Background here: (with photos)
https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/forum/index.php?topic=33639.75
I brought it inside today and pulled some panels off and it really isn't built for easy service in a closed in space. I mean, yeah the cabinet is well built and all but pulling the top off would be a major PITA if it had to be done inside the bay. I'll get some photos later. I know the cabinet adds quietness but just in a matter of opinions, do you guys think it makes sense to yank that cabinet off, floor mount it in the bay, and then build in an enclosure to isolate it?
Jim
Air cooled?
Very difficult to get sufficient air flow and do it quietly in a bus bay install.
Be VERY careful that air flow does not get compromised in favour of quiet, or it will soon be silent...
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Good point.
Yes, air cooled, so I guess that means holes in the bay floor most likely. The existing enclosure has multiple large vents but seemed to have a pretty good sound rating. Well muffled for one thing and I can easily improve on that even more. I'd love to run it out the roof but not sure that's practical.
Jim
lots have gone before...
started with an air cooled and upgraded to water cooled so they could control the air noise.
For quiet, one has to dedicate a lot of bay space to a set of large baffles to both feed the hungry critter's cooling needs and to suppress the fan sounds gulping all that air in, both sides, intake and exhaust.
water cooled allows for speed controlled squirrel cage fans, at a lower velocity and volume.
Noisy generators don't make friends?
Thru the roof exhaust has it's advantages, no up-pipe needed for camping, no ground level chance to burn someone, no ground level stink blowing on neighbours in truck stop/rest area settings, and for a silent install, the exhaust noise is directed skyward.
Always some tough decisions when it comes to generator choices and installs.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Then I should probably do this with an eye towards a liquid cooled unit in the future. Instead of cutting holes in the floor I'm thinking all I really need to do is crack the bay doors open and set the genset up so that it sucks air in on the curb side and blows it out on the other side, sending most of the noise that way. Drop panels on 3 sides top to floor with sound damping materials, should be pretty close to the design. I won't be running it on the road and parked there's no reason the doors can't be partially open.
Jim
There are reasons why things should be closed up and directed upward: Open bays invite creatures of all kinds to wander in, exhaust and cooling discharges blowing out the bottom can stir up a lot of dust on dirt roads, parking lots and campground areas, not to mention the complaints about stinky exhaust and noise from fans and generators. A well engineered diesel generator setup is the preferable situation. An air cooled generator (particularly running at 3600 rpm) does not serve you well.
Fair comments Walter, but this one will have to do for now. I can replace it later if I want to. Not a big fan of generators anyway but they do have their uses. At least this way I do have aux power if needed. But I do get your point. By and large they are noisy offensive buggers.
Jim