Thoughts on replacing Kohler 5kw with a bank of batteries and am imverter

echandler1971

I’m having all sorts of issues with my Kohler. It got me thinking about using that space to hold say 6 batteries, and inverter and a charger. 

Pros/cons?

YYZRC

Do you ever use your AC on the hook?

No genny will really hurt resale but if you don’t use your AC a good lithium bank is great. I love mine.

tricountytrail

What types of problems are you having with your Kohler Model 5E?
I'm pretty familiar with those.

PickleRick

6 batteries would be plenty to run your coffee maker,  TV, microwave and air fryer for a good while . You could make margaritas with the blender until everyone is hugging the rails. 

But unless they are all lithium I don't see your AC system running very long.  There is I think a little 6000 BTU mermaid ac that does well with a battery bank but they might be just enough to keep the head cool in a boat your size 

We stayed in the hook every weekend with no AC for many years on our 21 and 26 ft sailboats.   The admiral would declare mutiny if I attempted to get rid of ac.  

echandler1971

tricountytrail said:

What types of problems are you having with your Kohler Model 5E?
I'm pretty familiar with those.

Currently there are two issues-throttle/carb hunts up and down, never stabilizing its RPM. Also, the remote start in the panel doesn’t start it anymore. I have to open the hatch and start it on the unit itself. 

echandler1971

YYZRC said:

Do you ever use your AC on the hook?

No genny will really hurt resale but if you don’t use your AC a good lithium bank is great. I love mine.

We are fine not using the AC. We always transient slip with hookups. We just want to  be able to use the cook top (sparingly), MW, and TVs while out in the bay. Maybe run some fans. 

Rich_

I don’t have a Koehler gen but RPM hunting is probably a simple carburetor adjustment. Not sure where to start with the remote start

YYZRC

On my old 330 the remote start intermittently wouldn’t work. It was just the Carling rocker switch that had failed. 

YYZRC

Here’s my setup. My needs were the same as yours except that I didn’t remove the genny. 

I power my TV using a cheap small inverter attached to the house bank since it is relatively low draw. 

https://rinkerboats.vanillacommunities.com/discussion/comment/183899#Comment_183899

Dream_Inn

The remote start is pretty easy to check back to the generator.  I have found the connector on the generator to usually be the culprit.  It allows one to remove the entire unit from the engine room to work on.  That connection corrodes, as the pins used in the connector are not made for a marine environment.  Good contact cleaner spray could help if not completely disintegrated already.