I'm looking at this for just $1671 + stuff.
Why isn't this a good idea?
I can't afford a fancy diesel, so I'm going to get something in either gas or LP anyway.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200665207_200665207 (http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200665207_200665207)
That's a stationary unit, for a few bucks more you can get a little smaller Honda unit - FWIW
The Honda will also be a LOT quieter and lighter. You may find find the Generac to be too noisy for a campground unless it was designed for that. My uncle used to have a construction type of generator on the back of his 5th wheel and every time he started it up the neighbors in the campground would all close their doors or move further away. He was mostly deaf, so it didn't bother him but it sure bothered the neighbors. Something to think about.
Quote from: Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM on December 20, 2016, 11:53:19 AM
The Honda will also be a LOT quieter and lighter. You may find find the Generac to be too noisy for a campground unless it was designed for that. My uncle used to have a construction type of generator on the back of his 5th wheel and every time he started it up the neighbors in the campground would all close their doors or move further away. He was mostly deaf, so it didn't bother him but it sure bothered the neighbors. Something to think about.
Gary my uncle had one mounted on the front of the trailer we took to motocross and 4 wheeler races and when we'd finally shut it down for the night the whole damn pit/campground area would CHEER!
;D BK ;D
Yeah I believe it. Must be nice to be loved by so many people and be able to cheer them up so easily. ;D
Generac?
Air cooled?
back-up hardware?
3 strikes?
Either liquid cooled, remote radiator hush box installation, or a Honda/Yamaha quiet machine.
NOBODY likes a noisey generator, and once drunk, will throw things at you until YOU move???
Silence is golden?
happy coaching!
buswarrior
We once used a 20K Generac for powering a food concession trailer. They need a very large amount of flow. I had 4 100 LB cylinders connected to provide, and a very large regulator. For some reason it didn't recharge it's on board battery either. I had to use a small charger plugged into itself. Generac told me it is NOT designed as a primary power source, and wouldn't work for what I used it for. I did use it for 50-70 hours a week, (16 hour days) for 5 months and it held up/worked fine.
Generac just doesn't have a very good reliability record. What you're looking at is for standby. Not long lasting because of 3,600rpm running.
Look for a used Onan RV generator. Can't go wrong. Sometimes can find a used Diesel generator for not much more then what you're looking at. Considering a well maintained Diesel can go well over 20,000hrs before overhaul, I would buy a Diesel over gasoline.
A dedicated propane isn't bad though. Good Luck, TomC
Check around and buy you a used light tower sometimes they sell cheap
Quote from: luvrbus on December 21, 2016, 07:16:37 AMCheck around and buy you a used light tower sometimes they sell cheap
Long-time friend of mine (literally 1st grade 60+ years ago - high school) runs a construction/paving/earth-moving business our little town. He got a diesel-powered light tower at a gov't auction for bulldozer work away from "the grid". It was so loud you couldn't make somebody standing next to you but 15 feet from the unit understand a word you said no matter how loud you screamed and you couldn't scream because the noise level was already at the painful level. He was demonstrating it for the fire department and nobody could stand to be nearer than 100 feet of it for more than a few seconds. It may be that there was something wrong with it (muffler tailpipe missing etc.), or maybe it was air-cooled where most of them aren't -- I dunno and I'm not saying all of them are like that one, but my experience with them doesn't make me think that the generator in one would be useful in a bus conversion or RV.
The Forest Service approved light plants are quieter than a RV set I bought some a few years back same Kubota engine
Just posted on BCM on Facebook:
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fuploads.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F20161221%2F104918fcc8ba043b4a4228e58ece2127.jpg&hash=7aea9d888912907de926d6f5151e4dcba1e6afaf)
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The good thing is that the battery level is at 100% too, as you can see at the very top of the post. So this one is ready to start immediately. :D
In all seriousness, this beats the hell out of a Generac. The Onan's are built to run for years with very low maintenance. I have had three of them over the years now.
Scott, I saw that one advertised.... but Nevada is on the wrong side of the planet for me. Now if Paul was making a drive toward Tennessee it could be a different story.
Looks like the right kind of thing.
Ya'll have successfully talked me out of the Generac. I won't go with that. But, I might still consider a Cummins Onan LP generator. Probably about 3500
Something like this...
http://www.norwall.com/products/Cummins-Onan-QG-3-6-Propane-RV-Generator-3.6KYFA-26120 (http://www.norwall.com/products/Cummins-Onan-QG-3-6-Propane-RV-Generator-3.6KYFA-26120)
Dave, Cummings (Onan) sell rebuilt units too. You may want to call your local Cummings dealer to see what they have. Also Engine Power Source also builds great gensets and they are located in Rock Hill, SC. If you are in the area, you may want to call them at 800 374 7522 and see if they have any used, returned, or rebuilt units in stock. EnginePowerSource.com. They use Kabota engines which are great. I wish they made bus engines, I would have one in my bus.
Dave, I have the Onan 3600 LP it (is actuality a 4000 de tuned for propane) in the Trek it is a good generator only draw back is the air filter.If you don't run the Subaru engine a little low on oil it will plug the air filter with oil.Cummins is the only place you can buy it for 15 bucks other than that they don't give much of a problem.
Ours has 2600 hrs and since I installed a new air filter again lol it runs great,propane units like mine the 3600LP will use a gal of propane a hour under a full load like running the AC.
Here I pay $1.69 to $1.99 a gal for propane so it not a big deal filling the 40 gal tank but if you start paying $3.00 to $4.00 a gal it would get expensive fast running the AC
I use one of these for my generator needs, and absolutely love it. No need to over-complicate things if it's not necessary.
https://www.amazon.com/Champion-Power-Equipment-75531i-Generator/dp/B00BBDCE1S (https://www.amazon.com/Champion-Power-Equipment-75531i-Generator/dp/B00BBDCE1S)
I actually ended up with two of them after a shipping SNAFU with Amazon, but usually just run one and alternate their use. If I require a lot of power for something, then I run both. I use non-ethanol gas, and mine crank on the first pull and run very quietly. I just open the bay door when I'm using them. Going down the road, everything is powered by the Magnum inverter via the alternator and battery bank. If I'm boondocking, I can run one of them on low-speed economy mode and it will charge my battery bank. Super quiet and efficient.
wow, that Champion is a slightly adjusted rip off of my Yamaha!!
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Quote from: buswarrior on December 23, 2016, 09:36:08 AMwow, that Champion is a slightly adjusted rip off of my Yamaha!!
happy coaching! buswarrior
There are a number of terrible-quality rip-offs out there. Go to any Horrible-Freight outlet or similar (I forget what the equivalent in Kinnehhjah there, is, eh?) and check all the shiny, pretty things -- with leaky tanks, brittle-metal bearings, 5-hour spark plugs, inflexible seals, etc.
It's easy to find a new-but-junk example. (Not saying either the Yamaha or the Champion falls into that description, but there are plenty of others ...)
I don't have any idea who makes the Champion but they are not bad I bought one when working on the restaurant I got from Costo it came with a 1 year warranty.Ok when it craps out I will take it back and get a new one every couple of months.We ran it night and day for almost a year changing the oil every week it never missed a beat and is still running 2 years later when needed has around 3000 hrs the last time I checked it is starting to smoke a little now
My understanding is that Champion has their own factory and makes what they sell, unlike other brands that are just names stuck on the cheapest crap available. Apparently their Chonda engine is such a close clone of the Honda that parts interchange. I've had a Champion 3500W for a few years now, and I've converted it to propane - it runs quieter and cleaner now, and still seems to have the same power as from gasoline. However, with my solar I only need the generator for very occasional use and emergencies, typically only a few hours a year, so that's why I converted it to propane.
John
I have a 10 year old kipor 3500 inverter genne and a 3 year old Powerhorse Inverter Generator wow what a difference . the kipor uses about 60 % of the fuel and is a lot quieter
I have the new honda 7000 watt fuel injected genne as well the best genne I have ever used really good on fuel and the quietest genne I have ever had
in the featherlite there is a 12 k power tech in a hush box but the honda is quieter
dave
Quote from: sledhead on December 23, 2016, 01:12:44 PM
I have a 10 year old kipor 3500 inverter genne and a 3 year old Powerhorse Inverter Generator wow what a difference . the kipor uses about 60 % of the fuel and is a lot quieter
I have a Kipor 3500 and love it as well, although so far it's probably got less than 50 hours on it total.
Jeremy
you will find most of the cheap ones have the same engine and the only difference is the name and stickers on the outside. Some even made and sold by the same company. I had a Harbor Freight one I bought with a business we bought years ago and it ran and ran. started right up and the engine was a Briggs and Straton. The rest was probably Chinese but the engine was just like all the rest. If it's not China it will be from India,Cuba or soon Afghanistan....
Quote from: luvrbus on December 23, 2016, 10:39:30 AM
I don't have any idea who makes the Champion but they are not bad I bought one when working on the restaurant I got from Costo it came with a 1 year warranty.Ok when it craps out I will take it back and get a new one every couple of months.We ran it night and day for almost a year changing the oil every week it never missed a beat and is still running 2 years later when needed has around 3000 hrs the last time I checked it is starting to smoke a little now
They are made in the Zehjiang district of China, but they have an office in the US for support. Not bad for the money, but they will not last as long as the Honda's, or be consistently dependable for everyone that uses them. Looks like 3000 hrs is about it for non-smoking running. I would be curious to see how long Scott's two Honda's go in comparison.
LOL I am looking at my Honda EU2000I it has made in Thailand all over it,Honda charged me 21 bucks + shipping for 4 o-ring on the carburetor bowl I would hate to buy a complete carburetor for the little guy
Quote from: luvrbus on December 24, 2016, 10:12:16 AM
LOL I am looking at my Honda EU2000I it has made in Thailand all over it,Honda charged me 21 bucks + shipping for 4 o-ring on the carburetor bowl I would hate to buy a complete carburetor for the little guy
The best way to buy Honda parts is through third party sources, Honda dealers soak you. I've gotten whole carbs for mowers and snowblowers for twenty something, and they were Honda labeled parts.
Can u advise as to the process of conversion from gasoline to LP gas.
Quote from: Iceni John on December 23, 2016, 11:00:16 AM
My understanding is that Champion has their own factory and makes what they sell, unlike other brands that are just names stuck on the cheapest crap available. Apparently their Chonda engine is such a close clone of the Honda that parts interchange. I've had a Champion 3500W for a few years now, and I've converted it to propane - it runs quieter and cleaner now, and still seems to have the same power as from gasoline. However, with my solar I only need the generator for very occasional use and emergencies, typically only a few hours a year, so that's why I converted it to propane.
John
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any of these look familiar, Lol
http://lingben-generator.en.made-in-china.com/product/ZMcEaOJdXPkx/China-2kw-Astra-Korea-Power-Generator-Gasoline-Generator-with-CE-LB3700DXE-A-.html (http://lingben-generator.en.made-in-china.com/product/ZMcEaOJdXPkx/China-2kw-Astra-Korea-Power-Generator-Gasoline-Generator-with-CE-LB3700DXE-A-.html)
Quote from: DubLloyd on December 25, 2016, 03:04:06 PM
Can u advise as to the process of conversion from gasoline to LP gas.
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I used one of the kits that consists of a Garretson KN demand regulator and a LPG feed piece that bolts between the carb and air cleaner. Sorry, I can't remember its name brand right now! Some kits require the carb's jet to be drilled out, but this makes the conversion irreversible. My kit still allows me to use gasoline if I wanted, but why would I? Like most kits it suggested that the generator's frame tube be cut to make space for the air cleaner which sits an inch further out, but instead I made a 90-degree adapter from a copper plumbing elbow and some brass flanges to turn the air cleaner so it still clears the frame - much better than just hacking the frame apart. On gasoline the gen would always start first pull every time without fail, but on propane it now takes three pulls to start it (never four or two!) in order to suck propane through the feed tube from the KN to the carb. When running it seems quieter than before, and there's just a steady drip of water from the exhaust pipe and the exhaust is completely clean.
I've provided a dedicated propane supply from the propane distribution manifold to the generator, using Pro-Flex 1/2" CSST stainless flexible gas pipe inside 3/4" electrical conduit, and a quick-connect gas fitting and shut-off valve. The gen is on a slide-out mount next to the front door for easy access, with a telescoping exhaust pipe running under the bus to the far side. I'll be putting some emergency generator shut-down switches inside the bus so I can stop it from inside if needed. So far, so good.
John
Quote from: DubLloyd on December 25, 2016, 03:04:06 PM
Can u advise as to the process of conversion from gasoline to LP gas.
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no...
but here in lies some info you may find interesting :)
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_17/661565_Tri_Fuel_conversions_for_engines_generators_____reference_info____.html (http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_17/661565_Tri_Fuel_conversions_for_engines_generators_____reference_info____.html)