Need some assistance about a generator light.

[chrisnolan]

I have a Canyon 366 and love it. One thing I have had an issue with from time to time is my generator stops running while I am running the boat. It just seems to happen every once an a while. I have had the local Grady dealer helping me with the issue and I hope that soon I have that figured out. The thing I need assistance with is I would like to put a light on the helm. Like a small LED Pilot light that is on when the generator is running. That way I will have a way to know if the generator stops while I am under power to my destination. I make numerous trips from Ft Myers to the Keys and the trip typically takes around 4 hours. What would be the best way to hook this indicator LED up so that it would do what I need it to do??

Thanks,

Chris

 

[Fishtales]

Have you checked the oil level? Sounds like maybe a low pressure/quantity switch? What type of load is it under when it shuts down? Is the boat in any specific position from a roll/pitch perspective?
You have a couple of AC outlets and likely one at the helm. How about a small LED night light. I guess you cut one into a line in if you really need to and run it to the dash.

 

[SkunkBoat]

yep just plug a nightlite into an AC outlet

 

[HMBJack]

If it helps, your generator (a F Panda I assume) will self protect itself by shutting itself down if any of these 4 occur:
1 - Low engine oil
2 - High engine temperature
3 - High Exhaust temperature
4 - High winding temperature

Since your issue is happening while underway, my guess is it's #2 or #3.
Perhaps the water intake at speed isn't right for some reason.
Or maybe you are somehow overloading the generator when running.
Or maybe your oil level is low and when you're running the angle of trim affects oil flow. My FP only takes 1.3 Quarts, so if you're a tad low (which isn't much) or even too high - that could impede oil flow with the boat on different trim angles.

Good luck and please report back when you identify the root cause.

 

[Hookup1]

You can buy a 120VAC panel lamp and install it in the dash. eBay, DigiKey or Amazon. You will have to experiment to select one bright enough to be seen during the day but not blind you at night.

Also LED's tend to be highly directional so make sure it can be viewed from a wide angle. I have LED indicates on my bilge pump switches (installed above in the panel). The switches have LED's as well too but you have to bend down to see them.

When your generator konks out can you restart it immediately? Or do you find out later when it may have time to cool down?

I'm not familiar with GW generators. From past experience with Onan and Cummings marine generators I would check the oil level but expect it to be a cooling problem. Heat exchanges on generators are frequently not serviced because they are difficult to get at. They fail because the zincs are not replaced or the old zincs deteriorate, flake off and clog the small tubes.Or the tubes themself fail due to corrosion. If the tube is.damaged the freshwater side coolant level will rise or fall depending of the saltwater cooling pressure. Keep an eye on coolant level - hopefully you have coolant level bottle. You could pressure test but I have not had good luck with that.

 

[Fishtales]

Can also check the inlet line and internals. You may have sucked up something that is not blocking but impeding water to cool the unit.