Exercising the generator in winter ??

[RMFUN]

I have a new Onan in my Newmar and I follow the manual and exercise it
every month for an hour under load.

In the summer, it is easy, just turn on both A/C and let it run.

What do you do in winter to put a big load on the genset ? I assume
running the a/c when it is 30 is not a good idea.

The unit is a gas 5.5kw

Thanks!

[RV-Writer]

I have the same question so I figured I would run the furnace, cook a pizza in the convection oven, turn on all the lights, plug in a portable heater, and watch some television

[guardrail53]

Originally Posted by RV-Writer

I have the same question so I figured I would run the furnace, cook a pizza in the convection oven, turn on all the lights, plug in a portable heater, and watch some television

X-2, Good answer! Turn on the heat strips in the A/C's if you have them, or plug in a couple of small space heaters, into non-inverter plugs, and warm it up inside, watch a movie!! Rail!

[Kiawah]

I turn on the fireplace, and two little $20 Home Depot space heaters. Each are 1500 watts. Easy.

[vsheetz]

Space heaters.

[Sandy Swede]

x3 on the space heaters. Two of those at 1,500 watts each will provide adequate load (25 amps per Ohm's Law) for the genset and will take the chill off while you check out other things in the coach or dream up your next project or trip. Make sure they have tip-over switches.

Today would be a good day to do this where we live - it has started to snow.

[Craigls2]

Two space heaters pull about 25 amps and using the convection oven adds another 10 for me. Have been wondering about equalizing the batteries during storage. Have read that the liquid in batteries can stratify if not charged enough to gas a little. Apparently the gas bubbles mix the fluid. Worried that the batteries could freeze and crack if they sit too long on only a float charge. It's -3° right now. Am I worrying too much?

[RMFUN]

Thanks everyone, I guess its 2 heaters and pizza tomorrow

[twojayhawks]

Originally Posted by RMFUN

Thanks everyone, I guess its 2 heaters and pizza tomorrow

Hopefully not all on the same breaker

[Woodchopper]

Originally Posted by Craigls2

Two space heaters pull about 25 amps and using the convection oven adds another 10 for me. Have been wondering about equalizing the batteries during storage. Have read that the liquid in batteries can stratify if not charged enough to gas a little. Apparently the gas bubbles mix the fluid. Worried that the batteries could freeze and crack if they sit too long on only a float charge. It's -3° right now. Am I worrying too much?

Craigls2
I think you are.

My coach sits outside in Minnesota all winter, (where it ses temps as low as -20 degrees F).
For 20 winters I have stored it plugged into a 15A receptacle.... which allows the automatic 3 stage battery charger in my inverter/charger to maintain the charge in the batteries.

[D Lindy]

Or you can do like those of use do where it's frozen all winter - let it set til spring. Unless your someplace that it's really humid, for the most part even with the snow, in the winter the humidity is very low so there's less/no chance of building up moisture in the winding's.

[vettenuts]

I use hair driers.

[2 Stroker]

If you are running out of wall amps, unplug the microwave and plug a heater in there. It's a 20A service line where you only have 15A on the wall outlets.
2 stroker

[RMFUN]

Originally Posted by D Lindy

Or you can do like those of use do where it's frozen all winter - let it set til spring. Unless your someplace that it's really humid, for the most part even with the snow, in the winter the humidity is very low so there's less/no chance of building up moisture in the winding's.

I was worried more about the gas, not the winding. I just spent 4K replacing a Generac with 90 hours because it sat too long.
I will exercise mine every month

I did use Stabil on all the fuel in the tank, so I hope the helps.

Russ