Nigel Calder & Jeff Cote Talk Marine Electrical - Part 7 of 11 - Portable Generators
11 June 2023 · 6 min · 2K views
What this video covers
Portable gasoline generators, such as the Honda 2000, present significant safety hazards when used on boats because they are not marinized, lack proper grounding, and produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.0:34 Exhaust fumes can easily enter a cabin through companionways or vents due to wind eddies, even when the generator is positioned aft.2:29 Carbon monoxide detectors frequently trigger in these scenarios, indicating life-threatening concentrations of gas.2:02 Beyond exhaust risks, storing gasoline containers and portable engines inside a cabin or in non-vented lockers creates a severe fire and explosion hazard.3:00 Unlike propane, which requires sealed, overboard-vented lockers, no industry standards currently regulate the storage of portable gasoline containers on recreational vessels.3:37 Furthermore, these generators offer limited continuous AC power output, making them inefficient for charging large DC battery banks.4:54 Owners should prioritize generators that meet modern UL standards for automatic carbon monoxide monitoring and shutdown.1:02
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