new type 'silent diesel generator" for bus use?

[bevans6]

Has anyone looked at these new generators?  typically enclosed diesel, look like they would fit in a bay, 3600 rpm, claim to be silent.  Are they a bus option?

For that matter, if you were looking for 4000 - 4500 watts at 120 volt, what would you buy now, with all of your experience?  I have a nearly new Yamaha 6600 watt contractor gennie in the bay that came with the bus, and it's loud, harsh, and obnoxious.  It only puts out 30 amps at 120 on a single outlet anyway.  I want to get it out and put something I will love in.  What's your pick?
Brian

[cody]

My pick was a honda 3000watt inverter generator, not a lot of power but enough for my needs, main thing is that it just sips gas, I can go almost 24 hours on a little over 3 gallons and it's whisper quiet, only 49 DB at idle and only slightly over 50 DB at operating speed with a top of 58 DB wide open.  I had one guy ask me how loud it was when he was standing right outside the bay that held it, it was running at the time.  At some point i'll pick up another and use the coupler cord to tie them together for 6000 watts.

[MCI-RICK]

Cody,

What's the model number of your generator?  What have you been able to run with it? 

Rick

[cody]

Mine is the EU3000is, I run my house type refrigerator, the microwave, one roof a/c unit, all my outlets for lamps, tv , washer and dryer etc, a person has to manage the power a lot, turn the a/c off if your going to fire up the microwave but for the most part we run what we want as we need it, the tv and computer seem to be on all the time, stuff like that, our roof airs are 15K carrier heat pumps, I've never tryed it on the heat pump setting but it will fire up and run one roof air.

[MCI-RICK]

Brian,

Sorry, I wasn't trying to high jack your thread.   Do you have a link for the new 3600 diesel gen?  I'd like to take a look.

Cody,

Sounds like a gas gen.  Where did you set up the fuel tank for it?  or do you just fill the tank it came with and go?

Rick

[cody]

It is a gas generator, it comes with a 3.8 gallon tank built in, what I like is the economy of it and the quiet.   http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/products/modeldetail.aspx?page=modeldetail&section=P2GG&modelname=EU3000IS&modelid=EU3000ISAN

[WEC4104]

The concept of having two Honda 3000s with the interconnect cable is an intriguing concept.  5600 watts continuous, and 6000 peak would suit a lot of folks needs.  I've always been a strong believer in redundant systems, so being able to limp on one if the other fails is really nice. 

My generator sees quite a bit of run time at less than half load.  Being able to "kill" one unit and conserve fuel.   If I connected the 4104's old air conditioner gas tank to the Hondas, and only ran one unit, I figure I'd be good for about 6 days of continuous run time.  Of course, I'd never run 24/7, so I'd really see a couple weeks of bus use between fill ups.

I'll admit, not having the remote start, and having to deal with the fuel feed and exhaust changes would probably keep be from truely considering the Honda 3000 duo, but it does present some nice advantages.

[John316]

WEC, Interesting concept of killing one generator and running only one to conserve fuel. I don't really know, but I saw in our research of generators, that if it isn't running load, then it uses next to now fuel (at least that is with a diesel kubota). I don't know if the same is true with gas gensets or not.

We don't run our genset any longer than necessary. The inverters kick on the genny, and it runs until the batteries are full, and then the generator shuts off. The only other time we run the gen is when we have the roof airs on. 

For redundancy we will have a tap into the bus engines alternator. That way when we are driving it will keep the batteries charged, keeping generator usage minimal.

God bless,

John

[gumpy]

I had a Coleman contractors unit that I packed for several years. It sucked. Last year I stumbled on a used/nearly new Onan 7.5 Quietdiesel and installed it.  So far it's been great, and I just got the autostart connected to my inverter, so after this summer's trip I'm hoping I will love it even more!

[MCI-RICK]

Wec4104,

I did a little research on this today.  They do make a wireless remote control system for that gen.  There's a good description with a price on ebay.  Here's the info - Item number: 390058874232.  

There's are several parallel power kits listed for that gen too.

I think you can get two new gens, the parallel power kit and the wireless remote set up for about $3500.

Rick

[MCI-RICK]

Gumpy,

Your gen run everything ok?  or do you have to do some power management?

Rick 

[WEC4104]

Wec4104,

I did a little research on this today.  They do make a wireless remote control system for that gen.  There's a good description with a price on ebay.  Here's the info - Item number: 390058874232.  

There's are several parallel power kits listed for that gen too.

I think you can get two new gens, the parallel power kit and the wireless remote set up for about $3500.

Rick

Interesting, Rick.   There is no mention of anything like that on Honda's website, even where they list the available options for the EU3000iSA.    Apparently, the remote start package is something that was put together and offered by a third party.   Also interesting that they opted to use a handheld wireless key fob to control it, rather than a hardwired panel.

[cody]

I have the wireless remote for mine, I got it at RV Surplus for 125 and it's like a remote start for a car, a keyfob.

[MCI-RICK]

Cody,

I saw the keyfob set up on ebay but for twice the price.  You got a great deal on it! 

Do you fill up the existing tank and go or do you have some other setup?

Rick 

[cody]

I use the existing tank, at some point I may add a bigger tank but for now i'll use this one, it's been a good generator for a couple of years now.