Generator placement? Baggage bay or Condenser bay?

[Devin & Amy]

Hi all,

Where is the best place to put a 12.5 KW genset in an MC9?
I just purchased one from Wrico with a remote radiator, so I was wondering if I should put the radiator in the condenser bay, then the genset in the forward baggage bay.
I also bought an SW 4024 inverter as well, Should that be as close as I can get it to the genset?

Thanks for your opinions.
Devin

P.S.
Anyone want to come and help me put it in?

[H3Jim]

Nice set up.

Your inverter should be as close as you can get it to the batteries.  You will be running 0000 cable from the bats to the inverter.  You will only need 6 gauge wire from the genset to the inverter.

I'm not much help on where to put everything as I'm not that familiar with your bus.

If you will be charging your house batteries from the bus alternator, you will want to look at those 0000 cable runs too.  I put my house batteries and the inverter close to the back of the bus, and the generator and remote radiator where I could make the most efficient use of space.  I pondered for quite a while laying out various scenarios.  for each one I looked at all the downstream affects of where I would have to put other things, and how best to make runs of cable and hoses.  Its just a giant 3d jigsaw puzzle.

[gumpy]

If you removed all your OTR heat and A/C, I'd put the generator on a slide and mount it in the blower and condensor compartments. Mount the radiator on the door, like the condensor was, or mount it on the slide out so the whole thing can be slid out a one unit.

If you get in a real bind, I could probably find a way to come up and help. I have an engine hoist if you need it.

[JackConrad]

   Measure the overall dimensions of the generator and make sure it will fit if you decide to use the old condenser compartment. That is where we installed our 8 KW PowerTech and we ended up cutting a small section out of the steel pan the generator is mounted on to get to fit in the compartment. 
   As mentioned, more important to have the inverter near the house batteries, but not in the same compartment Battery gases will destroy the innards of an inverter.
    "Our way" was to install the generator in the condenser compartment and remote the radiator to the rear of the former spare tire compartment, using a 12 volt fan to move air through the radiator.  The generator exhaust was dropped through the floor of the condenser compartment and ran along the bottom of the bus to just in front of the drive axle. A 90* sweep, an automotive type muffler and a chrome extension brings it out just past the edge of the bus. This helps with noise levels because wherever you are, you only hear part of the noise (stand near the back drivers side and all you hear is a little exhaust noise. Stand near the generator and you hear a little generator "mechanical" noise. Stand near the front of the bus and you hear a little fan noise).
    We completely sealed the condenser compartment except for some louvers in the skin directly above the condenser door and 3  4" bilge blowers in the floor to move air through the compartment. Air temperature inside the compartment runs 5-10* above outside air temperature.  YMV Jack

[Sam 4106]

Hi Devin & Amy,
I think the location you choose will have an effect on how noisy your generator will be. If you remote the radiator, use a 120 VAC blower, with bends in the air ducts, mount the generator where there is room enough to build a sound deadening enclosure, and bend the air ducts and use a 120 VAC blower to ventilate the enclosure, you will have a quiet system. If space is too limited you may have to sacrifice some quietness.
Just out of curiousity, what do you and your family do that allows you to full time?
Best wishes with your project, Sam 4106

[NJT5047]

A 12.5 Wrico is going to be too tight in the old condenser compartment. For the sake of seriviceability, a LH bay is likely where you'll have to install. 
The condenser compartment can be enlarged, by removing the bus heat and AC (AC's gone anyway),  and removing the skin behind and above the condenser compartment.  You'd have to fab a new door. 
I have a 6.5 kw crammed in the condenser compartment.  It helps that most of the serviceable components are on one side. 
You'll run into sound proofing problems in the condenser compartment due to lack of space to work.
I used the old condenser blower outlet for my radiator.  Works fine.  A 110VAC motor operates the radiator fan and draws out hot air from the generator compartment...and as Jack sez, the compartment temps are not a problem. 
If you can spare the space, a bay will make a better location for a 12.5 kw genset.  Placement of the genset in a bay also allows for considerable sound proofing without space consideration. 
Use the condenser bay for batteries or maybe a dedicated genset fuel tank...or storage for the grill..or maybe propane tanks.
Truck stops have fuel on both side of the coach when fueling which facilitates fillers on both side of the coach.
The generator and inverter aren't related to each other...but the house batteries and inverter are.  Place the inverter near the house battries, but isolated from the battery gases....and if you use LP, don't mount the inverter in the LP area...don't place LP tanks in the genset compartment either. 
Best, JR

[TomC]

Although I have a transit that I mounted the gen next to the front seat like a front engine, many features are the same.  Glad to hear you got a remote radiator-this will allow you to make it as quiet as possible.  Dick Wright also carries a high density plywood that absorbs sound well.  I would suggest you make a complete vented (read electric blower) wood sound enclosure for the gen.  Then mount the gen and enclosure on air bags.  This will make the vibration into the bus almost non existent.  The radiator could be mounted in the condenser bay, and use a squirrel cage blower (quietest).  I have a 1/2hp two speed belt driven (much quieter than direct drive) high for day use, low for quiet night use.
Please make the generator as quiet as you can both inside and out.  I was at the Caverns a couple of years ago and one bus had its' generator mounted next to the engine where the compressor used to be without any kind of sound deadening.  My wife and I were in our bus in the back with my gen running, roof A/C running, TV on, and I could still hear that gen over all that!  Unfortunately, some of our older bus converters don't quite have the hearing left, so they just plainly don't hear it.  But when dry camping, I am concerned about bothering the others with my gen-Everyone should also not impinge on others quiet.  Good Luck, TomC

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

A 12.5 Wrico is going to be too tight in the old condenser compartment. For the sake of seriviceability, a LH bay is likely where you'll have to install. 
The condenser compartment can be enlarged, by removing the bus heat and AC (AC's gone anyway),  and removing the skin behind and above the condenser compartment.  You'd have to fab a new door. 
I have a 6.5 kw crammed in the condenser compartment.  It helps that most of the serviceable components are on one side. 
You'll run into sound proofing problems in the condenser compartment due to lack of space to work.
I used the old condenser blower outlet for my radiator.  Works fine.  A 110VAC motor operates the radiator fan and draws out hot air from the generator compartment...and as Jack sez, the compartment temps are not a problem. 
If you can spare the space, a bay will make a better location for a 12.5 kw genset.  Placement of the genset in a bay also allows for considerable sound proofing without space consideration. 
Use the condenser bay for batteries or maybe a dedicated genset fuel tank...or storage for the grill..or maybe propane tanks.
Truck stops have fuel on both side of the coach when fueling which facilitates fillers on both side of the coach.
The generator and inverter aren't related to each other...but the house batteries and inverter are.  Place the inverter near the house battries, but isolated from the battery gases....and if you use LP, don't mount the inverter in the LP area...don't place LP tanks in the genset compartment either. 
Best, JR

JR,
I'll bet your Cat makes for a great "Knee Pad" while servicing your gen-set..Lol
Nick-

[jjrbus]

Save yourself a ton of grief, put it in the bay and use the HVAC area for something else that does not need serviceing!!!! Put it in the center of the bay in an easiely removeable sound box.