Onan generator

[SRehberg]

I recently purchased a Lance camper that included a LP Onan generator. Reading the manual, it states to run the generator once a month for two hours to exercise it. What is everyone else doing? 2hrs seems like a long time. I would think it would be better to either run it once a week for 20-30mins to keep things lubed or to squirt oil in the cylinder and winterize the thing. What works for you? I don't want to have it go bad from sitting but seems a lot of hours are put on in the driveway.

 

[JRMora]

I run it every time we load to get the A/C on (I don't have better than 20A close to the trailer). That way it gets up to temp and cycles a little.



I don't know what we are going to do this winter, though. The trailers' being winterized as we speak (darn that cold weather! And work, too! How inconvenient!)



What does everyone else do during the winter?



Juan

 

[klenger]

Running LP generators is not as important as running gas models as the LP is much more stable than gas and will not varnish. It's still a good idea to run it once in a while to keep it lubed and to warm up the generator to dry it out. Once every month or two is good enough IMHO.

 

[JRMora]

Thanks Ken. I'll probably pull it out from time to time anyway, so I'll run the generator then.



Juan

 

[klenger]

What does everyone else do during the winter?



Juan

We go camping. Come on down and enjoy the nice weather. :-laf

 

[Bill Stockard]

What does everyone else do during the winter?



Juan

I exercise my Generac for an hour each month in the winter months by turning on the heat strip in the A/C unit. I owned an Onan previously and did the same with it. If you don't have a heat strip in the A/C unit, plug in a small portable electric heater. The generator needs to run with a load to properly warm it up.



Bill

 

[SRehberg]

I like the idea of using the camper rather than storing it that was suggested! Unfortunately, it seems the winter months is a down time for the equipment, but I guess doesn't necessarily have to be.

 

[JRMora]

We go camping. Come on down and enjoy the nice weather. :-laf

Yeah Ken, I hear ya! I've lived in Tucson and know what the winters are like. Like you, I've also lived in Colorado. Where we are, it's just cold enought to freeze, but you can still ahve a nice 50° day the next day.



On a related note, it's 82° in Maui today. Anybody know how to get there with an RV?



:-laf



Juan

 

[klenger]

On a related note, it's 82° in Maui today. Anybody know how to get there with an RV?



:-laf



Juan

Close the door and paddle real fast. Oo.

 

[abdiver]

But once you get to Maui all you can do is drive in circles, and thats not much fun.

 

[Grizzly]

Yeah Ken, I hear ya! I've lived in Tucson and know what the winters are like. Like you, I've also lived in Colorado. Where we are, it's just cold enought to freeze, but you can still ahve a nice 50° day the next day.



On a related note, it's 82° in Maui today. Anybody know how to get there with an RV?



:-laf



Juan

The bridge hasn't been built yet. How are you doing Juan?

 

[CCBrady]

SRehberg, it's better to run your generator for at least the recommended 2 hours than in short runs, you also need to have at least a 50% load on it. Generators are a strange breed, when it comes to how they like to be treated. If you use it and keep up with the service, they will last along time, but one that doesn't get used will quit in a very short time. In the Trailer Life RV Action Line in the November issue, there is a letter about a low hour Generac that Generac refused warranty, because of the low hours. If you have trouble with your Onan, they will probably check the hour also.

 

[SRehberg]

Now that you mention it, I did see the letter; I believe the guy who wrote in had only 7hrs(?) on the generator when it had major issues. I had a marine Kohler generator (diesel) that I ran for 20-30mins a week, that was still going strong when I sold the boat after 12yrs of ownership. Maybe the fuel/environment is different than what we see with our campers and air cooled engines. I appreciate the refresher, I had forgotten about the letter.

 

[bulabula]

One of the biggest reasons for gennies failing on boats is that the windings rot out from non use - not the prime mover failing.



Granted, the marine environment is probably more harsh than what the typical camper faces, but you should put the gennie under a load to warm the windings to keep them dry. Thats the secret.

 

[SRehberg]

So if you even winterize the unit, i. e. oil the cylinder, fresh oil in the crankcase etc. then you still run the risk of a winding failure due to moisture? Seems the mfg's could spend a few more cents to have a better insulating material rather than one that is prone to moisture absorbtion. Guess the best thing to do is to crank it up and put the load to it. Thanks

 

[JRMora]

The bridge hasn't been built yet. How are you doing Juan?

Actually, the wife and I spent 8 days in Hawaii. It was a blast! Put over 400 miles on the rental car going in circles.



I'm glad to be back, though. I couldn't live anywhere where there is only one season! And gas is $3. 75 a gallon (before it went up!)



Juan

 

[CCBrady]

Juan, if that one season is warm and dry, I could live with it. It's the one cold and wet season here that drives us nuts. But the doctor says we're getting very much better. No we're not! Shut up and get back in your corner, it's not your turn to be out.