sell the MH. It's annoying that a generator with only 55 hours on it from new is so recalcitrant.

Based on the above, I'd definitely recommend running for "exercise" at least once every six weeks, even in summer, if it hasn't been used "for real". BTW, this is an '01 year generator ('02 MH) with a carburetor.

We run our generator once per month for two hours with a fifty percent load. As other posters have already conveyed, it exercises the unit and prevents excess moisture from developing in and on the windings. We've found this to be very beneficial. It starts right up each time.

I run my genny all the time. I try to use it once a month but sometimes that slips a month. But not more. I have over 3000 hours on it and it runs great.

I wonder how much of this is old wives tales, or Onan CYA, seeing that my gen-set is a brushless alternator with electronic voltage / amp controls. The only thing to worry about is the diesel which is made by Kabota, and used by many farm machine manufacturers and that equipment sets around for years between uses.

Use it, or lose it...... :)

once a month under 50% load for 1 hr minimum. My 7.5 is 10 years old and I have 2,344 hours.

Pretty sure Onan recommends every 30 days, with a load.

I agree the generator system should be exercised at least once a month. The single point of failure there would be the transfer relay and knowing the status of that would be crucial for me before finding myself stranded up the road somewhere.

I think you will find most folks on here running theirs for 30 minutes to an hour on a scheduled basis...

We Ham Radio guys that have backup generators usually run our operations every Saturday running off the generator just to make sure all is still in running good...

My 2KW Honda Generator sits secured in the tailgate corner of my covered and locked truck bed and goes where I go. It is surprising how often it gets operated for one thing or another. Certain does not just sit there.

Roy Ken