Generator
Hi All, thank you for all the help you have given me in the past few months getting oriented to my new 2016 Coachman Freelander. I'm the traveling grandma. I have taken a couple of trips so far with n...
Forum Discussion
Sam Spade wrote:Bobbo wrote:
Running your generator for 2 hours every month under at least 50 percent load (as Cummins/ONAN recommends) will prevent fuel varnishing in the generator. ONAN says it is better to do 2 hours once a month than 30 minutes a week.
30 minutes is plenty to ensure that fresh fuel has filled the carb.
If that was the only reason for exercising the generator, that would be correct. But it's not, you also run it for a second reason.
The reason it should be run under 50% load is that you need to force the power generating part of the generator to work enough to build up heat to drive off the moisture to prevent the windings, brushes, etc from corroding.
If the only reason to run the generator was to get fresh gasoline into the carb, you would not need any load on it at all.
Here is the ONAN User Manual
It says on page 27:
ONAN wrote:
4.5 Exercising The Generator Set
Exercise the generator set at least 2 hours each month if use is infrequent. Run the generator set at approximately 1/2 rated power. A single 2 hour exercise period is better than several shorter periods.
Exercising a generator set drives off moisture, relubricates the engine, replaces stale fuel in fuel lines, and removes oxides from electrical contacts and generator slip rings. The result is better starting, longer engine life, and greater reliability.
