Generators - resources for cruising sailors

ABYC standards

[Vendor]

Membership organization

ABYC standards and recommended practices for the design, construction, and installation of alternating current (AC) generator sets on boat.

[American Boat & Yacht Council, Edgewater, MD, USA]
- ABYC's home page
- Council's home page
- ABYC education programs
- ABYC Standards and Technical Reports

Direct Current Generators

[Site]

Anonymous website Direct Current Generators

This is a chapter of the 366-page U.S. military field manual on Marine Electricity, maybe a pirate copy published for would-be soldiers and mercenaries. It′s a very good primer on the basics - direct and alternating current, circuit measurement, distribution, etc. - but if you read it on line, you have to put up with banner ads aimed at high-testosterone men.

[Free Military Training Manuals, USA]
- Read the Marine Electricity manual on-line
- Buy a copy of the manual

Ship Service Generators (AC)

[Site]

Anonymous website Ship Service Generators (AC)

This is a chapter of the 366-page U.S. military field manual on Marine Electricity, maybe a pirate copy published for would-be soldiers and mercenaries. It′s a very good primer on the basics - direct and alternating current, circuit measurement, distribution, etc. - but if you read it on line, you have to put up with banner ads aimed at high-testosterone men.

[Free Military Training Manuals, USA]
- Read the Marine Electricity manual on-line
- Buy a copy of the manual

Choosing and Installing an Auxiliary Generator

[Article]

Thorough Overview By Edward D. Fry

An easy-to-understand introduction to the process. Read it, then be sure to check more up-to-date information. A few points are out of date.

[Practical Sailor]
- An auxiliary genset

Generator Troubleshooting Guide

[Site]

By Winco

Step-by-step diagnostics for no-output generators. These are clear and detailed, but points out the dangers of messing with your genset if you don′t know much about capacitors, rectifiers, and so forth.

[Winco Inc., LeCenter, MN, USA]
- Generator problem diagnosis

DC Gensets

[Offline]

Features Comparison DC Gensets

Small quite DC sets have advantages over AC sets and main-engine alternators

[Blue Water Sailing, October 2002]
- Order the Blue Water Sailing back issue

Buying a Generator

[Site]

By Horst Lentge

FAQ published by HFL, a vendor, on generator size, type, fuel, noise, vibration, cooling, and other considerations when buying.

[HFL Marine International Ltd., Enfield, Middlesex, UK]
- Visit the page

Watt Usage Calculator

[Site]

Manufacturer

Helps you estimate your wattage needs when sizing an AC electrical system. You check which appliances, pumps, air conditioners, etc. you intend to use, and it calculates your generator size. Provided by a manufacturer of gensets.

[Norpro Power Products, East Haddam, CT, USA]
- Calculate your electrical needs

ARC Survey

[Site]

Each year the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers asks its participants to evaluate (Reliability, User Friendliness, Value) various pieces of equipment. 26 boats evaluated 4 models of genset from Onan, Mastervolt, Fischer Panda, and Westerbeke.

[Yachting World, London, UK]
- Gear survey home page
- See the evaluations

Bukh diesel gensets

[Vendor]

Manufacturer Bukh diesel gensets

Danish-made marine diesels from 24 to 48 hp. One of the few remaining producers in the world who are not just marinizers of other companies′ products, Also makes a generator and engines for commercial vessels from 240 to 1000 hp.

[Aabenraa Motorfabrik, 6200 Aabenraa, Denmark]
- See the generator
- North America distributors