efficency and inverter generators
Hi, If I am going to run a Yamaha 3000 Sieb generator, is it more efficient to use it at nearly the maximum output, or is it better to stay at 50% or below? I want the most watts per gallon I ca...
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As a rule of thumb, I've found generators tend to be most efficient at half a load.
With my Yamaha iSE (similar to the SEB but sans battery): If I run just the 55 amp excuse for a converter, I can get 15-20 hours from one tank of gas on econ throttle. If I use my 15,000 watt A/C, I end up with about eight hours of generator life.
With more than a 1/2 load, econ mode is pointless, so I click it off.
So, those are two data points... 550 watts for 15-20 hours, 1500 watts for about 8 hours. Not perfectly linear, and not really that accurate, but just rough guesstimates of what I end up using. Were I to say what gives the best bang for the amount of fuel used, I'd go with the 1500 watts, which seems to be at the best performance point.
With my Yamaha iSE (similar to the SEB but sans battery): If I run just the 55 amp excuse for a converter, I can get 15-20 hours from one tank of gas on econ throttle. If I use my 15,000 watt A/C, I end up with about eight hours of generator life.
With more than a 1/2 load, econ mode is pointless, so I click it off.
So, those are two data points... 550 watts for 15-20 hours, 1500 watts for about 8 hours. Not perfectly linear, and not really that accurate, but just rough guesstimates of what I end up using. Were I to say what gives the best bang for the amount of fuel used, I'd go with the 1500 watts, which seems to be at the best performance point.
