| Yet more new genset [message #292510] |
Sat, 19 December 2015 17:21 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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I used the new heathen chinee genset from Harbor Freight over the trip to and from The Mouse a couple weeks ago. It runs fine, carries everything in the coach, and has capacity to spare. There are a couple of little nitty things I will be correcting.
First is another smoking hole in the foot. I used relays to remote the start - stop and to run the compartment fan. Since I want the fan to run when the set is running, its relay is powered off the genset 12 volts. Not running, no relay, no fan. Perfecto. BUT. I powered the start - stop relays off the same line. Not running, no remote start relay; as it slows, no remote stop relay and it restarts. Simple cure since there's house 12V there for cranking.
The set has a manual choke lever, and unless it's warm out, it likes to be choked to run necessitating a reach in and around to set and then unset the choke. $3 bux to the Hung Chow Trading Company gets me a 12V solenoid which I'll mount to pull the choke. One of the timing boards I have will be set for about five seconds power to the choke when the starter is engaged. I'll adjust this time to whatever works reliably. While the set is out of the coach, I'm going to see about remote mounting the air filter box. I think with a bit of flexible hose I can mount it just inside the genset bay door. This will make it much easier to change the element when needed and, due to how it's mounted now, make the set a lot easier to get in and out of the bay if needed. I'm also going to add a couple of pieces of flashing tin as baffles to improve cooling airflow when the coach is stopped. Nothing in there gets over 200 degrees except the exhaust pipe now. Some of the 'dead' spots in the bay get over 170. Given the amount of airflow the set generates - a hell of a wind - I'm fairly certain I can keep the entire bay under 150 at the top, and near ambient most places in it.
It's not as quiet as an Onan - nothing is. However, when the unducted roof air is running you feel rather than hear the genset. Coming back from The Mouse, the day was comfortable with open vents and windows. When we stopped for lunch at a roadside rest, however, the sun came out. I fired off the genset and the roof A/C, fed Sam, and microwaved up some fettucini Alfredo and some vegetables and we had a comfortable meal for an hour or so. It ran the A/C, water heater, microwave, and lights without breaking a sweat. I don't know if I'd want to sleep with it running unless the A/C was needed. With the new LED lights installed, the drain is so low on the house battery that I expect I could dry camp in moderate weather without a great problem, or do an evening at WalMart as well. Looks like $750 covers the set plus all the ancillary stuff to make it work... if you have a remote panel. If not, another $15 or so for wire, switch, and run light, plus yet another $25 if you wanted a Hobbs clock on the remote. Given the longer bay, it would be an easier fit in a 26' but the muffler will have to be relocated - it drags on the 23 at times... on a 26 it will selfdestruct on the first driveway entrance.
Barring unforeseen events, the coach will be in Dothan for the GMCMI gathering. Feel free to have a look, and ask questions. Snide remarks will get snide answers. I'll be pleased to help you stuff one in your coach at Bean Station or equal, or for a modest honorarium, I'll put one for you. Since it comes with a 50 amp recepticle, the move in a 26' would be to use that and move the cable from shore to genset as the GM built ones already do. Some caveats:
This is a contractor grade genset. It wasn't designed for RV service. How well it will work in RV service is for you to determine.
The warranty was likely void when its mounting beams were cut out of the supplied frame. It dam' sure was voided when the A/C and D/C panel was modified and the fuel system modified.
Using it without at a minimum a high temp alarm is a fool's move. Best case is a FireFight foam system in the genset bay.
It will require you to put a split bus breaker box of some sort in your coach. The benny is, you now have 240 if you need it.
It will require you to install a 50 amp power cord if you don't already have one.
It will require some changes to the bottom of the bay, with a sawzall and/or some flash metal.
I'm a cheapskate, it works for me.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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