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02-28-2015, 08:24 AM
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#1
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Guru
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,920
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Generator auto shutdown
A discussion on another thread got me to thinking about my generator and it's auto shutdown system.
I've had my genny auto shutdown twice, both times for a clogged strainer due to sea grass. I don't think there's anyway to reduce this problem except not to anchor where sea grass is evident. I just hope the auto shut down occurs way before damage to the engine occurs. I've seen steam coming out of the raw water discharge a couple of times due to a clogged strainer but I guess the temp had not got to the shut down temp.
I could install a raw water temp alarm but have been relying on the auto shut down feature. We use the AC a lot in the summer in FL, so many times it runs all night.
Thoughts?
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Tim
Tampa Bay
Carver 355 ACMY Twin Cummins Diesels Sold
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02-28-2015, 08:43 AM
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#2
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Guru
City: Seabrook Texas
Vessel Name: TheVenture
Vessel Model: 1985 Bestway Labelle Sundeck 40ft
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 560
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Add a flow switch to the shutdown circuit.
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02-28-2015, 09:14 AM
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#3
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Guru
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,920
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Quote:
Originally Posted by obthomas
Add a flow switch to the shutdown circuit.
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Or a raw water temp alarm which would be easier. Just thinking that the auto shut down is enough??
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Tim
Tampa Bay
Carver 355 ACMY Twin Cummins Diesels Sold
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02-28-2015, 10:22 AM
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#4
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Technical Guru
City: Wilmington, NC
Vessel Name: Louisa
Vessel Model: Custom Built 38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,194
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What gennie do you have? Most have a high temp switch on exhaust already.
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02-28-2015, 10:36 AM
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#5
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Guru
City: Carefree, Arizona
Vessel Name: sunchaser V
Vessel Model: DeFever 48 (sold)
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,186
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How about installing a bigger strainer in a location with good visual and physical access? Check every 8 hours or so and clean as required.
Some day your emergency shutdown may not work,
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02-28-2015, 01:04 PM
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#6
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Guru
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,920
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ski in NC
What gennie do you have? Most have a high temp switch on exhaust already.
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Westerbeke, maybe it is a raw water alarm, I just assumed it was a coolant alarm. Maybe both, I need to check, though I have not seen any wires coming from the exhaust plumbing.
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Tim
Tampa Bay
Carver 355 ACMY Twin Cummins Diesels Sold
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02-28-2015, 01:04 PM
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#7
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Guru
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,920
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sunchaser
How about installing a bigger strainer in a location with good visual and physical access? Check every 8 hours or so and clean as required.
Some day your emergency shutdown may not work,
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Good idea, but how big is big enough?
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Tim
Tampa Bay
Carver 355 ACMY Twin Cummins Diesels Sold
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02-28-2015, 01:29 PM
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#8
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Chicago, IL
Vessel Name: Bay Pelican
Vessel Model: Krogen 42
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,993
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An in line water flow alarm is easy to install and will give you notice long before the generator starts to overheat.
I would not rely upon the overheating alarms on the Westerbeke for repeated shutdowns. Even if the the alarm works you are allowing the temperature to go up by 20 degrees F. Not good.
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Marty
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02-28-2015, 01:50 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
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Posts: 5,438
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About or as large as your main engine strainer I would think.
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02-28-2015, 02:34 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 323
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Capt.Bill11
About or as large as your main engine strainer I would think.
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install a eel grass strainer on the intake on the bottom of the boat????? did that with great results
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02-28-2015, 08:13 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,438
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Quote:
Originally Posted by capt jerry
install a eel grass strainer on the intake on the bottom of the boat????? did that with great results
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The problem can be the grass that is more like spaghetti size. It gets right through a intake screen. Of course sometimes the intake strainer holes themselves can get plugged up.
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02-28-2015, 09:42 PM
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#12
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Guru
City: Punta Gorda, fl
Vessel Name: Escapade
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 37 2002
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,231
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If your willing to pay for it Groco can eliminate raw water blockage concerns.
Groco makes what they call Hydromatic Self-Cleaning Raw Water Strainers.
They are either 12 or 24 vdc. They have a programmable timer.
And they can protect the entire boat with one unit.
Engine, generator, AC pump, wash down pump, etc.
The unit is a raw water strainer with a programmable garbage disposal unit to suck up, chew up and spit out any and all debris.
Sound too good to be true?
Check it out.
(And no I do not work for them.)
Groco 970-1500
Groco.net
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02-28-2015, 09:54 PM
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#13
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Guru
City: Punta Gorda, fl
Vessel Name: Escapade
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 37 2002
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Here's the data sheet on the unit. There is another one that has an even larger raw water intake range.
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03-02-2015, 06:30 AM
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#14
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Guru
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,920
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pgitug
Here's the data sheet on the unit. There is another one that has an even larger raw water intake range.
Attachment 37820
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Amazing - what will they think of next!
A flow alarm is probably cheaper and easier to install. Would I install it on the intake or exhaust side?
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Tim
Tampa Bay
Carver 355 ACMY Twin Cummins Diesels Sold
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03-02-2015, 07:19 AM
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#15
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Technical Guru
City: Wilmington, NC
Vessel Name: Louisa
Vessel Model: Custom Built 38
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Don't over think this. The factory high temp switch on exhaust mixer and factory high coolant temp switch combine to give you plenty of protection.
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03-02-2015, 09:14 AM
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#16
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Guru
City: LI or Fla
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,148
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I have to agree with Ski below, plus usually my ear catches a change in exhaust sound.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ski in NC
Don't over think this. The factory high temp switch on exhaust mixer and factory high coolant temp switch combine to give you plenty of protection.
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03-02-2015, 09:54 AM
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#17
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Moderator Emeritus
City: SEWARD ALASKA
Vessel Name: DOS PECES
Vessel Model: BAYLINER 4788
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I can see when my generators exhaust is starting to get clogged up long before it shuts down.
Normally you cannot see any exhaust from my generator.
When you can start seeing steam coming from under the swim deck its time to unclog it.
Out main problem, and I'm fixing it this spring is that there is a 1" bronze 90 at the strainer intake. I'm going to change that out for a 1" long radius 90. Hopefully that will allow the material to actually get to the sea strainer.
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03-02-2015, 09:58 AM
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#18
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Guru
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,037
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Quote:
Originally Posted by timjet
Good idea, but how big is big enough?
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I went from a 3/4 thru hull and strainer to a 1 inch thru hull and 1 1/4 inch strainer and the gen has not shutdown since. It's been 5 seasons.
__________________
Jay Leonard
Ex boats: 1983 40 Albin trunk cabin, 1978 Mainship 34 Model 1
New Port Richey, Fl
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03-02-2015, 10:51 AM
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#19
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Technical Guru
City: Wilmington, NC
Vessel Name: Louisa
Vessel Model: Custom Built 38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,194
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ksanders
I can see when my generators exhaust is starting to get clogged up long before it shuts down.
Normally you cannot see any exhaust from my generator.
When you can start seeing steam coming from under the swim deck its time to unclog it.
Out main problem, and I'm fixing it this spring is that there is a 1" bronze 90 at the strainer intake. I'm going to change that out for a 1" long radius 90. Hopefully that will allow the material to actually get to the sea strainer.
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That's my problem too. Elbow from sea cock gets clogged. And the idiot designer made it hard to put a long radius 90 in there. That would be me.
Strainer is small stock Groco 3/4", it has plenty of capacity. No need to go larger in my case.
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03-02-2015, 11:20 AM
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#20
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Guru
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,037
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ski in NC
That's my problem too. Elbow from sea cock gets clogged. And the idiot designer made it hard to put a long radius 90 in there. That would be me.
Strainer is small stock Groco 3/4", it has plenty of capacity. No need to go larger in my case.
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Ski that is the reason I went larger.
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Jay Leonard
Ex boats: 1983 40 Albin trunk cabin, 1978 Mainship 34 Model 1
New Port Richey, Fl
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