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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Maintenance and Technical Tips -> How frequently do you exercise your generator?
Post Info TOPIC: How frequently do you exercise your generator?
RonC


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How frequently do you exercise your generator?
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I have an Onan 5500 propane generator installed in the coach.  It's new, like the 5th wheel, and has about 25 hours on it.  I've been running it for about 10-15 minutes every few months.  It always starts promptly and runs great.  Does that sound like the right way to ensure it stays healthy?



-- Edited by RonC on Friday 31st of March 2017 03:49:55 PM

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Ron and Janice

 

2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system

2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114  LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW

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Someday


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Maybe we are a bit overkill but we try to exercise ours at least once a month (sometimes when winterized can be up to 2 months max) and try to run it for 40 mins to an hour.

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LarryW21


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Once a week but it's gasoline powered.

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el Rojo and Pam


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Propane gensets don't gum up like gasoline one's do. You're probably OK.

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Bill and Linda


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RonC wrote:

I have an Onan 5500 propane generator installed in the coach.  It's new, like the 5th wheel, and has about 25 hours on it.  I've been running it for about 10-15 minutes every few months.  It always starts promptly and runs great.  Does that sound like the right way to ensure it stays healthy?



-- Edited by RonC on Friday 31st of March 2017 03:49:55 PM

 Speaking for the LP unit like you have Ron, not gas:  LP is VERY forgiving unlike the gas units when allowed to sit.  They "should" be run once a month.  I get behind on ours which is now 10 years old and always starts - its LP. When you do run it run it under a load.  Like run both AC units to give it a nice 15 amp load on each side and I'd run it for 20 minutes or so to get it hot.  The manual does recommend exercising it.  Let it idle to cool down after running under load. All this has worked well for us.

You have, IMO for a large unit, a great generator choice for a 5er. The LP 5500 we have we actually moved from our previous trailer as it was in such good shape and had relatively low hours.  Now, as I said, 10 years old and works super.  Be sure and change the oil / filter each year per the manual regardless of hours in service.  

Just for info: A nice thing about the LP's is that altitude has far less impact on them.  There is actually no leaning adjustment on the LP units.  We've run ours at 9,000+ feet without issue.

 

Bill



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bjoyce


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Years ago a friend had a nice chat with an Onan engineer on the subject. The Onan engineer says they put monthly exercising in all their manuals because that is what they recommend for gas generators. Practically he recommended every 3 months for LP generators and 6 months for diesel, but those could slip if needed. They also want the generators to run under load, which means about 50% of the wattage, for 30 minutes. This gets everything to operating temperatures and cleans up any deposits. Idling for 30 minutes is not good, it is actually hard on the engine. I have not met anyone that had trouble with their gas generator or gas engine after sitting still for 3 months in winter and many go longer. Going longer they might have a hard start, just like your lawn mower in spring, but then will run.

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RonC


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el Rojo and Pam wrote:

Propane gensets don't gum up like gasoline one's do. You're probably OK.

 Yeah ... that was exactly the reason I chose the LP unit.  Been down the "gasoline gum up" trail.



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Ron and Janice

 

2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system

2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114  LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW

FT class of 2016
RonC


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Thanks for the feedback. I thought I was OK, but hearing from others who have "been there and done that" is reassuring.

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Ron and Janice

 

2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system

2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114  LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW

FT class of 2016
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