Got my exercise today

[Steve_Guelph]

So today I exercised my genny. The genny should be exercised or used under load at least once a month. I start the genny and plug in a heater to load it or make it exercise. Just wondering what others do to load the genny for the once a month exercise.

[Mike]

In winter we make coffee in the Grand Canyon village parking area. Draws about 900W
for about 20 minutes.
In summer we run the A/C for the exercise period. Not sure of the draw, but it's probably
double the coffee maker.

I've had niggling problems with my Onan over the last 2 years, mostly from lack of use,
hard starting probably due to having to prime itself while I crank it, and one problem
was corrosion related, when a wire rusted off the starter solenoid inside the casing.
Also a bad battery cable connector, it rusted inside the clamp and I wouldn't have
found it, except for markopolo suggesting I recheck my battery cables.
However, it hasn't affected the performance in terms of overall electrical output
when it does get used. The repair person bench tested the output power when I had
the rusted wire fixed, and showed me the scope and the wattage/amperage/voltage
was all within +- 1% from it's specs the day it left the factory. He said unless I moved
to AZ (drier climate) they are always prone to corrosion if not exercised fairly regularly.

[g1g]

Well to answer what I use, in the summer the AC in the winter I'll put on the 1500 watt heat strip and add a 800 watt heater. But as for once a month let's just say I'm a bit lax on that part. It seems I just can't find the time to dig it out of the garage (it's buried, on the bright side it does make it harder if someone to tries to steal it)