Onan MDL4 20KW starter issue

[Pete]

Re: Onan MDL4 20K starter issue

One additional comment on the horsepower required per kilowatt. Agree with Sky that 2HP/KW is a good number, however, since the units run at 1800 RPM, the engine rating is about 2X when used in an application that uses the full RPM capability of the engine. In my case, the Westerbeke 4 cylinder engine used in our 15 KW generator is rated at 60HP in a sailboat application where it has a max RPM rating of 3600 RPM.

Pete

 

[Brian Degulis]

Re: Onan MADLY 20KW starter issue

A curiosity question. The Westerbeke brand has no come up in the discussion. For that matter another Onan has not been discussed. The PO on our boat installed a 15KW Westerbeke with electronic speed regulation. I added the optional electronic voltage regulator and the generator output is more stable that a shore power connection. 240 volts/60 Hertz, no load to full load and anywhere in between. I did not select the brand, but am a happy owner. Opinions?

Pete

There's Norpro Then there's another outfit is West Palm that was started by one of Norpro's engineers I forget the name and there's Southeaster Power in Deerfield Beach FL. They all do pretty much the same thing. They take a Yanmar or Isuzu John Deere or Kubota and couple it up to a Stamford or Newage electrical end. They run them at 1800 RPM with a simple shut down system raw water pump gauges remote controls whatever you want. They're wonderfully simple reliable units with no proprietary parts just simple off the shelf stuff.

The Onans Kholers and Westerbekes are just ridiculously over complicated expensive and parts are terrible for price and availability. Especially Onan you just don't need a bunch of circuit boards and overly complicated control systems to make electricity. Simple is better.

Brian