Running generator for 12+ hours?

More info is needed. What kind of generator, rig info, reason why, do you have a battery bank, inverter, etc. Where are you staying? Most campground won't allow.

As long as it has fuel, cooling and oil it is fine to run indefinitely.
It is just a machine, it does not get tired.

et2 wrote:
More info is needed. What kind of generator, rig info, reason why, do you have a battery bank, inverter, etc. Where are you staying? Most campground won't allow.

Onan microlite 4000 1998 ford Shasta class C. It will only be used during the driving portion of the trip, which were going to be doing 800+ miles a day around 12-13 hrs of driving (we're young early twenties) yes I know that sounds ridiculous to some of you but it is what it is we can do it, it's just siting on your butt all day..... Anyways the gen will be powering a tv, Xbox, and refrigerator all day. Is that bad for it?

We've run our Onan 7.5 QD that long when it's hot at the NHRA drags in Las Vegas.

Some generators I wouldn't run that long because of how they're enclosed causing them to overheat - mostly in class Cs.

Bill

You can run it that long but why would you need to for that many hours? The refer should be able to run on propane unless it is a residential model. Your alternator will keep up once your battery banks are full.

YC 1 wrote:
You can run it that long but why would you need to for that many hours? The refer should be able to run on propane unless it is a residential model. Your alternator will keep up once your battery banks are full.

The previous owner cut the propane line because she was scared to drive with the tanks full.. So it can only be ran on the gen or electric. Just wanna make sure I don't over do the gen.

Fla904 wrote:

YC 1 wrote:
You can run it that long but why would you need to for that many hours? The refer should be able to run on propane unless it is a residential model. Your alternator will keep up once your battery banks are full.

The previous owner cut the propane line because she was scared to drive with the tanks full.. So it can only be ran on the gen or electric. Just wanna make sure I don't over do the gen.

Fix the propane line and run the refer on propane. Buy an inverter and run the X box and TV on the inverter. You don't need to spend extra money and have the wear on your generator. Save it for when there is actually a need.

If you really want to treat your yourself, the batteries and generator right, invest in some solar. You will recoup the investment on solar in a few years by not having to replace batteries and the fuel savings on the generator. You'll also be able to camp away from power pedestals and enjoy the quiet of the outdoors.

When the campground loses power you can run your generator until power is restored. It's happened four times with us and we've never had a problem.

Run the generator until you don't need it or it trips.
And if it trips.....find out why, fix it and then run it until you don't need it.

What generator?

My Onan Microlite, I can run until it needs an oil change, about 150 hours, or it runs out of fuel (50 - 150 hours depending on load and how much was left in the tank).

Because I know it uses oil, I prefer to run it no more than 12 hours between stopping to check oil level, but it does have an oil level cutoff to protect from that.

If you are talking about something smaller, maybe portable, you can run until it runs out of gas, then you have to shut off to refuel. That's a good time to check oil level.

Because mine is in a motorhome, it usually runs 8-12 hours a day at about half load to keep the air conditioning going. I check oil levels each morning, shut it off for refueling the motorhome, on chance of a fuel spill.

For the loads you are talking about, the generator is unnecessary. The entertainment systems should do quite well running off inverters from the 12V power points, as your engine alternator can provide at least 1500 watts of power at cruise RPMs. The refrigerator should be running on LPG, if you think you need it running. Many RVers don't run the fridge while moving, treat it more like a cooler or ice box.