Generator/Welder - Will it work in conversion?

[Doug1968]

Fellows,

I have an opportunity to purchase a generator/welder and I'm wondering if this unit will work for supplying my electrical needs for my conversion.

Unit is:

Kubota Diesel - water cooled electric start
10.5 kw
300 amp welder
120v: 50 amp/220v: 25 amp generator - single phase

The unit has 2060 total hours

Are these good units to use for a conversion??

Doug

[Chuck Newman]

Doug,

A 10 KW generator would put out (optimally) 41.66 amps at 240 vac.  I've installed several industrial generators, but I am not familiar with the nuances of a generator/welder.  That said, I'm surprised it's speced at only 25 amp at 240 vac.  Maybe the loss is typical for gen/welders.

I would be more concerned with the efficiency of the voltage regulator, if it even has one.  Most schematics of welders I have seen don't have or need a voltage regulator, but in generating voltage for house appliances it is mandatory.  If you want them to survive any length of time, and you don't want flickering lights and motors changing speed with changing loads on the system.

If it has a tight voltage regulator and a good frequency/load governor (+/- 5 Hz max, 0 load to 50% load), and it otherwise looks OK, they you will be the man at rallies when we all need a "small welding job" done.

Another factor is size.  Will it fit where you plan to install it?

Chuck

[TomC]

So in another words-it produces 6,000 watts @ 120vac with the rest available for welding.  The big question is 6kw enough juice?  If you only have two roof top airs, then yes.  Good Luck, TomC

[Dreamscape]

Tom, Are you saying that there will only be 6KW available for power to the coach? Wonder if there's a switch to shut down the welder side totally.

Paul

[mikelutestanski]

hello:   My generator in the bus is a wrico 6 kw which delivers 66 amps at 120 volts and has been in service for 10 years doing fine.
  It really depends on the rest if your conversion   ie electric fridge . stove etc and how you will use your bus..  dry camping , or staying in rv parks or whatever.
   We have a 6 cu ft norcold reefer and a gas stove with an oven..  A small microwave and an electric toaster.  WE dry camp mostly but use rv parks when we need to do laundry.   the  Splendide washer is a bit water hungry.
    Anyway if the generator is regulated well and will fit into the space and you can provide enough air to it and you can make it quiet you will have a winner with the added bonus of being able to do welding jobs on the road
     I had need of a welder whilst in South Dakota when no one would work on my coach..  One time in 50K mikes  FWIW.
       Regards and happy bussin   mike

[TomC]

Paul- according to the specs that Doug gave-120vac @ 50 amps = 6000 watts.  My guess is the rest of the generator has the separate windings to facilitate the welding part of it.  This is great for a welding contractor, but for our type of usage, I would get the full 10 or 12kw or whatever you think you need in the generator, then carry a portable wire feed welder or stick welder for those very few times you'd need a welder (in the 15 years I've had my bus, I haven't had a need yet-once the bus was built).  Good Luck, TomC

[busnut104]

Noise

[Ncbob]

Hi Doug,

I have a few years ofa/ experience with generators and quite enough with welders. First, the 3 cylinder Kubota diesel is a 2000 hour engine. Second, the primary mission of what you're looking at is that of a welder and secondarily a generator.

For an ideal bus conversion installation, if you're going to mount it latteraly withe radiator heat flow out of the side of the bus (optimum) you'd want an engine with a pusher fan. If you're going to mount it fore and aft, like in the former A/C evaporator bay, you may have to build  plenum to bring in cool alr (iif it's a puller fan) or a plenum to duct the radiator heat down and away from the compartment.

The generator end needs cooling too...just like the engine.

Hope this helps,

NCbob 

[TomC]

NcBob-you meant the Kubota 3 cylinder engine is a 20,000hour engine?  I had a friend with one in his truck that had 23,000hours on it when he sold the truck and was still happily running. Good Luck, TomC

[Ncbob]

Tom C, I realize that you feel you're the final authority on most anything bus or truck related, sort of reminds me of Fast Fred, but when Onan Corporation (who used 3 and 4 cylinder Kubota engines on their Marine and Auxiliary generators for years) tells its' Dealers that it's a 2000 Hr. engine I have a tendancy to
believe what they're telling me.

NCbob

[TomC]

NC Bob-you do realize that Kubota makes a special engine just for Onan.  Just to show you that once again Onans design is not well thought out.  I'm NOT the final authority on ANYTHING.  I'm just sharing what I've experienced with other trucking friends and the Kubotas they all have had great luck with.
I apologize for raising your dander.  Good Luck, TomC

[Melbo]

NCbob

Not to question what you have posted because you have always been very helpful with generator information and problems but that would mean the kubota is designed to be used for one year on a job site where it was run for an eight hour shift??? And you would have to give it a two week vacation to get through the year. Just wondering. Seems like kind of a short lived engine.

Melbo

[Utahclaimjumper]

Doug, you wont be very popular at any camp spot Ive been to.>>>Dan

[Utahclaimjumper]

I have a 10KW quite diesel (60DB at 10 ft.) and I am still sensitive how I park to minimize noise.>>>Dan

[prevost82]

I also have a Kubota 3 cylinder engine (8KW) and it is a 20,000 hour engine.