Norpro Generator 17Ni, So far so good!

[MarioG]

Well, I did my first oil change on our new Norpro 21kw 17NI. took me all of ten minutes. easy job, no mess. It's been running perfectly since we put her in. We've been on the hook since Tuesday. She purrs like a kitten, all is well...

Cheers!!!

 

[ThirdHatt]

Well, I did my first oil change on our new Norpro 21kw 17NI. took me all of ten minutes. easy job, no mess. It's been running perfectly since we put her in. We've been on the hook since Tuesday. She purrs like a kitten, all is well...

Cheers!!!

Congrats Mario! There's nothing like the feeling one gets with a brand new engine/generator. Do I underdtand that you removed a 15kw and replaced it with a 21kw?

I had trouble loading up the 16kw Northern Lights that I installed in my YF, so I wonder if you did go with a 21kw what electrical demands that you could possibly have on a 58' boat to maintain a proper 60-80% load on it so that it will last. All of the 74' and 75' Hatteras Motoryachts that I have looked at recently have 21kw gensets from the factory, but they have seven A/C compressors and all the other stuff that 20 more feet of boat brings with it.

What are your thoughts?

 

[MarioG]

Hi Third!

Our genny puts out 87.5 amps. down here in south fla, we usually run all 5 AC's all the time as well as all the galley (something’s always cooking), all lights, chargers ect. According to the amp meter we draw 46 amps on low usage and 68 amps on max usage. Mid 50's to 70's load factor. Not text book but close enough. One thing I did notice is that I’m not tripping breakers any more and the batteries charge up much quicker which means less genny time during our "deep" winter season (lol). One thing I’m pleased with is relocating the generator forward and across the generator room. It opened up tons of usable room and I can now service the batteries easily (PITA as you know). I highly recommend this change. BTW, the genny sits atop two 4" x 8" stringers capped with 1/2" pvc strips. beleve me, the genny slides almost effortlessly aft to service the other side (starter) when needed. I relocated the strainer away from the thru hull valve and placed it next to the primary fuel filter. Very neat and easily serviced. As for the through hull valve. I installed a 6' Teleflex cable attached to the valve handle that opens and closes the valve remotely. Of course, when the genny is in place it is solidly secured in place with four large lag bolts into the new generator stringers. After the removal process, I installed 3/4" pvc board on the genny room floor, painted everything white and installed lots of lighting. I love it! And maintenance is simply a breeze.

Mario

 

[SKYCHENEY]

We need pictures of that.

 

[MarioG]

Well, OK!

looking towards bow

starboard stringer

 

[MarioG]

inverter shelf looking aft

stringers

looking forward

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Very nice. And I see your vacuum break mounted overhead. I think raising the genset also makes for a good downhill run to the muffler. You shouldn't have any problems with that setup. Good job.

 

[MarioG]

Thanks Sky! a few more details in the genny room and I hope to done with it...

 

[Angela]

Is your seacock for the genny under that hatch that is under your genny? Mine is. If so, how do you get to it to close it if you need to do so in a hurry?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

He moved it up next to the fuel filter on the stringer. Take a look at the pics again and you'll see it.

 

[MarioG]

Actually the remote handle for the seacock is not in view in the pics. it's just under the battery switch between the generator and the stringer.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

He moved it up next to the fuel filter on the stringer. Take a look at the pics again and you'll see it.

Just re-read your post, Ang. Sorry, I thought you were looking for the strainer, not the seacock.

 

[krush]

Please give more detail on you mounting. Does the lag bolt go thru the wood and lag into something else or is it thru-bolted?

If you used lag bolts and it's how I think it is, I'd be worried about security in rough seas.

 

[Diver Down]

Mario, great set up! Couple of questions.... how do you get access to the forward (bow) side of the genset or anything else forward of the unit. Also, I'm intrigued by the muffler being located on the floor and wonder how the water discharge is from this higher (than original) lift. The discharge from my 16KW Onan is like jet engine exhaust.
Michael E
Southern Comfort, 1977 58YF

 

[Northcott]

I put this same gen in my boat almost a year ago. Now have a tad over 200 hrs and it has never skipped a beat. I have had some trouble from my brother-in-law as he is the VP of Cummins Marine.... LOL

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Mario, great set up! Couple of questions.... how do you get access to the forward (bow) side of the genset or anything else forward of the unit. Also, I'm intrigued by the muffler being located on the floor and wonder how the water discharge is from this higher (than original) lift. The discharge from my 16KW Onan is like jet engine exhaust.
Michael E
Southern Comfort, 1977 58YF

My muffler arrangement is almost identical to Mario's. It works fine and is very quiet.

 

[MarioG]

Mario, great set up! Couple of questions.... how do you get access to the forward (bow) side of the genset or anything else forward of the unit. Also, I'm intrigued by the muffler being located on the floor and wonder how the water discharge is from this higher (than original) lift. The discharge from my 16KW Onan is like jet engine exhaust.
Michael E
Southern Comfort, 1977 58YF

the only reason I would need access to the bow side of the genny is to service the starter or change the bildge pump and/or service the thru hull valve. in this case the whole genny slides aft very easly along it's stringers and onto a pair of temporary stringers of the same design. the exaust discharge from this set up is similar to the old onan and is like you discribe.

 

[MarioG]

Congrats Mario! There's nothing like the feeling one gets with a brand new engine/generator. Do I underdtand that you removed a 15kw and replaced it with a 21kw?

I had trouble loading up the 16kw Northern Lights that I installed in my YF, so I wonder if you did go with a 21kw what electrical demands that you could possibly have on a 58' boat to maintain a proper 60-80% load on it so that it will last. All of the 74' and 75' Hatteras Motoryachts that I have looked at recently have 21kw gensets from the factory, but they have seven A/C compressors and all the other stuff that 20 more feet of boat brings with it.

What are your thoughts?

Third, I spoke to a Norpro engineer and he told me that if I keep at least 30% load on the unit it would be sufficiant to keep the engine from "wet stacking".

 

[Brian Degulis]

Loading a generator is not as important with todays technology as it was 20 years ago. You still don't want to run them very light but that 60-80% is probably down to around 30% as a minimum.


Brian

 

[ThirdHatt]

Wow! That's great news. So this new 30% minimum rule would only apply to the newer gensets, as in the Tier 2 models? When did they make this change and what did they actually change? I'd love to learn more about it because this would be some pretty important information in deciding what generator size to choose for those replacing older sets.