Running Gen for short amounts of time
I have a new to me toy hauler with an Onan 4000 Microquiet, I don't have the manual and was wondering if there was anything specifcally to look out for. Also is it ok to run it for a few minutes at a ...
Forum Discussion
As with many of these kind of questions, there is a fuzzy line between "best recommended practices" and "what I got away with".
Best practices:
As with any internal combustion engine, it is best (not mandatory) to run it long enough each time you start i,At and under enough load that the OIL, gets up to operating temperature to drive off moisture in the crankcase. And, as stated above, longer run times also dry out the electrical end of the generator.
And, another best practice is to start and stop a generator under no/very low load. High loads can harm the voltage regulator and absolutely do shorten the life of the ATS (Automatic Transfer Switch) points.
And, this is not just from an electrical standpoint. From the engine's prospective, starting under high loads would be like starting your motorhome/car after sitting for days and immediately going to WOT and accelerating to cruising speed. Can it be done-- sure. Is it good for the unit-- no.
Shutting off under load is also not good from the engine prospective. Much better to allow a short cool down period with no or very low load. Again, the same as pulling your motorhome into a rest area after climbing a hill and immediately turning off the engine. Can be done, but not a "best practice".
Best practices:
As with any internal combustion engine, it is best (not mandatory) to run it long enough each time you start i,At and under enough load that the OIL, gets up to operating temperature to drive off moisture in the crankcase. And, as stated above, longer run times also dry out the electrical end of the generator.
And, another best practice is to start and stop a generator under no/very low load. High loads can harm the voltage regulator and absolutely do shorten the life of the ATS (Automatic Transfer Switch) points.
And, this is not just from an electrical standpoint. From the engine's prospective, starting under high loads would be like starting your motorhome/car after sitting for days and immediately going to WOT and accelerating to cruising speed. Can it be done-- sure. Is it good for the unit-- no.
Shutting off under load is also not good from the engine prospective. Much better to allow a short cool down period with no or very low load. Again, the same as pulling your motorhome into a rest area after climbing a hill and immediately turning off the engine. Can be done, but not a "best practice".
