Generator fully enclosed or not?

[Scott & Heather]

In the short term, I opted for twin Honda 3000is gens. They are super quiet. 49db quiet. I only use both when I need both and really they are quiet fuel sippers. Not what you're looking for I know, but just another data point for anyone looking. Paralleled together they make just under 6000 watts which is just about what we need.


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[bandsaw]

Hello, I am also in the process of building a quiet box and installing exhaust.  I would be interested in comments and pictures on permanent exhaust through the roof. 

Thanks, Bandsaw

[PRZNBUS]

I can't take the credit for it but our bus has an interesting generator installation, it is a 10.5KW Atomic, I think it is a marine model, it has a water cooled exhaust, the conversion company made an enclosure out of 3/4" plywood, lined with lead lined foam.  There is a large squirrel cage blower pulling air through the enclosure down a chase from the roof where the exhaust is routed, it blows out under the bus.  The whole exhaust chase up through the bus is lined with lead lined foam. I think the water cooled exhaust is quieter and lowers the exhaust pipe temperature, I have measured it at about 120 degrees where it goes up through the bus. The whole thing is on a slide so servicing is pretty good.  I've had to replace all the wiring and breaker panel and it was pretty easy. This setup is very quiet, as someone said, the generator can't be too quiet! the PO spent a lot of time on this and it paid off. I can share some pictures if there is any interest.

Pictures would be great, I'd like to see how your setup looks.

Bruce

[TomC]

Very hard to create a through roof exhaust for the generator. You have to both loose some interior space and insulate it properly-let alone the water proofing. From experience, just have the exhaust go out the driver's side then build an up exhaust to use just when you're parked. Good Luck,, TomC

[PRZNBUS]

Good point, probably what I'll do but I like seeing what other people have done too.

Bruce

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

We are just finishing up the two week Quartzsite rally and headed home tomorrow.  I just read this thread and can't believe no one has suggested a Wrico genset.  Check out Dick Wright's website at http://www.wricointernational.com/.  He has been selling these units since Bus Conversion Magazine started and has been a loyal sponsor of our magazine and has sold generators to the bus nut community with rave reviews for years.  Give him a chance and check out his website. Dick is a great guy and will support you 100% before, during and after the installation.  Besides Dick is a bus nut just like us and probably has more experience installing a generator in a bus than most genset companies out there. You can call Dick at (541) 744-4333 and tell him Gary sent you.

Engine Power Systems is also one of our advertisers.  Check out their website at http://www.enginepowersource.com/ and call them at (800) 374-7522 and tell them Gary sent you.

I have never heard any complaints about either company so call both of them and see what they have to offer.

[brmax]

Gary my feelings    you missed #14, busnut advertisers, and I just followed up #7with eps mention.
looks like you skipped coffee this morning

Hey have a good day 
Floyd

[luvrbus]

Dick,builds a good generator very simple using off the shelf parts and can supply you with a Perkins (Cat) or Kubota engine.He doesn't sell one in a enclosed housing I think is the reason no 1 mention him.He does sell the materials to build your own housing  though.Onan does build a good generator and their nation wide service @ Cummins is a hard act to follow for the smaller guys there is no searching around for a repair shop with the Onan. lol I believe Dick has a Kohler in his new bus he has taken some ribbing over the years with the generators in his store bought Prevosts
 

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Yes, you are right. I only had time to skim thru the thread quickly during my morning coffee before I had time to finish it all.  After signing up close to 10,000 new subscribers and 200 new advertisers at the Quartzsite show this week, I am still just "waking up".  In fact I may still be a bit sleepy as I may have exaggerated the numbers a bit   but we did very well for the past two weeks in Quartzsite and in Indio the week before.   Be sure to look for new advertisers with very interesting and helpful bus conversion products starting in the March issue. If you are not a current subscriber, or your subscription has lapsed, be sure to renew now so you can see all of the new products and reviews starting with the next issue. Remember it is subscriptions to our magazine and support of our wonderful advertisers that support this very useful website you are reading now.  So sign up or renew today at www.busconversions.com and choose the BCM Store tab.

[Brett G]

Here is my Onan 10k running after removing it and putting it back in.  As it is.....without any dampening material, its very quiet.  I still will add something later to the box.  This at least gives you an idea of the Onan's sound.   https://goo.gl/photos/gnGc6QtA2vRveggG7

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[Emcemv]

Here are some pictures of mine.  This shows the new main breaker panel I installed when I re-did all the wiring.  I don't have a good picture of how the exhaust goes up thru the bus and out the roof, they basically used something like a 4"x12" HVAC metal duct straight up thru the interior and out the roof.  There is a raised cover so that the blower sucks air down thru this duct and exhaust it under the bus.  The generator engine exhaust is routed up through this duct at comes out on the roof.  The generator is a 3cyl Atomic Diesel running at 1800 RPM.  These pictures were taken while I was replacing all the coolant hoses so some hoses are out of place in these pictures.  You can see the large water cooled exhaust manifold where the radiator cap is.  This all uses a remote radiator and is also plumbed into the bus engine cooling system so the generator heats the bus engine in the cold weather.  There is a large squirrel cage blower mounted right behind the breaker panel that sucks air down the duct from the roof and out the floor of the bay.  There is another smaller blower shown on top of the generator in the picture that is used to force cooling air into the generator head.  Someone put alot of work into this setup and it runs great and is really quiet!

[brmax]

Brett that's sharp lookin there, and some storage to boot. Do you have a sound measure on your phone, I don't but did ask my youngest and their phone does so I'm going to get some figures someday after install.  

Bruce cool setup sitting like that, I seen one in an Eagle I believe it sure makes use of room. I was curious on the door material and the enclosure is that 3/4 what do you have going there. I did some measures but mine has the switch box sitting to high and seems it would hit the tunnel. but sure considered it.
Thanks for posting up the photos you all
Floyd

[TomC]

Yes the 10kw "quiet" Onan is quiet, but a lot of noise coming from the cooling fan. That was the main noise that cancelled out my generator sound till I was 10ft from my bus. Dick Wright built me a custom 12kw 120v only genset using a new model of 3 cylinder Kubota. The entire genset is only 36" long. On my genset, I requested two types of controls. One is electronic to tie into the auto-start and automatic transfer switch. The other controls are old fashion mechanical controls that will get the unit running with a manual switch, and could bypass the auto switching to still have electricity. I will have a totally enclosed box with an 8" inline ventilator to push air (250cfm) through the box for cooling and an up stack between the cab and back box. I anticipate it to be extremely quiet. Good Luck, TomC

[brmax]

Sounds pretty cool Tom, and interesting in all the control stuff with how I might implement some features.
The controls from manual bypass to say a magnum or whoever in auto mode are some things I been glancing over for awhile.
A basic I see is different engine senders and switches, these use their ground circuitry sometimes. So brands of controllers request for different signal types also most times, and require additional type monitors or just what again I glanced over.
many good things to check out and thanks

I rang a drywall guy and left a message on needing information with some sheet goods.
This was after I e-mailed a big company manufacturing this and with there recommendation to try a local supplier as freight with the healthcare x-ray type lead barrier sheetrock and lead barrier plywood could be way up in cost. I'm sure, now keeping a ear for the phone this week.

Good day
Floyd

[Emcemv]

Our enclosure is made of 3/4" ply covered with grey Formica laminate to give it a finished look. I think it was done by Magic Carpet Coaches, they were bought out by Marathon. Inside of the enclosure is covered mostly with some sheet metal and the. 1" lead lined foam.