Short generator use

MrWizzard--yes, I make one cup of coffee at a time. It is called Keurig.

It's been answered
You can do short runs, but it should not be the only thing you do
The generator needs longer runtime to warm up and remove moisture etc.
30 minutes one a month is for a generator in storage
The more short runs you do the more often you need a good run to dry it out
Say one a week for at least an hour
It takes my coffee maker 10 minutes to do make a 10 cup pot
What are you doing (1) cup at a time
I assume you are drinking more than one cup per morning, just leave the general running until you are done with breakfast and coffee your batteries and generator will stay healthier

more questions as we get into this area. we do exercise the gen for 30 minutes monthly as recommended. now for the short runs which others are saying is ok if you run for at least 10 minutes. My question now is, making coffee does not take 10 minutes. what should I do with the rest of the 10 minutes? Bottom line, do I need to keep a load on it for the remaining time?

Ok, I will cover the "Short" run issue..

When you first start an engine, COLD, clearances inside the combustion chamber (Cylinder(s) are often a bit different than when at operating temps.. Some fuel may sneak past the rings and mix with the oil, also acids can get into the oil, acids that normally can't take the heat so they get out of the frypan (oil pan).

So constant and frequent short runs damages the oil and may even eat a hole in the bottom of the well (oil pan) Have seen that happen on ONE engine.. Just one, a car.


That is why the 30 minutes at half load bit.. 30 Minutes gets it up to OPERATING temps, which is hot enough that moisture, acid, and fuel residue in the oil get boiled off and go by by never to bother you ever again.

So, yes you can do a short run,, But try to give it a workout if you can If you frequently do short runs make that full half hour, or better yet a full hour, more frequently Every 1-2 weeks I'd recommend.

Been exercising mine 2 hours on load every month for 6 years. Starts up and runs like new every time. Have only changed the oil once.

I use an E3 spark plug and Mobil 1 Extendend Performance oil in our 11 year old built-in Onan generator. During storage in our back yard I exercise it for 30 to 45 minutes each month powering a 1500 watt portable heater. For the monthly exercise sessions I run it 1 minute before turning ON the heater and run it for 1 minute after turning OFF the heater.

We run it for short or long runs when camping and it always starts right up. It's very quiet and smooth running for a 4KW generator, as Winnebago installed it fairly well isolated. I believe the E3 spark plug also has something to do with it's low-vibration smoothness and unlabored humming sound, as it sounded and felt different using stock spark plugs. It's also supposed to be a bit less polluting and use less fuel.

As far as I can recall, the operator manual doesn't mention anything about short runs harming it, although common sense tells me it might wear out the starting mechanism faster.

By the way, does anyone know what Onan RV generators didn't use a starter? They supposedly were started by the starter button applying battery DC voltage to a section in the generator coils such that they acted like a "motor" to spin the engine and start it? On the surface this sounds like brilliant engineering - no separate starter motor or gears to wear out.

If you don't have an inverter capable of running the coffee maker, get one. If you don't have at least a 200ah battery bank, upgrade to that size.

Silence is golden, especially to neighbours within earshot.

With the inverter & decent sized battery bank genny frequency run times can be reduced to once in the morning to replace what the inverter took out overnight for the TV, phone charge etc. plus battery recharge, coffee maker, toaster etc. Run again in the evening to top up battery bank from whatever was taken out during the day.

The genny starter will be happier for the 2 starts a day & the genny itself will be happier for the longer runs under load.

Rovin' Bones wrote:
Also remember to apply a load to the generator when exercising it.

This is a very important part of a longer run. It heats up the wiring in the generator and removes moisture. You can have a perfectly running generator engine and it won't produce power if the generator side windings have corroded up with moisture. Both sides of the generator need to heated up regularly to keep moisture out.

I run my generator for 1 hour under load the first of every month and I NEVER miss doing it. A monthly reminder on my smart phone is the way I remember.

Thanks everyone for your responses. They have been helpful.

The 1/2 load for 30 minutes is also to keep the slip rings from getting oxidation
from building up on them.