For you All Electric Coach Only guys

[Slow Rider]

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/bfs/1672435831.html

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hey Franklin,

Seems to me that it's time to have a really big Rally with that thing powering us all..

Nick-

[Chopper Scott]

At 4 grand that is a steal! Wish it was closer to me. Any nuts coming this way that has some extra bay room? 

[oldmansax]

How about an electric drive train? No tranny, no differential, no jakes, no long belts for cooling, no DN50, no problems. How 'bout it, you train guys, can we make it work?


TOM

[DaveG]

Wow...you'd need another axle to carry the weight, but an incredible price, but noisy when camping

[TomC]

That Cat engine-the D343 was also called a 1693 for truck use.  It was a dual overhead cam engine, and on that generator with no aftercooler was rated at 325hp.  With aftercooler was rated at 425hp-or 4 and a quarter.  The 1693 was so expensive to make that Caterpillar came out with a push rod engine (camshaft in block) and called it the 3406.  Both were 893cu in and the 3406B model is what I have in my truck at 400hp and 1375lb/ft torque.  I firmly believe that the mechanical Caterpillar engines were the most reliable Diesel engines ever made. This I can say after owning a 8V-71, 6V-92, 8V-92.  After suffering through the almost constant maintenance of the two stroke engines, the mechanical Cats are refreshingly just about maintenance free (up and beyond oil changes and valve adjusts).  Good Luck, TomC

[Gary '79 5C]

I can assure the buyer that this does NOT have the listed 8000 amp CB, unless specified by the "locals" within the beltway in DC...

[johns4104s]

Tom C,

What type of 2-stroke maintenance do you mean?

Thanks

John

[belfert]

I wonder if the seller meant to type 800 amps?  That would make a lot more sense although 800 amps would seem a little small for 200KW at 208 volts.  I guess nothing says the main can't be smaller than the rated capacity.  you just won't be able to use the full capacity.

[buswarrior]

Electric drive train is lurking in the Hybrid bus near you.

The Orion VII has a traditional rear axle with a big electric motor driving it. Reverses for regenerative braking, battery bank is on the roof, out of the way, floor is low at both doors, good for a midships toy hauler?

There's a choice of engines for the generator, Cummins ISL is popular, mounted sideways at the back.

Engine RPM is variable, depending on the load and charge in the battery bank. Throttle pedal commands the electrics, not the engine.

Similar to Toyota's Prius, no real fuel savings at highway speed, but somewhere 20% better in the city.
Also, some manufacturer's concerns about steady long haul highway use, but a busnut should be able to overcome those cooling issues...

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[TomC]

Buswarrior-  the cooling issues are similar to mine in my transit.  Never have a problem in stop and go, but long steady pulls at above 90 degrees are cause to pull back on the throttle.

Johns4104s- this is the kind of maintenance you're supposed to do with a 2 stroker: Oil changes at 6,000 miles (sooner on mine); 100,000mi run the valves and adjust the fuel rack; 200,000mi roll in rod and main bearings-run the rack; 300,000mi rebuild the blower and turbo-run the rack; 400,000mi roll in rod and main bearings-run the rack; 500,000mi rebuild the engine.

Let's compare that to the new Detroit DD15's: Oil changes at 50,000mi (for over the road-35,000mi for in town regional use); valve adjust (no fuel rack) at 80,000mi-then a valve adjust if power loss is felt.  That's it!  Course, there's more filters to take care of because of the smog devices.  Oil coalescing filter at 50,000mi, regenerating the particulate filter at about 5,000mi (depends on your driving).  Cleaning the particulate filter at around 300,000mi. 

The 2 strokers are the most maintenance intensive Diesels ever used.  But, with the suggested maintenance, were also very reliable.  I'm sorry they were discontinued.  Good Luck, TomC

[buswarrior]

The cooling issue is with the electric drive unit, which is hydraulically cooled, with huge lines, similar to what is used on a B400 or B500.

A busnut would just rig up another large in-line oil to air exchanger and be done with it.

I wonder why some manufacturers seem so resistant to additional coolers and want to keep trying to dump everything into the engine radiator, even to this day?

Gotta be money or closed mind thinking?

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[mc5a Jon]

Can u spell overkill?

[Sean]

I wonder if the seller meant to type 800 amps?  That would make a lot more sense although 800 amps would seem a little small for 200KW at 208 volts. 

Actually, 800 amps is just about right as an overload for this unit.  Don't forget it's three-phase; you need to divide by 1.73.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[Runcutter]

Jon, the seller can't spell, capitalize, or punctuate.

Arthur