Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Generator Running While Moving
| [GMCnet] Generator Running While Moving [message #92995] |
Fri, 23 July 2010 16:39  |
Gary Berry
Messages: 1002
Registered: May 2005
Karma: -1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Hey All;
I have a Niece that her, her husband, and her family left
Alafreakinbama a couple of days ago in their BIG 45ft diesel SOB and
headed out here to WA. They were going to meander for a couple of
weeks before getting here. Right after they left, the dash AC went
out. They made it as far as SD. They looked along the way for an AC or
RV place that could/would fix their dash AC. He (the husband) would
only run the generator for two hours to run the two overhead AC units,
then he would shut it down. He found a place that would look at the AC
to see if they could fix it. While there, the the RV guy told him that
it was hard on the generator to run the 2 overhead AC units while
driving down the road. Now, I always run the Onan and the 2 AC units
when it gets hot out, cause I drive up front and the wife sleeps in
the back, so to keep the coach cool, the dash AC, and the two roof ACs
run. Seems to work and have never had a problem (about 370 hours on
the Onan). So, what's everyone's opinions? I would like to pass on
some kind of informed consensus about this to him. Anyone??
--
Gary and Diana Berry
73 CL Stretch in Wa.
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Generator Running While Moving [message #92997 is a reply to message #92995] |
Fri, 23 July 2010 17:02  |
emerystora
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
|
Senior Member |
|
|
On Jul 23, 2010, at 3:39 PM, Gary Berry wrote:
> While there, the the RV guy told him that
> it was hard on the generator to run the 2 overhead AC units while
> driving down the road. Now, I always run the Onan and the 2 AC units
> when it gets hot out, cause I drive up front and the wife sleeps in
> the back, so to keep the coach cool, the dash AC, and the two roof ACs
> run. Seems to work and have never had a problem (about 370 hours on
> the Onan). So, what's everyone's opinions? I would like to pass on
> some kind of informed consensus about this to him. Anyone??
>
A few years back when my dash air went out we were on a trip to California and it was really hot in August going across NM, Arizona and Calif.
We ran the Onan and our roof air for 8 hours per day on the way out there and all the way back home.
No problem -- except it used about 4 to 6 gallons of gasoline per day. Well worth it to stay cooler.
Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Generator Running While Moving [message #92998 is a reply to message #92995] |
Fri, 23 July 2010 17:05 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| Gary Berry wrote on Fri, 23 July 2010 15:39 |
Hey All;
I have a Niece that her, her husband, and her family left
Alafreakinbama a couple of days ago in their BIG 45ft diesel SOB and
headed out here to WA. They were going to meander for a couple of
weeks before getting here. Right after they left, the dash AC went
out. They made it as far as SD. They looked along the way for an AC or
RV place that could/would fix their dash AC. He (the husband) would
only run the generator for two hours to run the two overhead AC units,
then he would shut it down. He found a place that would look at the AC
to see if they could fix it. While there, the the RV guy told him that
it was hard on the generator to run the 2 overhead AC units while
driving down the road. Now, I always run the Onan and the 2 AC units
when it gets hot out, cause I drive up front and the wife sleeps in
the back, so to keep the coach cool, the dash AC, and the two roof ACs
run. Seems to work and have never had a problem (about 370 hours on
the Onan). So, what's everyone's opinions? I would like to pass on
some kind of informed consensus about this to him. Anyone??
--
Gary and Diana Berry
73 CL Stretch in Wa.
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
|
If it's rated to run 2 AC's which I suspect that it is--then run them as long as you want. I wouldn't hesitate to run them all day long if it comes to comfort. If the generator doesn't overheat in 20 minutes, it isn't going to overheat in 20 hours!
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Generator Running While Moving [message #93002 is a reply to message #92995] |
Fri, 23 July 2010 17:40 |
Steven Ferguson
Messages: 3447
Registered: May 2006
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Gary,
I've run that thing for 8-10 hrs straight running through the deserts
many times. If it can't hack it, why the heck did they put it in
there. I think running it going down the road under full load is a
lot better for it than running it while parked if for no other reason
than the engine air cooling is operating in a better environment.
On Fri, Jul 23, 2010 at 2:39 PM, Gary Berry <duallycc@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hey All;
>
> I have a Niece that her, her husband, and her family left
> Alafreakinbama a couple of days ago in their BIG 45ft diesel SOB and
> headed out here to WA. They were going to meander for a couple of
> weeks before getting here. Right after they left, the dash AC went
> out. They made it as far as SD. They looked along the way for an AC or
> RV place that could/would fix their dash AC. He (the husband) would
> only run the generator for two hours to run the two overhead AC units,
> then he would shut it down. He found a place that would look at the AC
> to see if they could fix it. While there, the the RV guy told him that
> it was hard on the generator to run the 2 overhead AC units while
> driving down the road. Now, I always run the Onan and the 2 AC units
> when it gets hot out, cause I drive up front and the wife sleeps in
> the back, so to keep the coach cool, the dash AC, and the two roof ACs
> run. Seems to work and have never had a problem (about 370 hours on
> the Onan). So, what's everyone's opinions? I would like to pass on
> some kind of informed consensus about this to him. Anyone??
>
> --
> Gary and Diana Berry
> 73 CL Stretch in Wa.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Steve Ferguson
'76 EII
Sierra Vista, AZ
Urethane bushing source
www.bdub.net/ferguson/
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Generator Running While Moving [message #93020 is a reply to message #92995] |
Fri, 23 July 2010 20:19 |
WayneB
Messages: 233
Registered: July 2008
Location: Ontario, Canada
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I always run my roof A/C with the generator whilst we are moving on hot days when the kids and dogs are in the back of the motorhome and have had no problems doing so.
1976 23' GMCII By Explorer
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Generator Running While Moving [message #93024 is a reply to message #93002] |
Fri, 23 July 2010 20:38 |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Gary,
You should turn off the front one and sneak back to your Honey in the
back and get frisky.
On Fri, Jul 23, 2010 at 3:40 PM, Steven Ferguson <botiemad11@gmail.com>wrote:
> Gary,
> I've run that thing for 8-10 hrs straight running through the deserts
> many times. If it can't hack it, why the heck did they put it in
> there. I think running it going down the road under full load is a
> lot better for it than running it while parked if for no other reason
> than the engine air cooling is operating in a better environment.
>
> On Fri, Jul 23, 2010 at 2:39 PM, Gary Berry <duallycc@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hey All;
> >
> > I have a Niece that her, her husband, and her family left
> > Alafreakinbama a couple of days ago in their BIG 45ft diesel SOB and
> > headed out here to WA. They were going to meander for a couple of
> > weeks before getting here. Right after they left, the dash AC went
> > out. They made it as far as SD. They looked along the way for an AC or
> > RV place that could/would fix their dash AC. He (the husband) would
> > only run the generator for two hours to run the two overhead AC units,
> > then he would shut it down. He found a place that would look at the AC
> > to see if they could fix it. While there, the the RV guy told him that
> > it was hard on the generator to run the 2 overhead AC units while
> > driving down the road. Now, I always run the Onan and the 2 AC units
> > when it gets hot out, cause I drive up front and the wife sleeps in
> > the back, so to keep the coach cool, the dash AC, and the two roof ACs
> > run. Seems to work and have never had a problem (about 370 hours on
> > the Onan). So, what's everyone's opinions? I would like to pass on
> > some kind of informed consensus about this to him. Anyone??
> >
> > --
> > Gary and Diana Berry
> > 73 CL Stretch in Wa.
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > List Information and Subscription Options:
> > http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Steve Ferguson
> '76 EII
> Sierra Vista, AZ
> Urethane bushing source
> www.bdub.net/ferguson/
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Generator Running While Moving [message #93025 is a reply to message #93020] |
Fri, 23 July 2010 20:49 |
GMCNUSA
Messages: 283
Registered: August 2006
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I have no dash air it was removed and the Onan had burned a hole thru the original foam and started turning the fiberglass a dark color. I would never run the Onan while driving or rolled in to its hole. The foam burns when a fire is held to it, a match will keep it burning. We got tired of sweating while traveling ( wind wings only help when moving fast) and now I am in the process of putting Jim Bounds aluminum, lead, foam, sound and heat blanket it the compartment.
I have seen 2 SOBs burn from the generator compartment both setting in camp ground in the compartment. Check condition of compartment insulation, it is covering a fiberglass box which does burn. Just my thoughts.
Also put Pertronix ignition on Onan it whent from a surging horrible piece of iron to a purring electricity making machine, its a easy and very worth while upgrade even if you pay to have it done. This is the kind that replaces the points and condenser entirely $75 and 3 hours this included decarbonizing the heads. I did runit on old points after cleaning heads and that is not what made it run great.
Larry Dilk
Indianapolis, IN
76 Eleganza II
Patterson 455,Turbo City TBI,
Just LOVE It!
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Generator Running While Moving [message #93053 is a reply to message #92995] |
Sat, 24 July 2010 07:57 |
|
|
Sorry your niece and husband got an uninformed person to provide assistance.
First, does the generator know if the coach is moving or still?
Second, the generator was made to provide 110 AC power.
Third, the husband didn't read the manual.
The 1997 coach I bought in June has 6,400 hours on the genset. A lot of that
was while driving and pulling a horse trailer.
When these places hire an RV tech the first question is: Will you do go work
for cheap? If they answer yes, they hire them. Never is it asked if they
know much about what they're doing or if they have great logic skills. Just
because the guy can install a two-burner stove and replace a toilet doesn't
mean he understands generators and roof AC.
By the way, if you're driving 60, how fast is the air moving that's being
blown toward the windshield? If the air leaving the vent is 45 degrees, will
it freeze your brain when it hits the back of your head? If you mount a
generator transversely, will it still run without the polarity being messed
up? Inquiring minds want to know.
Byron Songer
1978 Royale by Coachmen
Louisville, KY
Personal - http://web.me.com/bnsonger
Eastern States - http://www.gmceast.com
Gary Berry wrote:
> Hey All;
>
> I have a Niece that her, her husband, and her family left
> Alafreakinbama a couple of days ago in their BIG 45ft diesel SOB and
> headed out here to WA. They were going to meander for a couple of
> weeks before getting here. Right after they left, the dash AC went
> out. They made it as far as SD. They looked along the way for an AC or
> RV place that could/would fix their dash AC. He (the husband) would
> only run the generator for two hours to run the two overhead AC units,
> then he would shut it down. He found a place that would look at the AC
> to see if they could fix it. While there, the the RV guy told him that
> it was hard on the generator to run the 2 overhead AC units while
> driving down the road. Now, I always run the Onan and the 2 AC units
> when it gets hot out, cause I drive up front and the wife sleeps in
> the back, so to keep the coach cool, the dash AC, and the two roof ACs
> run. Seems to work and have never had a problem (about 370 hours on
> the Onan). So, what's everyone's opinions? I would like to pass on
> some kind of informed consensus about this to him. Anyone??
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
--
Byron Songer
Full-timing to enjoy the USA
Former owner but still an admirer
GMC paint schemes at -
http://www.songerconsulting.net
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Generator Running While Moving [message #93054 is a reply to message #93025] |
Sat, 24 July 2010 08:12 |
Steven Ferguson
Messages: 3447
Registered: May 2006
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Larry,
One of the things that Duane Simmons pointed out to me is that nearly
every Onan he works on has the air shroud around the engine corrupted.
Almost all of them are missing the seal around the oil filter. That
thing was designed to operate in that hole even in the most severe
operating temps. Mine has so many hours on it that I'm on my 3rd
Hobbs meter. The compartment insulation is still intact and last time
I had the interior stripped, there were no signs of heat related
issues on the bare figerglass housing. Mine was used as an office,
often off the grid and that accounts for al lthe hours on it. Zero
leaks,still purrs like a kitten.
Do you have any pictures of the fiberglass damage caused by the Onan.
It would be nice to know the cause.
On Fri, Jul 23, 2010 at 6:49 PM, Larry and Cheryl Dilk <lwd222@msn.com> wrote:
>
>
> I have no dash air it was removed and the Onan had burned a hole thru the original foam and started turning the fiberglass a dark color. I would never run the Onan while driving or rolled in to its hole. The foam burns when a fire is held to it, a match will keep it burning. We got tired of sweating while traveling ( wind wings only help when moving fast) and now I am in the process of putting Jim Bounds aluminum, lead, foam, sound and heat blanket it the compartment.
> I have seen 2 SOBs burn from the generator compartment both setting in camp ground in the compartment. Check condition of compartment insulation, it is covering a fiberglass box which does burn. Just my thoughts.
>
> Also put Pertronix ignition on Onan it whent from a surging horrible piece of iron to a purring electricity making machine, its a easy and very worth while upgrade even if you pay to have it done. This is the kind that replaces the points and condenser entirely $75 and 3 hours this included decarbonizing the heads. I did runit on old points after cleaning heads and that is not what made it run great.
> --
> Larry Dilk
> Indianapolis, IN
> 76 Eleganza II
> Patterson 455,Turbo City TBI,
> Just LOVE It!
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Steve Ferguson
'76 EII
Sierra Vista, AZ
Urethane bushing source
www.bdub.net/ferguson/
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Generator Running While Moving [message #93079 is a reply to message #93072] |
Sat, 24 July 2010 14:59 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| WD0AFQ wrote on Sat, 24 July 2010 13:20 |
Yep, I got that seal from Jimmy K. I never knew it was supposed to be there until he told me. Ran the a/c today along with the dash unit. 95 degrees in southeast Mo, in July is hot. I do have my fire extinguisher back there. Would not feel comfortable running the Onan going down the road without that automatic fire extinguisher. Cheap peace of mind. Jim Bounds sells them.
Dan
|
Dan,
You can make that seal out of a can cooler - One of those foam rubber things you put on an aluminum beverage can to keep it from getting warm to quickly. Just cut a 1 inch or so strip off of the open end of the cooler. It fits perfectly over the oil filter to seal the hole.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Generator Running While Moving [message #93108 is a reply to message #93092] |
Sat, 24 July 2010 17:10 |
Arthur Mansfield
Messages: 290
Registered: April 2010
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I just checked the foam above the generator and I guess I have been lucky. It is black and falling off. I will take it off and what do I need to put back on to protect the fiber glass. I will add seal on the filter.
Art and Doris
76 EL
On Jul 24, 2010, at 2:48 PM, Dan Gregg wrote:
>
>
> Ken Burton wrote on Sat, 24 July 2010 14:59
>> WD0AFQ wrote on Sat, 24 July 2010 13:20
>>> Yep, I got that seal from Jimmy K. I never knew it was supposed to be there until he told me. Ran the a/c today along with the dash unit. 95 degrees in southeast Mo, in July is hot. I do have my fire extinguisher back there. Would not feel comfortable running the Onan going down the road without that automatic fire extinguisher. Cheap peace of mind. Jim Bounds sells them.
>>> Dan
>>
>>
>> Dan,
>>
>> You can make that seal out of a can cooler - One of those foam rubber things you put on an aluminum beverage can to keep it from getting warm to quickly. Just cut a 1 inch or so strip off of the open end of the cooler. It fits perfectly over the oil filter to seal the hole.
>
>
>
> Ken, I don't need to make one. I have the real thing, thanks to Jim K.
> --
> Dan & Teri Gregg
>
> http://danandteri.blogspot.com/
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Generator Running While Moving [message #93109 is a reply to message #92995] |
Sat, 24 July 2010 17:29 |
GeorgeRud
Messages: 1380
Registered: February 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Are folks talking about the black, fiberglass insulation or the actual generator compartment box? Mine (75 Palm Beach)is made of aluminum, not fiberglass.
George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Generator Running While Moving [message #93148 is a reply to message #93054] |
Sat, 24 July 2010 23:03 |
GMCNUSA
Messages: 283
Registered: August 2006
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| Steven Ferguson wrote on Sat, 24 July 2010 09:12 |
Larry,
One of the things that Duane Simmons pointed out to me is that nearly
every Onan he works on has the air shroud around the engine corrupted.
Almost all of them are missing the seal around the oil filter. That
thing was designed to operate in that hole even in the most severe
operating temps. Mine has so many hours on it that I'm on my 3rd
Hobbs meter. The compartment insulation is still intact and last time
|
Steve,
The shrouding and oil filter seal are there and intact the worst damaged foam was above the exhaust msnifold at the carb end of manifold. I have pictures of the entire removal cleaning and pertronix install. I haven't posted them I was waiting to finish the complete remodel of the gen compartment but I will try to get them up tomorrow. The darkened fiberglass is about the size of my hand. I was surprised that the compartment is made of fiberglass.
Larry Dilk
Indianapolis, IN
76 Eleganza II
Patterson 455,Turbo City TBI,
Just LOVE It!
|
|
|
|
Goto Forum:
Current Time: Sun Sep 29 02:27:37 CDT 2024
Total time taken to generate the page: 0.02933 seconds
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
