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03-15-2014, 06:27 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: York PA
Posts: 50
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How long do you run your generator?
How long do you run your generator each month?
With our older Generac, I was advised to run it, under load, about 1 hour each month to keep it running properly. With the new Onan/Cummins, our adviser told me we should be running it about 25 hours each month. That seems like a lot.
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03-15-2014, 06:35 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Florida Cooters Club
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Venice, Fla.
Posts: 507
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1-2 hours per month. With the A/C (fans on Hi) and Fridge on. If I have the water connected, I also run the elect. hot water heater. I Hope this helps.
__________________
--Chuck
95 Newmar Kountry Star, Spartan Chassis, Venice, Fla
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03-15-2014, 06:37 PM
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#3
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Community Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 53,430
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Quote:
Originally Posted by C-PHartley
1-2 hours per month. With the A/C (fans on Hi) and Fridge on. If I have the water connected, I also run the elect. hot water heater. I Hope this helps.
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Same here. 1/2 load for 1-2 hours is all that's required.
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Cliff,Tallulah and Buddy ( 1999-2012 )
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03-15-2014, 06:45 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 527
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I run it for as long as it takes to travel 4 miles from storage to the house, about 15 minutes. This is plenty to get new gas into the unit and to warm it up to operating temperature. I run everything that will run off of it. Also, shut stuff off for a couple of minutes before shutting it off. Never understood this hours of running.
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03-15-2014, 06:50 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: York PA
Posts: 50
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I was originally told the generator would last longer if it was put under load. But this 25 hour thing seemed a little excessive. Thanks everyone.
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03-15-2014, 06:54 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Missouri
Posts: 348
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I ran my Onan 6K for 3 hours today with 1/2 load. The MH was built in October of 2013 and only had one hour on the meter. So I just figured to give it a little extra. I've been told that 2 hours with 1/2 load, twice a month would be good.
__________________
Rudy & Jenny
2014 Thor Four Winds 35SK, Super C
CRV, F-150 and Wrangler Toads
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03-15-2014, 07:47 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,649
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I've gone as long as 3 months without running the generator...of course, I have a good bit of Sta-Bil in the tank and gen. fuel system. Prime for fuel pressure and (knock on wood) it's never failed to start. Anytime I do any work to the RV, I'll run it for a couple of hours to make sure there's no moisture internally. IIRC, it's got about 230 hrs. on it and doing fine...again, that knocking sound on wood.
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Jan and Bob
'05 Monaco Windsor 40 DST - ISL / '08 Wrangler
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03-15-2014, 08:15 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Payson
Posts: 597
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Since we use our MH every month, usually more than once, I exercise the 4Kw Generac at regular intervals. It is always run with a decent load and for at least 30 minutes, an hour is better. Often I am running the genny more for the generator's sake than for any lack of AC or battery charging.
When we bought our 2012 Class C, 7 months ago, it had 8.8 hours on the genny. now after 10,000 miles we are only up to 33 hours and most of our camping is done off the grid.
__________________
2012 Nexus Phantom 23P Class C
Ford E-350 Chassis 6.8L V-10 w/5 speed trans w/tow haul mode, 55 gal fuel tank
USCG Licensed Master 100 Ton (Retired)
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03-15-2014, 09:02 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,636
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Quote:
Originally Posted by targaboat
I run it for as long as it takes to travel 4 miles from storage to the house, about 15 minutes. This is plenty to get new gas into the unit and to warm it up to operating temperature. I run everything that will run off of it. Also, shut stuff off for a couple of minutes before shutting it off. Never understood this hours of running.
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It depends on the climate where you live. The benefit derived from running the gen for a significant period of time is NOT for the engine, but for the generator.
If you live in a wet climate, like I do in North Carolina, it takes considerable warmup time to get all moisture out of the unit.
I don't run mine often, but do run it for at least an hour when I do. It has worked for me for many years.
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'97 Bounder 34V, F53 7.5L-460
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03-15-2014, 09:13 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: ON THE ROAD...SOMEWHERE
Posts: 6,973
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During out last 3.5 months of not moving I ran it every 30 days. 10 minutes warm up at about 1/3 load, 30 minutes at nearly max load, 10 minutes at less than 1/3 load. Down here in the RGV it is relatively dry so I don't think I need more than that.
In prep for the time off the road I added 1.5 times the recommended maintenance dose of biocide and Stabil for diesel then filled the fuel tank up. Drove the MH for 15 minutes to the resort with the generator running at near peak load, gave it 10 minutes at minimum load to cool down while signing in and then shut down.
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Don, Sandee & GSD Zeus. Guardian GSDs Gunny (7/11/15) & Thor (5/5/15)
2006 2015 DSDP 4320 4369, FL Chassis, 2013 CR-V 2020 Jeep Overland, Blue Ox Avail, SMI AF1.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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03-16-2014, 05:47 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Today? Clayton, North Carolina
Posts: 5,093
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In the past two years and 17K miles fulltiming I've logged just over 300 generator hours without a moment's problem. Four times we've been parked for six weeks or more. On only one occasion have I started the gen for exercise purposes, last winter after about two and a half months I ran it for about 45 minutes, since we had another two months before departure.
But fulltiming is a far different thing than seasonal use. Fulltiming makes it easier to keep machines healthy.
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John and Diane (RIP Lincoln, 21 FEB 22) RVM103 NHSO
Fulltimers since June, 2012
2002 Dutch Star 40, Freightliner, Cat 3126, 2004 Element
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03-16-2014, 06:06 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,450
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I run mine one hour per month with two a-c/heat pump units on. If sitting more than two months than Sta-Bil in the gasoline tank.
With the new Onan/Cummins, our adviser told me we should be running it about 25 hours each month.
I have never heard of this requirement. Ask your adviser for documentation for 25 hrs per month. Please post if your are able to obtain this proof. Thanks!
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George R. - Fulltiming since January '03
2007 Newmar Mountain Aire 3991
2012 Chevy Malibu LT1
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03-16-2014, 06:09 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: On the Road
Posts: 604
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Do you have a manual? Onan says to run at least 2 hours each month at approximately 1/2 rated power if use is infrequent. A single 2 hour exercise period is better than several shorter periods. You can find a pdf of your manual online.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTCruiser
How long do you run your generator each month?
With our older Generac, I was advised to run it, under load, about 1 hour each month to keep it running properly. With the new Onan/Cummins, our adviser told me we should be running it about 25 hours each month. That seems like a lot.
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__________________
Jerry J.
2008 Winnebago Vectra 40TD
2007 Honda CRV
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03-16-2014, 06:18 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: FTer Class of 2015 Origin: Evergreen, Colorado
Posts: 1,565
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First weekend of every month: We run our 7500 for an hour with just about everything turned on that is within easy reach. \ken
__________________
Ken, Deb, & Gadget (WIT Club, FMCA, SKP, and grateful volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and SOWERs), traveling in a well-behaved 2005 Winnebago Vectra 40FD w/1100w solar, some gee-golly-whizbang, and a TRAILERED 2015 Cherokee TrailHawk toad.
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