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Silas_Carpy's avatar
Silas_Carpy
Explorer
Oct 25, 2021

Loading generator

First time winterizing, I think I covered all bases, finally found low point and f.w tank drains. Added pink stuff and pumped through. Star-tron in tank and filled fuel. Parked on tire savers screwed to 3/4 kilzed plywood. Checked engine anti freeze. My question is, how do people put a load on the generator during winter storage? I’ve been running the ac but only goes down to 55 so no load at temps below that. Nothing else puts that much of a draw on gen. I thought about an electric heater but using that in cold will create condensation. Supposed to run gen every month. Any suggestions appreciated.
  • When running the generator for its monthly winter exercise, I will turn on the toaster, and electric heater. These will give the gen. enough demand.

    I do not want to start a battle but why would anyone leave water in their water heater over winter! The water heater needs to be drained, if you winterize your coach thats part of the process.

    Good Luck
  • Does your air conditioner not have an electric heat strip?

    If you leave water in the water heater when you winterize, another option is to turn it on - It draws a nice chunk of AC power.
  • How will using an electric heater in the cold create condensation? It doesn't add moisture to the air, so there's nothing (new) to condense out. If anything, it would (temporarily) remove condensation as the warmer air can hold more moisture, and some of the already condensed water will evaporate or sublime into water vapor.

    If you're in with the electric heater, breathing and perspiring, you will of course be adding moisture to the air that can condense out...but that's also true if you're in there without the heater.

    IMHO, an electric space heater or two makes a dandy load for the generator. At some times of the year, the combination of a heater and the air conditioner works well, too.
  • Any reason you can't just plug the little electric heater into an outside outlet?....or if no outside outlet, run an extension cord to inside?
  • Nothing will go wrong with the generator if you don’t put a load on it this winter or next.
    Main reason to run it is to run some gas through it and keep the carb from gumming up.
    Sounds like you have it all ready for winter!