More Newbie questions - OTR Air Solutions, Thinking Roof units

[daddysgirl]

24 volts looks good on paper but it is impractical in a 12v RV world.  I took my 24v/300 amp gear driven alternator off my engine and it's been sitting on the floor of my shop for ten years.  No takers.  Instead I run a more practical 160 amp 12v truck alternator and a 40 amp 24v alternator for my starting batteries and the few 24v relays I have left.  To me, solar panels are good for keeping the batteries charged up while the bus is stored outside.  So you can't even park in the shade if you use solar panels.  Kind of self defeating.

--Geoff

If that's a 50DN sitting in your garage...I'll take it. 

[TomC]

I recently boon docked for a week in Tucson at the Escapees rally. Running the 10kw Diesel generator several hours everyday. For 6 days of running, I used 30gal. Pretty cheap. Good Luck, TomC

[sledhead]

the big gennes will charge up the battery bank fast ... up until the last part of the charge , then it takes hours to get the final charge to finish and that is where the smaller inverter genne shine as they only run up the rpm to the amount of power you need . that is why they are so quiet and use less fuel unlike the old school genne,s that do not have the inverter technology   

why can,t they make a diesel genne with the inverter technology ?

dave

[TomC]

Onan "Quiet" Diesel 8kw uses inverter technology. My problem with that is it is variable speed. Each time the A/C would kick on, the generator speeds up. At night-that would be a waker upper. Good Luck, TomC

[sledhead]

Tom   go try a honda 7000 inverter genne    you will be amazed

dave

[eagle19952]

You are going to need a good bank of house batteries, an alternator with high output and if you insist on using inverter power plan on at least 2 to reduce their load.

Typical roof air units are going to draw 13 amps at 120V or 130 amps at 12V. If you run two AC units a 270 amp alternator is going to be run at its capacity with no margin to handle other loads like a refrigerator, water pumps, etc. at which point you are depleting batteries.

I have no clue why folks insist on using inverters when a decent sized diesel generator will handle those loads without even breaking a sweat and it will sip fuel. My 20KW generator uses less than 1/2 GPH when I dry camp and I am an energy hog when I am running the generator because it has so much output.

what generator is this ? at what load ? 80% ? or less ? much less ?

[Oonrahnjay]

what generator is this ? at what load ? 80% ? or less ? much less ?    

     That's a lot like my Onan QD (non-inverter) 10K generator.  Spec'd for 1/2 gallon per hour at about 75% load.  12 gallons a day, 84 gallons a week; a real deal, right??   (Wrong ...)

[ol713]

Oh, BTW...
This is a totally personal choice, but...
I would limit spray foam to parts of the ceiling near the front, and the walls forward of the rear bogie. But not over the engine or wheel wells. God forbid you ever have a fire...that foam lets off cyanide gas when it burns, and it is highly combustible.
But like I said, it's a personal choice and I mean no offense to those who love it. The objective is to insulate (ya, we know that) but you want to prevent condensation. That means airtight and/or vented.
Everyone has their own method, this is simply my humble opinion. 

     HI;
       I would think you would notice smoke and fire before the foam started burning.  As for me, I would stop
       asap and exit the bus.  Never mind a little cyanide, just get out!!
                                                               Merle.   

[Geoff]

If that's a 50DN sitting in your garage...I'll take it. 

Okay, $200 plus UPS shipping. $100 for the 24v regulator with 40 amp 12v voltage reducer.  Wiring diagram in RTS manual.Works great.  Just not my cup of tea.

Give me a business UPS zip/address for shipping cost.  Price is already reduced, so no low balls.  Pay Pal only.

--Geoff
Prescott, Arizona
928 771 0045

[daddysgirl]

     HI;
       I would think you would notice smoke and fire before the foam started burning.  As for me, I would stop
       asap and exit the bus.  Never mind a little cyanide, just get out!!
                                                               Merle.   

Hey Merle.
I agree with you 100%.
That said...a fire in the engine or a tire fire will burn up foam before the fire department can get there.
My only point is to do as much as possible to contain a potential fire, in hopes of not having a total loss....And I don't like toxic gas burning anywhere.

I just finished insulating the rear floor over the engine. I used a special fireproof board ( at $177.00 for a 4x8 sheet, I only needed 2), covered that with aluminum wrap, then 3-4" of treated wool, then another aluminum wrap layer, then the 1/8" aluminum sheet that MCI put under the plywood.

When I get to the wheel wells, someone on here gave me the idea of using stainless steel on the outside, and I'll use a wet version of the fireboard to mould over the fiberglass on the inside. Those are the two areas I'm unusually picky about, but like I said...I'm not judging anyone else's method. I come from a family of firefighters, so my opinions might be a bit one sided

[daddysgirl]

Okay, $200 plus UPS shipping. $100 for the 24v regulator with 40 amp 12v voltage reducer.  Wiring diagram in RTS manual.Works great.  Just not my cup of tea.

Give me a business UPS zip/address for shipping cost.  Price is already reduced, so no low balls.  Pay Pal only.

--Geoff
Prescott, Arizona
928 771 0045

Zip is Quinton, VA 23141 but I don't have a Pay Pal account. I think the shipping will be more than the alternator, but I would like to have a spare. Let me know what shipping totals and I can figure out if I can justify it at this point...and Thanks.

[TomC]

Nothing better than a Diesel genset with brushless alternator. Yes heavy and expensive, but least fuel and most reliable and long lasting.

[daddysgirl]

Nothing better than a Diesel genset with brushless alternator. Yes heavy and expensive, but least fuel and most reliable and long lasting.

I agree
I would like a spare...and eventually, I want to rebuild another one. The first one I did I was 8 years old. I've forgotten a few details.

[Uncle Augie]

I thought solar panels just need daylight not direct sunlight  where are the solar guys when you need one 

Solar panels need DIrect sunlight"aka full sun" to work at their rated output.

Average Rooftop installation gets 4hrs of "direct sun" per day in the US. SO rated panel output, say 250 watts x 4 hrs + 1000watts per day or 1kW of power per 250 watt panel.

[Geoff]

Somebody reported me to the authorities for giving Daddysgirl a price on my 50DN alternator.  So it is not for sale.  I cannot modify the offending post after 24 hours.

--Geoff