RCE wrote:

Greg,

Perhaps I was too hasty in assuming you were trying to sell your invention
on various newsgroups.
If so, I offer my apology. However, I still think you are promoting a
potentially dangerous setup and ignoring some of the safety comments that
you have solicited.

Dick, I accept your apology if you accept mine. I was too hasty in my
reaction to you. I truly appreciate your advice!

One mistake I've made is even mentioning the potential of peddling this
design. It's truly the furthest thing from my mind. My main concern
is having a set-up that I can use safely. If all the ducks are in a
row (liability, etc), then I may just sell a downloadable, how-to
manual and/or offer to build it for those who, like me, are
mechanically challenged.

In another post you appear to be testing this thing on a boat, underway
(operating in a no-wake zone) with the generator providing power to a space
heater. You reported the temperature in the box was 151 degrees. I did a
cursory review of the owner's manual for my Honda EU2000 and could not
readily find an operating temperature spec, however 151 degrees is
intuitively too high. These little generators are designed for forced air
cooling at a normal range of ambient temperatures. 151 degrees is not
normal. I am sure the operating temperature specs are available from Honda,
but I don't know what they are nor apparently do you.

I'm not certain it was 151degrees. I put a thermometer in there but in
was against the cooler wall near the power outlet. I intend to test it
further today. Here is what I do know....after 20 mins., parts of the
cooler wall clearly absorbed the heat and were almost too hot to touch,
although there was no melting. The gen itself was warm but not hot. I
kept the lid open to a 30 degree angle and it certainly helped with
ventilation. There was no appreciable noise difference with the lid
open like this, in that sound was diverted to the rear of the boat.

Next, you are promoting it's use on a boat. The biggest danger on a boat
underway, large or small, is fire. Ever see a fiberglass boat burn? It's
not a pretty sight. You've got a hot generator, full of gas, a catalytic
type exhaust sitting in an inadequately vented and cooled plastic box. The
generator is producing electricity, has electronic components (inverter) and
you think this is safe? The EU2000 has a vented gas cap that must be open to
run. You close it when moving it around to prevent gas spillage. So, you
have a vented cap on the gas supply of a overheated generator ... in an
enclosed plastic box ... on a moving boat. Are you nuts?

My comments are intended to convince the unknowing that, IMHO, this is a
dangerous setup, especially for use on a boat, and careful thought should
be given before attempting to duplicate your idea.

I agree to a certain extent. What I'm doing should not be duplicated
yet. Before I endorse it, I will run my findings to Honda.

Prior to experiment, I ran the genny while underway, strapped to the
swim platform. Other's have done the same without any problems.

Did you get a chance to read the Bayliner boater's experience with a
plastic storage box? I may end up abandoning the cooler and acquire a
more suitable box.

-Greg