I have a 12kw Kubota generator (Wrico) installed in my '74 MCI. I plan to get rid of the bus, so I'm thinking of putting the generator in my '02 MCI. Currently, I do not have a generator, only solar. My thinking is that I really don't need 12kw, since I would only need to charge my system during cloudy days, etc. That being said, is a 12kw generator too much power, since it would be charging through a mere 3000 watt Victron Multi-Plus? Would I only be wasting fuel?
I have the 12kW Wrico too, and it is a great generator. It is overkill for what you need unless you are running 2-3 A/C units. It will drink about 5/8 gallon of fuel when running, but they are great generators, and if you already have it, why not use it?
The downside is that a small Honda 1,000kW generator is all you really need to charge your batteries up on a rainy day, and they are much easier to move around. But they run on gas, not diesel, and if left outside are prone to theft in some areas.
Remember, too, if you install a Wrico generator in your bus, it will need a diesel fuel supply and return line, which is a bit more work, but that way, you are only dealing with one source of fuel in your bus unless you also have propane appliances.
Thanks Gary,
I watched a video of a guy that found a used 4K watt diesel generator and was able get it running. I would trade mine for one in a minute. I hate the idea of installing that beast for what little I would need it. I prefer not to use gasoline too. I'll wait it out for a while and see what comes up in the used market.
You should be able to buy a used light tower from a rental yard with a good Kubota water cooled engine in the 4000 to 6000 w range you defiantly don't want the noise air cooled China made diesel they sell in 4000w generators. What does a 12,000 w Wirco sell for, I know the 12500w Onan QD cost almost $20,000.00 now with shipping and taxes
You might be a good candidate for a gasoline inverter generator. I know they won't last as long, and the exhaust is an issue, but they work good for smaller loads.
Quote from: belfert on November 17, 2025, 09:55:51 AM
You might be a good candidate for a gasoline inverter generator. I know they won't last as long, and the exhaust is an issue, but they work good for smaller loads.
He can shop and buy a used light tower with a liquid cooled diesel engine from 500 to 1000 bucks and they are very quite,I bought 4 for project from Iron Planet,I only paid $750.00 for a new one with 3 hr total run it had been wrecked, I didn't care about sheet metal damage I all wanted the engine and generator, I know he can buy the light towers all day long for under $2000.00 with 3 to 7000 hrs run time and they last for over 20,000 hrs before requiring work,you have a lot of choices in engines in the light towers ,I had 2 with Kubota, 1 with a Cat and 1 with a Yanmar they are only 10 to 12 hp a quart of fuel will run one for almost 2 hours they all run @1800 rpm
Thanks luvrbus. I'll have to look into that!
Back when we were traveling from Springfield Missouri to Waco Texas, we had to run the mini split the night before leaving while it poured down rain. It was so hot and miserable that we couldn't sleep. By the time we got to Waco, because of not being able to fully recharge the system driving in cloudy weather, we ran completely out of power 10 minutes after pulling into our friend's driveway. We were luckily able to hook up and get things charged. That is what's driving my inquiries into the whole generator thing.
I got to thinking that since my mini split is the largest draw I have, suppose I installed a dedicated 24V to 110V inverter, connect it to the bus system, and run the mini split on that while driving. Then I can just plug the mini split into the house system when reaching my destination. That would take most of the need for a generator away. What do you think?
We sometimes run our roof air on the inverter with the battery bank feeding the inverter being charged by the engine alternator to save fuel on the genny.
Yes, you should be able to connect a 24 volt inverter to the coach electrical system. I did it on my bus for a number of years until I switched to 48 volt for my house batteries and inverter. I recommend a Victron 24 volt inverter without charger. They are good units that are fairly inexpensive.
On my DINA I removed the coach A/C as it was badly broken, and very expensive to repair. There is a large solenoid in the back that supplied power to the A/C system. I used the output of that solenoid as the 24 volt feed to the inverter. I ran a control wire to the front of the bus to turn the solenoid on and off.
I have 225 amp alternator on my military Humvee that produces both AC and DC current, it was a radio unit in the military, a smart guy could probably figure out how they do it since a alternator is AC converted to DC, it's above my pay scale
Quote from: belfert on November 18, 2025, 07:44:47 AM
Yes, you should be able to connect a 24 volt inverter to the coach electrical system. I did it on my bus for a number of years until I switched to 48 volt for my house batteries and inverter. I recommend a Victron 24 volt inverter without charger. They are good units that are fairly inexpensive.
On my DINA I removed the coach A/C as it was badly broken, and very expensive to repair. There is a large solenoid in the back that supplied power to the A/C system. I used the output of that solenoid as the 24 volt feed to the inverter. I ran a control wire to the front of the bus to turn the solenoid on and off.
Thank you belfert. I'll look into the Victron w/out charger. I know this is getting even deeper, and I am somewhat lacking on knowledge, but would a DC to DC charger achieve the same goal? Or, suppose a guy connected a 3000 watt inverter/charger to the bus system and use it to not only run the mini split, but also to charge the house system at the same time? Am I crazy???
A DC to DC charger can also be used to charge your batteries and supply your inverter. However, you will be limited on how many amps are supplied. Victron also makes these.
Quote from: Glennman on November 18, 2025, 08:02:08 PM
Thank you belfert. I'll look into the Victron w/out charger. I know this is getting even deeper, and I am somewhat lacking on knowledge, but would a DC to DC charger achieve the same goal? Or, suppose a guy connected a 3000 watt inverter/charger to the bus system and use it to not only run the mini split, but also to charge the house system at the same time? Am I crazy???
DC to DC chargers don't produce enough amps to replace the used power drawn from your AC I see people with 4 DC to DC chargers on large battery banks. I installed the 12/12/50 Victron DC to DC charger on my daughters RV with 2 -110 amp LifeP04 batteries it won't keep up if you use any power driving, the DC to DC chargers are designed for the Lifepo4 batteries they are useless on flooded type batteries I was told, Victron answer to the problem was spend another $200 + and use one for each battery. If a alternator would charge the high dollar lifepo4 batteries I would toss the Victron DC to DC charger
If using lead acid batteries for house bank you can set them up for 24 volt and directly connect them to the chassis system. Your charge profile may not be perfect, but it works pretty well. You will need to center tap the battery bank for 12 volt, and best to have an equalizer to keep the batteries balanced. (I have a no longer used Vanner Equalizer I would give you, or charge a token price for.) I have done this in the past before I switched my house battery bank to 48 volt with LifePO4 batteries.
In this case you would need an inverter with charging as you would want to replace your 12 volt inverter. You really don't want to run an inverter off a center tap.
If I had to do over I would have bought a Renogy Dc to Dc charger like the higher end Prevost use or the Victron smart charger, Redarc is a good charger you see a lot of those I don't know about the pros and cons of one, I know they are expensive. My Country Coach used the echo charger to keep the chassis battery charged when on the plug I like that feature it took care of all the fathom draws on the chassis, anyways I would not own a RV without a generator all the electronic crap is going to fail in time
Generators can fail too. My previous generator failed almost every year for four or five years. We started to carry a Honda EU2000 generator as a backup to keep the basics running. I finally got sick of the generator issues and spent a ton of money to purchase and have installed a Wrico generator.
I ended up ordering a Renogy 24v/2000 watt inverter. It will be dedicated to the mini split while driving. I suppose I would still need a generator for boondocking when it's hot both night and day. I now have a 24v mini split unit (like for truck tractors) in the bedroom that runs on the bus system while driving. It's set up so that I can connect it to the house batteries when parked. We can run it on low and benefit from it at night, where the Pioneer mini split unit is far away hanging above the windshield while using a lot of power. I have yet to use it as I installed it just as the cold weather started. Thank you everyone for your input!
Quote from: belfert on November 19, 2025, 09:05:15 AM
Generators can fail too. My previous generator failed almost every year for four or five years. We started to carry a Honda EU2000 generator as a backup to keep the basics running. I finally got sick of the generator issues and spent a ton of money to purchase and have installed a Wrico generator.
My Universal marine generator ran many years with me replacing only the shut down solenoid, Powertech had problems I helped Sonnie Gray change the head bearings in his several times, Onan had problems with the magnets coming lose after Cummins bought it, what I like about Dick Wrights generators he didn't use all the electronics on his just plain and simple and run for ever,I am not a big fan of Powertech,Gary's new bus has had the 20kw Powertech removed and replaced with a Wirco generator he got lucky, I like the Martin generators with the Yanmar turbo diesel engines they never give up that is why the entrainer buses use Martin.Onan is most popular RV generator by far due to the service network all Cummins dealers will work on Onan
Quote from: Glennman on November 19, 2025, 09:21:27 PM
I ended up ordering a Renogy 24v/2000 watt inverter. It will be dedicated to the mini split while driving. I suppose I would still need a generator for boondocking when it's hot both night and day. I now have a 24v mini split unit (like for truck tractors) in the bedroom that runs on the bus system while driving. It's set up so that I can connect it to the house batteries when parked. We can run it on low and benefit from it at night, where the Pioneer mini split unit is far away hanging above the windshield while using a lot of power. I have yet to use it as I installed it just as the cold weather started. Thank you everyone for your input!
I like the Renogy stuff they use a lot of it here in valley for solar applications, it is affordable and customer friendly, Renogy has a large warehouse and center not far from us in Chino Ca people here like that
Quote from: belfert on November 19, 2025, 07:26:08 AM
If using lead acid batteries for house bank you can set them up for 24 volt and directly connect them to the chassis system. Your charge profile may not be perfect, but it works pretty well. You will need to center tap the battery bank for 12 volt, and best to have an equalizer to keep the batteries balanced. (I have a no longer used Vanner Equalizer I would give you, or charge a token price for.) I have done this in the past before I switched my house battery bank to 48 volt with LifePO4 batteries.
In this case you would need an inverter with charging as you would want to replace your 12 volt inverter. You really don't want to run an inverter off a center tap.
Sorry for not getting back to you belfert! I appreciate the offer, but my house batteries are lithium and the bus batteries are lead acid. Outside of maybe installing a DC to DC charger, I am very paranoid about installing anything that combines the two different systems.