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Bart September 24th 06 03:41 AM

DC WhisperGen
 
I have a chance to see a DC WhisperGen at the
Norwalk Boat Show today. I was very impressed.

The price was $12k. It provided 800 watts of power,
70 amps at 12 Volts for 1/5 gal per hour or about
..75 ltrs/hr.

It provided heat for hot water and was efficent enough
such that the exhaust was comfortable to touch.

Most impressive was the quiet sound it made--quieter
than a small window AC unit. With the sound cover
on it was difficult to hear.

Until noisy diesel gensets that are so annoying, this
unit can be set up to start when needed and was
quiet enough not to be a nuisance when running.

If agumented with solar cells, or even a wind generator,
I think the daily fuel consumption would be quite low.

So anyone considering a new genset, and/or heater, and
possibly AC for their boat, this with a good battery bank
would make a nice system.


Joe September 24th 06 03:59 AM

DC WhisperGen
 

Bart wrote:
I have a chance to see a DC WhisperGen at the
Norwalk Boat Show today. I was very impressed.

The price was $12k. It provided 800 watts of power,
70 amps at 12 Volts for 1/5 gal per hour or about
.75 ltrs/hr.

It provided heat for hot water and was efficent enough
such that the exhaust was comfortable to touch.

Most impressive was the quiet sound it made--quieter
than a small window AC unit. With the sound cover
on it was difficult to hear.

Until noisy diesel gensets that are so annoying, this
unit can be set up to start when needed and was
quiet enough not to be a nuisance when running.

If agumented with solar cells, or even a wind generator,
I think the daily fuel consumption would be quite low.

So anyone considering a new genset, and/or heater, and
possibly AC for their boat, this with a good battery bank
would make a nice system.


Everything but the 12 K sounds cool.

Joe


Jeff September 24th 06 11:45 AM

DC WhisperGen
 
Yes, I checked it out at Newport last week. Very slick. But the Bang for
the Buck is a bit lacking - its $12K and doesn't put out enough to run a
coffeemaker. On the other hand, its a neat trickle charger, and would be a
good match for a lightweight boat that uses outboards instead of diesels
(like a catamaran).

(Bart - sorry for the personal email - I'm on my MIL's machine and "reply"
is different - jeff)

"Bart" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have a chance to see a DC WhisperGen at the
Norwalk Boat Show today. I was very impressed.

The price was $12k. It provided 800 watts of power,
70 amps at 12 Volts for 1/5 gal per hour or about
.75 ltrs/hr.

It provided heat for hot water and was efficent enough
such that the exhaust was comfortable to touch.

Most impressive was the quiet sound it made--quieter
than a small window AC unit. With the sound cover
on it was difficult to hear.

Until noisy diesel gensets that are so annoying, this
unit can be set up to start when needed and was
quiet enough not to be a nuisance when running.

If agumented with solar cells, or even a wind generator,
I think the daily fuel consumption would be quite low.

So anyone considering a new genset, and/or heater, and
possibly AC for their boat, this with a good battery bank
would make a nice system.




Capt. Rob September 24th 06 01:07 PM

DC WhisperGen
 

Hey, it's only about 6 or 7K too much for a near useless (for most
folks) amount of power.



RB
35s5
NY


Peter September 25th 06 12:47 AM

DC WhisperGen
 

Capt. Rob wrote:
Hey, it's only about 6 or 7K too much for a near useless (for most
folks) amount of power.


More like *at least* $11K too much. Who in their right mind would pay
that much for that little?

PDW


Scotty September 25th 06 03:34 PM

DC WhisperGen
 
$12 k !!!! Holy ****! You could buy a dozen Honda gens
for that.

SBV


"Bart" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have a chance to see a DC WhisperGen at the
Norwalk Boat Show today. I was very impressed.

The price was $12k. It provided 800 watts of power,
70 amps at 12 Volts for 1/5 gal per hour or about
.75 ltrs/hr.

It provided heat for hot water and was efficent enough
such that the exhaust was comfortable to touch.

Most impressive was the quiet sound it made--quieter
than a small window AC unit. With the sound cover
on it was difficult to hear.

Until noisy diesel gensets that are so annoying, this
unit can be set up to start when needed and was
quiet enough not to be a nuisance when running.

If agumented with solar cells, or even a wind generator,
I think the daily fuel consumption would be quite low.

So anyone considering a new genset, and/or heater, and
possibly AC for their boat, this with a good battery bank
would make a nice system.




Capt. Rob September 25th 06 03:37 PM

DC WhisperGen
 

$12 k !!!! Holy ****! You could buy a dozen Honda gens
for that.



Uh, ok.



RB
35s5
NY


Bart September 25th 06 04:32 PM

DC WhisperGen
 
A 5 cup DC 12 V coffee maker requires 240 watts of power.
This could easily run that.

The concept behind it is you run it longer than a Genset
and it is quite enough that it is not annoying.

Look at it like its a battery charger and a heater.
From the perspective it works better than a genset.

And you don't need as big a battery bank.

Jeff wrote:
Yes, I checked it out at Newport last week. Very slick. But the Bang for
the Buck is a bit lacking - its $12K and doesn't put out enough to run a
coffeemaker. On the other hand, its a neat trickle charger, and would be a
good match for a lightweight boat that uses outboards instead of diesels
(like a catamaran).



Bart September 25th 06 05:01 PM

DC WhisperGen
 
Look at it from the prespective of A-H produced
per gal of fuel. Then balance that against the
benefit of quiet power and it's versatility as a
heat source for hot water. I think it is a winner.

BTW. There are no libricants and only easy to
replace seals.

The big question is the lifespan of the unit. If it
last far longer than a genset per A-H produced
then I'm sure it will have a broader appeal.

Longevity is the question I'd want to ask, and I
have not gotten a straight answer to that one.

Peter wrote:

More like *at least* $11K too much. Who in their right mind would pay
that much for that little?



Jeff September 25th 06 05:08 PM

DC WhisperGen
 
These are a different beast - because they are "external combustion"
(like a house furnace) they are very efficient and can be set to run
unattended, so they claim. Also, they are extremely quiet. I stood
next to one at the show and could barely hear it running. Also, I
could hold the exhaust flew in my hand (briefly). I can see an
situation where it would fit in nicely. However, for my purposes, I
can see better uses for $12K.


Scotty wrote:
$12 k !!!! Holy ****! You could buy a dozen Honda gens
for that.

SBV


"Bart" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have a chance to see a DC WhisperGen at the
Norwalk Boat Show today. I was very impressed.

The price was $12k. It provided 800 watts of power,
70 amps at 12 Volts for 1/5 gal per hour or about
.75 ltrs/hr.

It provided heat for hot water and was efficent enough
such that the exhaust was comfortable to touch.

Most impressive was the quiet sound it made--quieter
than a small window AC unit. With the sound cover
on it was difficult to hear.

Until noisy diesel gensets that are so annoying, this
unit can be set up to start when needed and was
quiet enough not to be a nuisance when running.

If agumented with solar cells, or even a wind generator,
I think the daily fuel consumption would be quite low.

So anyone considering a new genset, and/or heater, and
possibly AC for their boat, this with a good battery bank
would make a nice system.




Jeff September 25th 06 05:17 PM

DC WhisperGen
 
Bart wrote:
A 5 cup DC 12 V coffee maker requires 240 watts of power.
This could easily run that.


I was talking about a coffee make that can make coffee.


The concept behind it is you run it longer than a Genset
and it is quite enough that it is not annoying.


Yes, I admit it has its virtues. But still, $12K buys a lot of solar
panels, and even a quiet wind generator or two.


Look at it like its a battery charger and a heater.
From the perspective it works better than a genset.

And you don't need as big a battery bank.


I didn't notice any mention of how well it worked under way in rough
going. I probably wouldn't want to downsize the bank. BTW, did you
notice the its heavy? I think it was 200 lbs.



Jeff wrote:
Yes, I checked it out at Newport last week. Very slick. But the Bang for
the Buck is a bit lacking - its $12K and doesn't put out enough to run a
coffeemaker. On the other hand, its a neat trickle charger, and would be a
good match for a lightweight boat that uses outboards instead of diesels
(like a catamaran).



Scotty September 25th 06 05:28 PM

DC WhisperGen
 
Oh, maybe I should have looked at the link first. Where was
the link?

Scotty


"Jeff" wrote in message
. ..
These are a different beast - because they are "external

combustion"
(like a house furnace) they are very efficient and can be

set to run
unattended, so they claim. Also, they are extremely

quiet. I stood
next to one at the show and could barely hear it running.

Also, I
could hold the exhaust flew in my hand (briefly). I can

see an
situation where it would fit in nicely. However, for my

purposes, I
can see better uses for $12K.


Scotty wrote:
$12 k !!!! Holy ****! You could buy a dozen Honda

gens
for that.

SBV


"Bart" wrote in message

ups.com...
I have a chance to see a DC WhisperGen at the
Norwalk Boat Show today. I was very impressed.

The price was $12k. It provided 800 watts of power,
70 amps at 12 Volts for 1/5 gal per hour or about
.75 ltrs/hr.

It provided heat for hot water and was efficent enough
such that the exhaust was comfortable to touch.

Most impressive was the quiet sound it made--quieter
than a small window AC unit. With the sound cover
on it was difficult to hear.

Until noisy diesel gensets that are so annoying, this
unit can be set up to start when needed and was
quiet enough not to be a nuisance when running.

If agumented with solar cells, or even a wind

generator,
I think the daily fuel consumption would be quite low.

So anyone considering a new genset, and/or heater, and
possibly AC for their boat, this with a good battery

bank
would make a nice system.






Bart September 26th 06 12:52 AM

DC WhisperGen
 
200 lbs is heavy. But not unreasonable for a
heavier boat like mine.

I asked about how it worked heeled over and
got a fuzzy look. Obviously he didn't know. I
did check online and saw a number of sailboats
using them. Including on worked hard Swan charter
boat that ran the thing up to 16 hours a day.

It is clear a combination of solar panels and perhaps
a wind generator would be worth the cost to supplement
the power made by a whispergen.

Jeff you hav a cat. The weight may not be worth it.
What do you have for solar panels on your cabintop?
What sort of dwell time do you want for cruising?

I'd like my boat to be able to stay out for 6 months or
more without refueling or having to plug in. The Whispergen
might be just the thing for me. While the cost seems on
the high side, the installation looks like a breeze.


Jeff wrote:

I didn't notice any mention of how well it worked under way in rough
going. I probably wouldn't want to downsize the bank. BTW, did you
notice the its heavy? I think it was 200 lbs.



Bart September 26th 06 12:53 AM

DC WhisperGen
 
I thought of one more thing the Whispergen
would be good for. In a cold climate, you
could preheat the inboard diesel for easier
starts.


Bart September 26th 06 12:58 AM

DC WhisperGen -- links
 
http://www.whispergen.com/

Stirling Engine FAQ

http://www.stirlingengine.com/faq/on...ublic&faq_id=1

These are very efficient engines Scotty. You could probably
put one in an electric car to charge the batteries.


Scotty wrote:
Oh, maybe I should have looked at the link first. Where was
the link?

Scotty



Jeff September 26th 06 01:46 AM

DC WhisperGen
 
Bart wrote:
200 lbs is heavy. But not unreasonable for a
heavier boat like mine.

I asked about how it worked heeled over and
got a fuzzy look. Obviously he didn't know. I
did check online and saw a number of sailboats
using them. Including on worked hard Swan charter
boat that ran the thing up to 16 hours a day.

It is clear a combination of solar panels and perhaps
a wind generator would be worth the cost to supplement
the power made by a whispergen.

Jeff you hav a cat. The weight may not be worth it.
What do you have for solar panels on your cabintop?
What sort of dwell time do you want for cruising?


I have 150 Watts on the hardtop, but its often partially shaded. If I
got serious about it, I'd add 200 watts onto the davit system that
would be partially movable. Plus I might get 200 watts of flexible to
go on the foredeck. Deck space I have plenty of. And then I would
complement it I could get a wind gen near the stern. Of course, the
biggest thing I could do would be downsize the freezer and redo the
whole fridge system with the latest Danfoss technology. With $12K,
you can do a lot.


I'd like my boat to be able to stay out for 6 months or
more without refueling or having to plug in. The Whispergen
might be just the thing for me. While the cost seems on
the high side, the installation looks like a breeze.


Do you really need that much power? My liveaboard friends use a lot
of solar plus some wind, and can often go days without worrying about
recharging.

It seemed to me that the WhisperGen was a good match if you used a lot
of electricity (i.e. big freezer and/or big water maker) and also
wanted hot water and heat. This would seem to match up with something
bigger than my boat.




Jeff wrote:
I didn't notice any mention of how well it worked under way in rough
going. I probably wouldn't want to downsize the bank. BTW, did you
notice the its heavy? I think it was 200 lbs.



Jeff September 26th 06 01:48 AM

DC WhisperGen -- links
 
That's a curious thought. There have been Sterling cars made, but
they take a long time to warm up. Not a problem if its only used for
recharging.

Bart wrote:
http://www.whispergen.com/

Stirling Engine FAQ

http://www.stirlingengine.com/faq/on...ublic&faq_id=1

These are very efficient engines Scotty. You could probably
put one in an electric car to charge the batteries.


Scotty wrote:
Oh, maybe I should have looked at the link first. Where was
the link?

Scotty



Peter September 26th 06 01:52 AM

DC WhisperGen
 

For $12K I could buy enough solar panels to outproduce that thing and
pay $0.00 running costs for fuel.

Some of my guys built a small genset a couple years ago to deploy on
Heard Is. It used a tiny Honda weed-wacker type powerhead driving a PM
generator. Cost even with Govt R&D accounting a fraction of this
thing.

Reminds me of a salesman who tried to sell me a 600W 12V microwave for
some ungodly price. I did a quick mental calculation & pointed out I
could buy a $100 microwave and a 1Kv inverter to run it for less than
half his price, so who but an idiot would buy one?

This thing falls into the same category.

PDW

Bart wrote:
Look at it from the prespective of A-H produced
per gal of fuel. Then balance that against the
benefit of quiet power and it's versatility as a
heat source for hot water. I think it is a winner.

BTW. There are no libricants and only easy to
replace seals.

The big question is the lifespan of the unit. If it
last far longer than a genset per A-H produced
then I'm sure it will have a broader appeal.

Longevity is the question I'd want to ask, and I
have not gotten a straight answer to that one.

Peter wrote:

More like *at least* $11K too much. Who in their right mind would pay
that much for that little?



Peter September 26th 06 01:54 AM

DC WhisperGen
 

Jeff wrote:
These are a different beast - because they are "external combustion"
(like a house furnace) they are very efficient and can be set to run
unattended, so they claim.


If 'external combustion' engines were more efficient than internal
ones, we'd be using them more widely. This is probably some variant on
a Stirling cycle engine.

PDW


Jeff September 26th 06 02:00 AM

DC WhisperGen
 
Peter wrote:
Jeff wrote:
These are a different beast - because they are "external combustion"
(like a house furnace) they are very efficient and can be set to run
unattended, so they claim.


If 'external combustion' engines were more efficient than internal
ones, we'd be using them more widely. This is probably some variant on
a Stirling cycle engine.


Yes, it is a Stirling. They are enjoying a bit a of renaissance as
new technologies have brought the price down. They are quite
efficient, but have limitations that prevent their use in some
applications, like cars. There are a number of work boats that use
them for propulsion.

Joe September 26th 06 02:29 AM

DC WhisperGen
 

Bart wrote:
200 lbs is heavy. But not unreasonable for a
heavier boat like mine.

I asked about how it worked heeled over and
got a fuzzy look. Obviously he didn't know. I
did check online and saw a number of sailboats
using them. Including on worked hard Swan charter
boat that ran the thing up to 16 hours a day.

It is clear a combination of solar panels and perhaps
a wind generator would be worth the cost to supplement
the power made by a whispergen.

Jeff you hav a cat. The weight may not be worth it.
What do you have for solar panels on your cabintop?
What sort of dwell time do you want for cruising?

I'd like my boat to be able to stay out for 6 months or
more without refueling or having to plug in.


Man 6 mo is a long time, might as well get off the grid, you can buy
mucho solar and wind power with 12K.

Serious Bart, when you said 12 grand my ears glazed over and I will
never look at it.

If you are crusing, the a pull behind or even shaft driven charging
system may be as efficent.

Joe




The Whispergen
might be just the thing for me. While the cost seems on
the high side, the installation looks like a breeze.


Jeff wrote:

I didn't notice any mention of how well it worked under way in rough
going. I probably wouldn't want to downsize the bank. BTW, did you
notice the its heavy? I think it was 200 lbs.



DSK September 26th 06 03:29 PM

DC WhisperGen
 
At 800 watts for 1/2 gph, it's not very energy efficient.
You could do better than that with a 125 amp alternator and
your main engine just a click above idle. The quiet part is
really nice though.

Jeff wrote:
Yes, I checked it out at Newport last week. Very slick. But the Bang for
the Buck is a bit lacking - its $12K and doesn't put out enough to run a
coffeemaker. On the other hand, its a neat trickle charger, and would be a
good match for a lightweight boat that uses outboards instead of diesels
(like a catamaran).



Bart wrote:
A 5 cup DC 12 V coffee maker requires 240 watts of power.
This could easily run that.

The concept behind it is you run it longer than a Genset
and it is quite enough that it is not annoying.

Look at it like its a battery charger and a heater.
From the perspective it works better than a genset.

And you don't need as big a battery bank.


Viewed as an alternative to a bigger battery bank & bigger
charger to keep that bank up, it's a sensible concept. But
it's still *very* expensive; you could buy a small diesel
genset and built a soundproof enclosure yourself. If these
guys are actually making money, we should go into that business!

DSK


Bart September 26th 06 04:05 PM

DC WhisperGen
 
..2 gph is 1/5 gal per hour.

Even so, given the amount of energy produced
I'm still not convinced it is more efficient than a
diesel genset.

What intrigues me, is the quiet productin of power
and hot water.

BTW, I was trying to find out about the Aquanami
kinetic energy generators. They have near frictionless
solutions for inducing electric current by sliding
magnets. You may hve seen their flashlights.
I'm very curious to see what they can produce. Perhaps
enough to make up for internal resistance losses in
batteries for boat stored in the water.

DSK wrote:
At 800 watts for 1/2 gph, it's not very energy efficient.
You could do better than that with a 125 amp alternator and
your main engine just a click above idle. The quiet part is
really nice though.



DSK September 26th 06 04:13 PM

DC WhisperGen
 
Bart wrote:
.2 gph is 1/5 gal per hour.


Ah so, I mis-read the number. That's a lot better.

Even so, given the amount of energy produced
I'm still not convinced it is more efficient than a
diesel genset.


Me neither. If you're going to that level of expense &
weight & complexity, a diesel genset makes just as much
sense and should be that efficient.


What intrigues me, is the quiet productin of power
and hot water.


A good modern diesel can be pretty quiet and if you put it
inside an enclosure, the noise just isn't there any more.


BTW, I was trying to find out about the Aquanami
kinetic energy generators. They have near frictionless
solutions for inducing electric current by sliding
magnets.


Yep, the same way an electric guitar works ;)


.... You may hve seen their flashlights.
I'm very curious to see what they can produce. Perhaps
enough to make up for internal resistance losses in
batteries for boat stored in the water.


Wouldn't they generate AC power? Still, producing energy
from waves to keep the batteries topped off would be very
nice. And underway it would generate more... every little
bit helps.

DSK


[email protected] September 26th 06 06:13 PM

DC WhisperGen
 
I always find it very suspicious when a manufacturer advertises the
benefits of their product based on a particular feature and then
doesn't provide a formal specification. As far as I can see WhisperGen
doesn't provide a specification for noise level.

Their brochure, however, does have a graphic that indicates that the
noise level falls between normal conversation at 60db and a
refrigerator at 50 db. So, I guess we can assume the noise level is
about 55 db(A) and is measured using standard industry techniques.

Some applicable specifications for a Honda EU3000is, for instance, a

58 dB @ rated load (2800W)
49 dB @ 1/4 load (700W)
Fuel Tank Capacity: 3.4 gallons (12.9 liters)
Run Time on one tankful: 7.2hrs @ rated load; 20hrs @ 1/4 load
Liters per hour: 1.8 @ rated load; 0.65 @ 1/4 load
Dry Weight: 134 lbs

So, it looks to me like the Honda EU3000is is actually a lot quieter
than the WhisperGen when it is operated at an equivalent wattage output
and has roughly the same noise level when operated at 3 1/2 times more
power than the WhisperGen.

Also, assuming I've done the calculations correctly, the EU3000is is
probably more fuel efficient since it only uses about 0.65 liters per
hour at 700W while the WhisperGen uses "Less than 1 litre per hour".

The Honda EU3000is, incidentally, costs about $2000.00.

http://www.whispergen.com/content/li...t_Brochure.pdf

http://www.whispergen.com/content/li...ers_Manual.pdf
http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/M...lName=eu3000is

Jeff wrote:
These are a different beast - because they are "external combustion"
(like a house furnace) they are very efficient and can be set to run
unattended, so they claim. Also, they are extremely quiet. I stood
next to one at the show and could barely hear it running. Also, I
could hold the exhaust flew in my hand (briefly). I can see an
situation where it would fit in nicely. However, for my purposes, I
can see better uses for $12K.


Scotty wrote:
$12 k !!!! Holy ****! You could buy a dozen Honda gens
for that.

SBV


"Bart" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have a chance to see a DC WhisperGen at the
Norwalk Boat Show today. I was very impressed.

The price was $12k. It provided 800 watts of power,
70 amps at 12 Volts for 1/5 gal per hour or about
.75 ltrs/hr.

It provided heat for hot water and was efficent enough
such that the exhaust was comfortable to touch.

Most impressive was the quiet sound it made--quieter
than a small window AC unit. With the sound cover
on it was difficult to hear.

Until noisy diesel gensets that are so annoying, this
unit can be set up to start when needed and was
quiet enough not to be a nuisance when running.

If agumented with solar cells, or even a wind generator,
I think the daily fuel consumption would be quite low.

So anyone considering a new genset, and/or heater, and
possibly AC for their boat, this with a good battery bank
would make a nice system.





Jeff September 26th 06 07:16 PM

DC WhisperGen
 
I have a Honda EU2000i and I can say that under load it makes a lot
more noise than the Whispergen. Of course, I didn't hear the
WhispeGen at full load. At low load the Honda is rather quiet, but it
doesn't make heat, hot water, and it won't run unattended.

BTW, both of the pdf's you provide have a noise level; one says 55 dBA
at one meter, (full load implied, though not formally stated), the
other references an ISO standard which is 50 dBA at 7 meters.

a few more comments below ...
wrote:
I always find it very suspicious when a manufacturer advertises the
benefits of their product based on a particular feature and then
doesn't provide a formal specification. As far as I can see WhisperGen
doesn't provide a specification for noise level.

Their brochure, however, does have a graphic that indicates that the
noise level falls between normal conversation at 60db and a
refrigerator at 50 db. So, I guess we can assume the noise level is
about 55 db(A) and is measured using standard industry techniques.

Some applicable specifications for a Honda EU3000is, for instance, a

58 dB @ rated load (2800W)
49 dB @ 1/4 load (700W)
Fuel Tank Capacity: 3.4 gallons (12.9 liters)
Run Time on one tankful: 7.2hrs @ rated load; 20hrs @ 1/4 load
Liters per hour: 1.8 @ rated load; 0.65 @ 1/4 load
Dry Weight: 134 lbs

So, it looks to me like the Honda EU3000is is actually a lot quieter
than the WhisperGen when it is operated at an equivalent wattage output
and has roughly the same noise level when operated at 3 1/2 times more
power than the WhisperGen.


58 dba is not "roughly the same" as 55 on a logarithmic scale.


Also, assuming I've done the calculations correctly, the EU3000is is
probably more fuel efficient since it only uses about 0.65 liters per
hour at 700W while the WhisperGen uses "Less than 1 litre per hour".


Again, you have to add in the heat and hot water. It also says ".75
liters/hour at max output"


The Honda EU3000is, incidentally, costs about $2000.00.


Yup. No argument on that front. However, the Whispergen is built for
100% duty cycle, doesn't need oil or oil filters, etc. It comes with
electronic controls for monitoring temp and battery levels, etc. As I
said, this is much different from a portable genset.



http://www.whispergen.com/content/li...t_Brochure.pdf

http://www.whispergen.com/content/li...ers_Manual.pdf
http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/M...lName=eu3000is

Jeff wrote:
These are a different beast - because they are "external combustion"
(like a house furnace) they are very efficient and can be set to run
unattended, so they claim. Also, they are extremely quiet. I stood
next to one at the show and could barely hear it running. Also, I
could hold the exhaust flew in my hand (briefly). I can see an
situation where it would fit in nicely. However, for my purposes, I
can see better uses for $12K.


Scotty wrote:
$12 k !!!! Holy ****! You could buy a dozen Honda gens
for that.

SBV


"Bart" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have a chance to see a DC WhisperGen at the
Norwalk Boat Show today. I was very impressed.

The price was $12k. It provided 800 watts of power,
70 amps at 12 Volts for 1/5 gal per hour or about
.75 ltrs/hr.

It provided heat for hot water and was efficent enough
such that the exhaust was comfortable to touch.

Most impressive was the quiet sound it made--quieter
than a small window AC unit. With the sound cover
on it was difficult to hear.

Until noisy diesel gensets that are so annoying, this
unit can be set up to start when needed and was
quiet enough not to be a nuisance when running.

If agumented with solar cells, or even a wind generator,
I think the daily fuel consumption would be quite low.

So anyone considering a new genset, and/or heater, and
possibly AC for their boat, this with a good battery bank
would make a nice system.




[email protected] September 26th 06 08:20 PM

DC WhisperGen
 

Jeff wrote:
I have a Honda EU2000i and I can say that under load it makes a lot
more noise than the Whispergen. Of course, I didn't hear the
WhispeGen at full load. At low load the Honda is rather quiet, but it
doesn't make heat, hot water, and it won't run unattended.

BTW, both of the pdf's you provide have a noise level; one says 55 dBA
at one meter, (full load implied, though not formally stated), the
other references an ISO standard which is 50 dBA at 7 meters.


Oh! I see it now. The brochure does say "55dBA" at one meter. That is,
indeed, very quiet. Using an online dB/distance calculator, that means
it would be about 17dB less at the standard measuring distance of 7
meters. Or, in otherwords, the comparison would be 38dBA for the
Whispergen versus 49dBA for the Honda, which is a HUGE difference and
throws a whole new light on the subject.
http://www.mcsquared.com/dbframe.htm

It's seems odd that they wouldn't put the noise figure in the
specification section of their user manual. I did notice the reference
to the ISO standard. However, I wasn't sure that some sort of special
environment wasn't required to obtain that.


a few more comments below ...
wrote:
I always find it very suspicious when a manufacturer advertises the
benefits of their product based on a particular feature and then
doesn't provide a formal specification. As far as I can see WhisperGen
doesn't provide a specification for noise level.

Their brochure, however, does have a graphic that indicates that the
noise level falls between normal conversation at 60db and a
refrigerator at 50 db. So, I guess we can assume the noise level is
about 55 db(A) and is measured using standard industry techniques.

Some applicable specifications for a Honda EU3000is, for instance, a

58 dB @ rated load (2800W)
49 dB @ 1/4 load (700W)
Fuel Tank Capacity: 3.4 gallons (12.9 liters)
Run Time on one tankful: 7.2hrs @ rated load; 20hrs @ 1/4 load
Liters per hour: 1.8 @ rated load; 0.65 @ 1/4 load
Dry Weight: 134 lbs

So, it looks to me like the Honda EU3000is is actually a lot quieter
than the WhisperGen when it is operated at an equivalent wattage output
and has roughly the same noise level when operated at 3 1/2 times more
power than the WhisperGen.


58 dba is not "roughly the same" as 55 on a logarithmic scale.


It true that 58 dBA is not "roughly the same" as 55dBA, but at the time
I wasn't sure that the WhisperGen wasn't louder than 55dBA. For the
purposes of human perception, I believe the rule(s) is as follows:

"1 dB is generally the smallest difference that can be perceived by
human beings
A 3 dB difference is clearly audible for just about anyone with normal
hearing
A 10 dB difference is generally perceived as being twice or half as
loud."



Also, assuming I've done the calculations correctly, the EU3000is is
probably more fuel efficient since it only uses about 0.65 liters per
hour at 700W while the WhisperGen uses "Less than 1 litre per hour".


Again, you have to add in the heat and hot water. It also says ".75
liters/hour at max output"


The Honda EU3000is, incidentally, costs about $2000.00.


Yup. No argument on that front. However, the Whispergen is built for
100% duty cycle, doesn't need oil or oil filters, etc. It comes with
electronic controls for monitoring temp and battery levels, etc. As I
said, this is much different from a portable genset.


That's true.




http://www.whispergen.com/content/li...t_Brochure.pdf

http://www.whispergen.com/content/li...ers_Manual.pdf
http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/M...lName=eu3000is

Jeff wrote:
These are a different beast - because they are "external combustion"
(like a house furnace) they are very efficient and can be set to run
unattended, so they claim. Also, they are extremely quiet. I stood
next to one at the show and could barely hear it running. Also, I
could hold the exhaust flew in my hand (briefly). I can see an
situation where it would fit in nicely. However, for my purposes, I
can see better uses for $12K.


Scotty wrote:
$12 k !!!! Holy ****! You could buy a dozen Honda gens
for that.

SBV


"Bart" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have a chance to see a DC WhisperGen at the
Norwalk Boat Show today. I was very impressed.

The price was $12k. It provided 800 watts of power,
70 amps at 12 Volts for 1/5 gal per hour or about
.75 ltrs/hr.

It provided heat for hot water and was efficent enough
such that the exhaust was comfortable to touch.

Most impressive was the quiet sound it made--quieter
than a small window AC unit. With the sound cover
on it was difficult to hear.

Until noisy diesel gensets that are so annoying, this
unit can be set up to start when needed and was
quiet enough not to be a nuisance when running.

If agumented with solar cells, or even a wind generator,
I think the daily fuel consumption would be quite low.

So anyone considering a new genset, and/or heater, and
possibly AC for their boat, this with a good battery bank
would make a nice system.





Bart September 27th 06 05:11 AM

DC WhisperGen
 
Your suggestion to chose a Honda gasoline generator over
a diesel generator has little merit.

No sailor worth his salt would chose a gasoline generator over
the much safer diesel fueled powerplants and gensets--despite the
much higher cost of a diesel generator.

The Honda is a gasoline engine, which means one must
have a second fuel tank for it, and one must also deal
with an explosive fuel compared with a mearly flamible
fuel like diesel. Vessels designed to keep water out, do
to good a job keeping vapor in. Further the Honda generator
is not designed for use in a marine environment. They have
their place--on shore at construction job sites and vacation cabins.

The Honda is a might be suitable for a smaller sailing vessel driven
by an outboard or inboard gas engine, or perhaps in a motorboat
--but I doubt it. Such boats probably have little need for any
generator at all and could depend on the motor and a small solar
panel to charge batteries.

It is good that it's cost is lower. At the lower price you can afford
get a new one when it starts to rust and fall apart in harsh salt air.

It does not make any sense to chose a gasoline generator for a
diesel powered sailing yacht--it does not make much sense
in any circumstance.


[email protected] September 27th 06 06:12 PM

DC WhisperGen
 
I stand corrected.

Bart wrote:
Your suggestion to chose a Honda gasoline generator over
a diesel generator has little merit.

No sailor worth his salt would chose a gasoline generator over
the much safer diesel fueled powerplants and gensets--despite the
much higher cost of a diesel generator.

The Honda is a gasoline engine, which means one must
have a second fuel tank for it, and one must also deal
with an explosive fuel compared with a mearly flamible
fuel like diesel. Vessels designed to keep water out, do
to good a job keeping vapor in. Further the Honda generator
is not designed for use in a marine environment. They have
their place--on shore at construction job sites and vacation cabins.

The Honda is a might be suitable for a smaller sailing vessel driven
by an outboard or inboard gas engine, or perhaps in a motorboat
--but I doubt it. Such boats probably have little need for any
generator at all and could depend on the motor and a small solar
panel to charge batteries.

It is good that it's cost is lower. At the lower price you can afford
get a new one when it starts to rust and fall apart in harsh salt air.

It does not make any sense to chose a gasoline generator for a
diesel powered sailing yacht--it does not make much sense
in any circumstance.



Bart September 28th 06 12:35 AM

DC WhisperGen
 
I have to admit those Honda generators and
motors in general are pretty quiet.

My brother has one on his lawnmower and it sounds
like he is two houses away when he cuts the lawn.

wrote:
I stand corrected.



Jeff September 28th 06 12:58 AM

DC WhisperGen
 
So are you saying your brother uses a genset to power an electric
lawnmower? That sounds a bit tedious.

BTW, I use a battery powered mower, but I only have about 4000 feet of
lawn.



Bart wrote:
I have to admit those Honda generators and
motors in general are pretty quiet.

My brother has one on his lawnmower and it sounds
like he is two houses away when he cuts the lawn.

wrote:
I stand corrected.



Peter September 28th 06 11:10 AM

DC WhisperGen
 

Bart wrote:

It is good that it's cost is lower. At the lower price you can afford
get a new one when it starts to rust and fall apart in harsh salt air.


Leaving aside the rest, this is basically wrong. I have over a dozen
Honda gensets in store and we use them in very harsh conditions, on sea
ice. They hold up fine. Yes, they will rust if you don't take a modicum
of care of them, but it'll take a long time before they fall apart.
None of ours has as yet.

That's my opinion based on years of use in the field. Take it FWIW.

PDW


Scotty September 30th 06 03:49 PM

DC WhisperGen
 
My Honda 4-stroke outboard was very quiet, only problem was,
it reminded me of mowing the lawn.

Scotty


"Bart" wrote in message
oups.com..
..
I have to admit those Honda generators and
motors in general are pretty quiet.

My brother has one on his lawnmower and it sounds
like he is two houses away when he cuts the lawn.

wrote:
I stand corrected.






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