As every sailor gets their boat ready for a cruise they think - hmm, "Should I get a Genset before I leave?" A Genset's primary purpose is to bring "shore power" along. Choosing a Genset can be as easy as going to a hardware store and buying a non-marine unit or buying a proper Genset that has been designed for the marine environment. The main purpose of a Genset is to maintain your batteries. After that it becomes a luxury to be able to enjoy the use of your 120Vac tools, appliances like a microwave oven, and even air conditioners. Remember, the main function of the Genset is to charge your batteries.

The Power Glitch - Standard shore based "city power" produces a significantly cleaner sine wave power output than any 120vac Genset is capable of producing. This enables the vessel's DC charger to operate at 100% of its capacity at best efficiency. As you operate that same charger on your vessel with a 120vac Genset the battery charger's operational efficiency drops to a max of only 50% of what it had compared to its operation back at the dock on shore power. The AC Genset - In the current marine environment, most available Gensets supply 120vac output. In order to charge a battery, you had to have a battery charger connected to the Genset. Anytime you wanted to use 120V power, especially High Load items such as air conditioning, most start their Genset. All Gensets create noise and consume precious fuel. All 120vac Genset must be run at their designed full throttle rpm setting (manufacturer determined) in order to function. That means it is using maximum fuel - all the time. This is especially critical when it comes to generating the required frequency (60Hz) for all 120vac electronics to function properly without a loss of efficiency. Some may even stop working if 60Hz is not available. Even if 120vac and 60Hz is produced, it will not be as clean enough for many of the electronics being used to operate at better than 50% efficiency. Typically, they are also oversized when operated only to supply charging requirements. Again, creating additional noise and wasting more precious fuel. The DC Genset - Have you considered or are even aware that DC Gensets are available? They are a great solution to the noise, fuel consumption, and less than stellar output of an AC Genset. DC Gensets are rare. New to the market is a breed that does this with the most thoughtful of designs. Specific Engines are matched with DC production (voltages - 12, 24, 36, 48, amperages - 90, 180, 200, 220, 330 ...) as a balanced pair to ensure the exact fit to each cruiser's needs. DC Gensets eliminate the 120vac "Power Glitch" and always supplies a clean 100% ready source of charging power. This ensures the ship's battery bank is always ready to go. When using a properly designed 12vdc Genset, its throttle may be adjusted for more or less power, depending on the demands placed on it (load) by charging or other user needs. This is no different than using the gas pedal in your vehicle. The 12vdc output is operating at 100% of its efficiency delivering the correct voltage and amperage necessary for proper battery bank charging and operational use. What about your 120vac needs? We all want to run our microwave, air conditioner, wall outlets, etc. It is a snap and part of a ZRD easy solution. We supply or you may already have an inverter to operate with the DC Genset. With a properly sized battery bank combined with an inverter, cruising with a ZRD Genset Solution becomes a pleasurable experience. An inverter uses the ship's battery bank (typically 12vdc) as an input source of power and converts it into 120vac that you may use directly without the need for any engine to be running! No more noise. Additionally, you may routinely run your air conditioner overnight on your batteries without the danger of running an unsupervised engine. It is possible in Florida during the summer 90+ degree evenings to do this and consume less than 250AH in an 8 hr. overnight period (includes initial daytime heat sink cool down period) running a 16KBTU A/C. How do I know? I do it when cruising.

The chart above highlights the differences between DC And AC power production and use. An important factor that enters into every discussion - COST. Depending on size, the typical 120vac Genset will cost apx. $15,000 to $20,000 for purchase and installation. In addition, the corresponding inverter/charger adds an additional $5,000 charge. One may reduce costs by installing a charger only for apx. $1,000, but inverter function will be lost requiring 120vac Genset operation for all 120vac requirements. Total expenditure is $20,000 - $25,000. ZRD DC Genset solutions start at $5,995 with the most deluxe models costing only $1,300 more. One of these will surely fit your needs (and the entire cruising community). Including some required minor installation requirements, and a 2,200 or 6,000 watt inverter costing apx. $220 / $750 a total ZRD 12vdc Genset solution installed will cost apx. $10,000 less than an installed 120vac solution. The ultimate decision always rests with the cruiser and his best judgment. After reviewing the differences discussed, the choice appears to be straight forward and obvious. You should be able to come to the same conclusion ZRD has in its decision to finally manufacture and make available to the boating community the best DC Gensets available, bar none! It is a wonder very few DC Gensets, especially good ones, have been available until now. After reviewing all of the information presented, you should be better able to decide what type of genset is right for you, your requirements, and needs. A Conversation regarding cheap portable generators is at the bottom. For the typical ZRD customer, it is something they already know and do not need to read, but it explains how and why Wal-Mart has grown over the years.