575/588 - Gennset

Print Page | Close Window

Gennset

Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 575/588
Forum Description: 575/588 Hints, Tips and News
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15104
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 03:41
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Gennset

Posted By: yploke
Subject: Gennset
Date Posted: 11 May 2025 at 15:32

Silly question - how does the genset start on the Hanse 588? It doesn't hv it's own battery?

-------------
yploke

Replies:

Posted By: Arcadia
Date Posted: 11 May 2025 at 18:22

It’s fused to the main house bank in the port aft cabin.

-------------
Leon / ARCADIA
2018 Hanse 588
Sag Harbor, NY

Posted By: Black Diamond
Date Posted: 11 May 2025 at 23:23

Which is problematic when your house bank is dead and you want to run the genset to charge it. Even worse, the Combimaster's won't power up if the house bank is below 11.(something) volts.

Maybe jump it from the engine start battery? Or put an A/B switch in for the gen-set that has it starting off the house bank *OR* the engine start battery?

-------------
Rick
S/V Black Diamond
Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161
Newport, RI

Posted By: 32mike
Date Posted: 11 May 2025 at 23:41

Or start the engine???

-------------
Mike
S/V Dulces Sueños
458 #087
Tampa, FL

Posted By: Black Diamond
Date Posted: 11 May 2025 at 23:50

Sorry... on the 575, the engine start battery is separate from the house bank and thruster batteries.

There is a combiner for charging purposes that clicks off to isolate the starting battery when the house bank voltage drops below a specified value (12.5V?). The engine start battery won't drain below that point with all the others.

In this way my solar, gen set and shore power charging can get all the batteries (thrusters included) topped off, but any problem with the house bank draining or not charging shuld still leave you the ability to start the engine and use the alternator.

-------------
Rick
S/V Black Diamond
Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161
Newport, RI

Posted By: yploke
Date Posted: 12 May 2025 at 01:47

Thank you for the replies. I had the problem that the genset wud not start as the house bank was flat (accidentally left the inverter on and went ashore for the day). I could start the engine and motored to a nearby marina to charge my house bank on shore power. But flat house batteries also meant that the furlers, winches and windlass do not work. I had to haul out the anchor chain by tying it back to the winch and grinding manually! A painful experience

-------------
yploke

Posted By: Wayne's World
Date Posted: 12 May 2025 at 03:35

Yploke,

Maybe next time just run the drive motor (Volvo) to charge the batteries enough to be able to start the generator then continue charging from the generator. The engine alternator is rated at about 180amps so would charge the house bank fairly quickly. Your inverter/charger is probably going to deliver around 100amps.

Initially I carried a set of jumper leads so I could jump start the generator from the engine start battery and then the generator would charge the batteries. In the end I permanently fitted starter cables with switches so I could start from the house or engine battery. At a later stage after we fitted lithium house batteries a trusted electrician said I shouldn't use the lithiums to start the generator so I have just left the generator connected to the engines start battery. If necessary I could use the jumper cables to start the engine if or generator if that battery failed or was flat.

-------------
Wayne W
Cruising, currently in the Pacific until the end of 2026.

Posted By: yploke
Date Posted: 12 May 2025 at 03:51

Thanks Wayne, think my problem was the combiner wud not work bec the house voltage was too low, so running the engine alternator did not charge the house bank. Jumper leads wud hv helped - I'll need to get longer leads!!

-------------
yploke

Posted By: boomjack
Date Posted: 13 May 2025 at 08:25

or install a dedicated battery for the gen, which is what I did.