Opinions on Generator

[Jim Eh.]

There is a Kubota LowBoy II generator coming up for auction nearby soon and I was wondering if anyone has experience with this or similiar type of unit. It is rated at 6.5k / 54.2 A @ 120v
I am wondering if this unit would suffice for light boondocking/remote camping? My bus is getting to the stage where I have to start spending the big $$$ on electrical and water systems and I just noticed this unit listing.
Opinions welcome, experience appreciated.

Jim

[eagle19952]

Most people frown at the thought of 3600 rpm.
How many hours are on the unit ?

[Oonrahnjay]

Most people frown at the thought of 3600 rpm.
How many hours are on the unit ? 

    A random comment on a forum board says that the poster bought one that's "very quiet and reliable".  (Of course, we don't know what his threshold of "getting loud" is.)  But yeah, I'd think that hours and condition are super-important. 

[Audiomaker]

Most people frown at the thought of 3600 rpm.
How many hours are on the unit ?

Agree.

That's the 2cyl in the lowboy right? I thought those were 240v... could be wrong.
Still, for light off-grid use, if the price were right, I hear it's a decent motor.  Parts seem to be less common than the 3cyl' Kubotas tho'.

It all depends on your budget, and also if it's going to be a permanent installation that requires modifying the bus for it?
I mean, the lowboys have built in fuel tanks if I recall if you just want to run stand alone.  Not sure where the radiator and hot air exhaust is, but I don't think it's in the bottom like some RV specific units (meaning you have to have a place for the radiator air to exit if it's run from a compartment).
Point is, there might be mod's involved to get it to run internally, and if they were major, I'd probably consider a different unit with a more common (and as eagle points out...1800rpm motor).

Then again, if you had a huge compartment where you could just drop it in there and have plenty of air in/out, and it were cheap, you could spend a little extra on your inverter/battery setup...which is where I think the game really is.

Regards
Sean

[belfert]

Is this air cooled or water cooled?  Kubota makes a number of air cooled units.  Air cooled usually means loud.  If you use air conditioning a lot you may find this unit too small in really high temps if you have two A/C units.

[Audiomaker]

Is this air cooled or water cooled?  Kubota makes a number of air cooled units.  Air cooled usually means loud.  If you use air conditioning a lot you may find this unit too small in really high temps if you have two A/C units.

Water

http://www.unitedgenerator.com/proddetail.php?prod=GL7000-USA&cat=20

[Jim Eh.]

Thanks for the club input. The unit belonged to the local eldctrical utility I assume for remote worksites so noise level may be a little less of a purchase factor on their part.  The spec is about 60 db. As far as doing mods to the bay, easy enough to do. Noy sure if it is 2 or 4 stroke. I guess it does boil down the the ultimate factor of price. I am interested enough to at least attend the auction to see if it will go for a ridiculously low price. I f not,  I still have time yet.
Thanks again for the info and opinions.

[garhawk]

60 db is quiet!

[TomC]

Nothing wrong with a 3600rpm Diesel genset. Kubota is the leader in high speed Diesels. If it is quiet, then it will be lighter weight and less expensive then a 1800rpm genset. The only advantage to the 1800rpm genset is much longer life. But do you need a genset that lasts over 20,000hours before overhaul? I think 10,000hours out of the 3600rpm genset is not out of the question. Also, at 3600rpm, a 2cylinder smooths out well enough. If you want really smooth look for a 3 or 4 cylinder-a 2 cylinder is literally a 4 cylinder with 2 cylinders cut of and does not fire evenly (dadat...dadat...dadat...dadat...) Good Luck, TomC

[eagle19952]

Fuel Consumption
at Full Load  (gal./h) - (0.69)
at 3/4 Load  (gal./h) - (0.55)
at 1/2 Load  (gal./h) - (0.45)
at 1/4 Load  (gal./h) - (0.38)

Seems like a pretty efficient unit.

Sound Level - (Full Load at 23 ft.)  66 dB
vacuum cleaner (70 dB)

maybe they will start and run it for you if you show up early 

[Audiomaker]

Fuel Consumption
at Full Load  (gal./h) - (0.69)
at 3/4 Load  (gal./h) - (0.55)
at 1/2 Load  (gal./h) - (0.45)
at 1/4 Load  (gal./h) - (0.38)

Seems like a pretty efficient unit.

Sound Level - (Full Load at 23 ft.)  66 dB
vacuum cleaner (70 dB)

maybe they will start and run it for you if you show up early  

Interesting.   Here's from the D905 powered 7kw I have (3cyl water cooled 1800rpm):

Fuel Consumption
at Full Load  (gal./h) - (0.64)
at 3/4 Load  (gal./h) - (0.51)
at 1/2 Load  (gal./h) - (0.32)
at 1/4 Load  (gal./h) - (0.16) (1750w)

I wish more generator manufacturers would list their no-load spec's.

If the numbers presented are accurate, that puts the 3600rpm engine using more than twice the fuel at 1/4 load.

My own personal experience (which only applies to me), is that this is where an RV generator normally runs most of the time.
A construction site generator might run in a different zone (say 50%-full).  Light towers are a good example.

Will this make a difference to the occasional camper?  Probably not.  ...but to the serious boon docker it might.

Cheers!

[Jim Eh.]

Sound Level - (Full Load at 23 ft.)  66 dB
vacuum cleaner (70 dB)

maybe they will start and run it for you if you show up early  

I have not owed/used a larger than 2000w generator so I am not sure what to expect. Although I did use a vacuum cleaner ... once
P.S. I like the comparison. dB I cannot relate to, known noise level devices I can, thanks.