Another generaor heating thread

[Mex-Busnut]

I have several quesions regarding the cooling of my generator.

1. Here is a picture of what my former OTR A/C compartment looked like. We removed the non-working A/C, and added the steel grate on the floor. After that we insulated and added 5/8-inch plywood all around. This is now our generator compartment.

Let me see if I am understanding you kind people postng on oher threads. (Front of the bus is to the left.) Should I place a deflector outside, on the right side of the compartment door to force more air in? And another under the bus in front of the grate?

2. My paint-and-body shop friend gave me a double electric fan off of a Dodge Caravan minivan. This will be mounted on the inside of the "baggage" (former A/C compartment) door. I am planning to use a double-pole, double-throw, center off toggle switch, to reverse polarity. It will suck in air going down the road, and blow out air when stopped.  Does that sound like a plan?

3. Has anybody noted any improvement in genny cooling by using synthetic oil in the genny?

Thanks in advance!

[gus]

This appears to be a very good ventilation setup, high for hot air exit and low for cool air entry and both openings are quite large. Of course they can never be too large in hot weather.

I would recommend sheet metal lining over the plywood with possibly some insulation under the sheet metal for at least the top and bottom for fire protection. For the sides I would use some kind of heat proof insulation. Depends where the exhaust pipe runs, it will be the hottest area.

Is the genset gas or diesel, gas gensets usually run much hotter? How many KW?

I don't think you will need any kind of deflector on the side but one aft of the bottom opening might increase air pressure for more intake air cooling. Again, it is almost impossible to say exactly what the effect of air dams will be. The best thing you have going is the large opening on the side, it might even suck air up through the bottom without any air dam, all depends on the airflow around the side of the bus. The sides of the bus near the front are usually low pressure.

It really doesn't matter which direction the airflow is as long as it is strong. My current Honda gas genset exhausts hot air out the bottom, just the opposite of logic but I figure Honda knows what they are doing. It is a hot running little devil though.

When stopped just open the door a foot or so at the bottom, that will provide all the cooling you will ever need and not be too noisy unless you are using an air cooled gen. In that case there is no way to keep those things quiet.

I own two Dodge minivans and I don't think any of the 12v fans on a van will help much. For really good air movement you need a 120v AC squirrel cage fan, but I don't think you need any kind of fan.

I base my comments on just this past month having removed a dead 8KW water cooled diesel gen from my bus and replacing it with a 6KW Honda gas, water cooled one. My air circulation system is nowhere nearly as good as yours because I have no side opening, all is at the bottom - not the best system.