(Power)
Generation Gap

No one likes the sound of a generator, but they’re getting quieter and more efficient too.

Generators —can’t live without them, not comfortably, at least not on a boat at anchor in the summertime. Admit it, you’d miss it if it wasn’t there. Even if you have an inverter, you’ll need to run the genset to replenish the charge the inverter depleted. With that thought in mind, we wondered, what’s new in the world of marine generators? This is what we found.

Fischer Panda’s new 6500 AC, asynchronous generator is powered by the fresh-water-cooled twin-cylinder Kubota diesel engine. With its new VCS (Voltage Control System), which monitors for the target voltage of 120V and adjusts the engine rpm as needed to keep the voltage stable, it delivers up to 6.5kW of continuous stable AC power and a peak of 7kW.

The 6500 is ignition protected for use in an explosive environment. The standard sound enclosure lowers the decibel level to 56dB at 23 feet. It comes with harnesses, remote control panel, remote fuel lift pump, safety shutdowns for all critical functions and a five-year limited warranty. MSRP $12,295.

Phasor drives its generators exclusively with Kubota diesels, but uses permanent magnet generators (PMG) to make electricity. Its newest offering is a four model line—7,8,10,and 12kW—PMGs. There are no brushes and no voltage regulator; instead, incorporating the use of rare earth magnets provides stable voltage at any load.

All of the service items such as filters and fluid fills are on one side of the engine, making it easier to service. A cast stainless steel exhaust elbow ensures longevity. Phasor generators contain no solid state electronics or relays—keeping it simple—but come standard with a start/stop/preheat panel on the unit. Plug and play remote panels for installation up to 40 feet away are available. Currently, only the 7kW model genset is ignition protected for use in gasoline environments. MSRP $7,500-$10,500.

For large applications, John Deere’s 6.8L six-cylinder 6068 series engine is offered in four configurations suitable for gensets. The engines are either turbocharged, non-aftercooled, turbocharged with jacket water aftercooling or turbocharged with sea water aftercooling. They are available from 158 to 400 horsepower—that will drive a generator rated at approximately at 89 to 174kW—in either keel cooled or heat exchanger configurations, and the same engine can be utilized as  main propulsion.

John Deere also recently published tips for biodiesel users that recommend switching to regular diesel fuel for standby generators, occasional/seasonal applications, and extended periods of storage or idle of the equipment. It also recommended additives for its engines. John Deere-approved fuel conditioners containing detergent/dispersant additives are required when using blends of B20 or greater and are recommended even when using lower biodiesel blends. These guidelines are for John Deere owners, but a diesel engine is a diesel engine.

News out of Cummins Onan is that it will be changing the latches on all of its generator housings. This is to comply with European directives.

Specifically, the entry latches to the doors on the Cummins Onan Marine gensets have been changed from hand entry to tooled entry latches that easily open with a 10 mm flat-blade screw driver. This is not a retrofit, but applies to new manufacture only.