Gen set location on 31te

[RockHall]

We have a 2004 31 te with the single Cummins 450. Recent 100 degree days have me thinking more about adding a generator. I have read on this board and others that the Northern Lights is a good brand and would like to have a sound enclosure to keep noise down. I had thought that there would be room under the deck in the rear on the port side but it looks pretty tight there. It seems the ideal place would be in the engine compartment on the starboard side. There is plenty of room and with the batteries on the other side it would seem to balance well. Problem there is getting it into the space.

Where did the factory install the generators on 31te's with a single engine? Has anyone done an aftermarket install and where did it go?

Thanks for your help!

[RockHall]

One more thing. Will a 5kw be adequate to power air conditioner, battery charger, both refrigerators, tv, VCR, microwave, coffee maker, etc. I am sure I won't run all at once but will 5 kw be enough that I don't have to turn off the ac to turn something else on?

[DougSea]

Hi Rockhall,

I took some pictures of Ann & Dave's Hideaweigh, will post them tonight or tomorrow when I get back from the NE Rendezvous. (Which was awesome!)

The quick answer to location is under the port, aft deck hatch. And 5kw should run all that, assuming you have a single AC unit. Looking quickly at Dave's Northern Lights I'd day my new Kohler 6EOD unit is smaller, you might want to check them out as well.

More later.

[DougSea]

Hi Rockhall,

Tried to post this last night but we apparently had a server disk issue that was preventing photos from being loaded! John swooped in and fixed us so let's try again!

So - these are pictures I took on Hideaweigh after I saw your note. She's a 31TE with a single. Not sure if the gen set install is factory or after - the generator was there when Dave and Ann bought her.

Here's a view from aft, through the transom door. The unit sits between here and the center, rear deck hatch. You can just make out the battery switch, the generator battery sits outboard and aft if I recall correctly.

01-FromPortAft.JPG

View from forward.

02-FromPortFwd.JPG

From the center hatch

03-FromCenter.JPG

The platform it sits on

04-Platform.JPG

The manual (showing model number)

05-Manual.JPG

And the control pannel mounted on the side of the helm.

06-Controls.JPG

[RockHall]

Thanks Doug! The pictures are a big help.