(*) Original equipment

Next I reviewed the way I actually utilize my electrical load offshore:

Continuous load during the day = 2.521 KW

Loads: 1,3,4,6,7 and 19

Peak load during the day = 4.106 KW

Loads: 1,3,4,6,7,19,8,21,22

Continuous load during evening = 2.375 KW

Loads:2,3,4,6,7,19

Peak load during the evening = 4.541 KW

Loads: 1,3,4,6,7,19,12,13,16,21,22,23,8

Electrical Training:

Since the galley operation represents a high electrical load, we needed to make sure the proper procedure was understood before switching on every item.

When cruising offshore, during the day or night only one A/C unit is in operation, all refrigerators, freezers and icemaker are in operation. Water heater and vacuum operates during the day time.

After the electrical analysis is done, I started to search for the new generator. My research was between a Westerbeke 7.7kw, Panda 6kw, Tropical 7kw, Kholer 8kw, Onan 6kw, and Northern Lights 5.5kw. Finally after some technical and economical evaluation, the final choice went to the Northern Lights 5.5kw unit.

This unit offers great corrosion protection, all bolts and nuts are stainless steel including the welded drip pan and it’s four fasteners. Even the oil dip stick came in stainless steel. It is compact in size and weight. Three manuals are supplied, installation, operation and spare parts. Additional oil filter is also supplied for the first break-in oil change at 50 hours.

Everything you need to maintain with easy access is on one service side. Electrical protection is obtained with A/C breaker and DC Breakers. The voltage regulation unit (AVR) has a potentiometer to adjust the output A/C voltage as you wish.

We achieved a weight savings of 110 lbs over the old gen set.

Installation:

1. Engine exhaust tube is 1.5" diameter, located at the same no service side as the old set. Old hose was 2" . A new 1.5" hose was placed to be connected to the old wet silencer. The rest remained unchanged.
2. The seawater pump was in the front side of the engine, better located for easy service than the old set, which have the pump at the no service side (to change this impeller I need to move the unit and use a special plyers to remove the impeller retainer). The inlet seawater hose was changed from 1" to ¾ to match new diameter.
3. Fuel inlet port and fuel return port are 5/16". We connected the new non-flammable fuel hoses 5/15 ID to match the connection with the original Racor and original return hose to the tank.
4. The starters on both sets are located in the same place (non-service side), so we used exactly the same battery cables.
5. Power cables for 120vac, we used the same old ones without change (no service side). Only the old control cables, START-STOP-PREHEAT were removed, to install the new ones supplied with the remote panel.

For new instruments, I purchased one pressure gauge and one water temperature gauge. The gen set comes with both senders. The remote mount panel S1-B is standard with hour meter, but doesn’t supply the gauges. If you want the gauges included, ask for the option remote panel S3-C.

After it was fired up our first impressions was the unit is very quiet with a noise level similar to the old 8kw (no sound shield uded in either one); and a better voltage regulation from no load to full load.

Final costs were around $6050 for the unit FOB Miami, Florida plus $250 in spare filters and parts.

Specifications:

Gonzalo Martin

PO Box 49166

Caracas 1042A

Venezuela

fax 011 58 2 751 5913