Temporary Generator for Skinny Conversion

[k9disc]

Looking to add a temporary diesel generator to our soon to be gotten rig.

Looks like our little temporary gas guy doesn't have the juice to run enough AC units to cool the coach.

Looking for a temporary, cheap, and quick & dirty diesel generator solution.

I've been on craigslist and auction sites. Not a lot of promising leads with the exception of the military rigs. MEP 802 and MEP 002 - 003 look like they do a lot of coach stuff, kick out clean power. The box is too big for my storage bays, but removal of the box and aluminum pallet should allow it to fit.

Going to go down and look at one today, I think in Poughkeepsie. 5-10KW 1600rpm. I think I can pick one up pretty cheap. Anyone have any info on these? They're friggin' everywhere used...

Also looking at the 3600rpm screamers (not sure if I'm into that or not...), but they are cheap.

Anyway, looking to add a temporary generator 5-10KW no higher than the $2000 mark. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance... getting excited.

[Zephod]

$2000 sounds like a permanent solution. For $2000 you can buy 10x100 watt solar panels and have 1000 watts of power plus batteries plus an inverter and have a permanent solution that doesn't need fuel.


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[k9disc]

I Like where you're going with that... Can that run 3 roof ACs?

We're going to have a lot of bodies in the coach.

[k9disc]

I'm thinking a diesel generator that is not perfect that we can put in without a $#!% ton of wiring - straight to the box no frills, bells or whistles.

For this year we can have some ups a downs with it -- it is to be expected, but next year and in the future, it's got to perform. I'm thinking,"Who knows if I do a good job picking a cheapie, we might be able to budget it right in, and make it work."

But my plan is to get something that works right away and covers our cooling needs (2 people 12+ dogs). Put it in crudely and have it ready to take out and resell when we are prepared for a more permanent solution.

I was quite bullish on solar, and still am, but I have to handle cooling in the immediate future.

I hope that makes sense, and feel free to steer me straight if I'm straying.

[Zephod]

I'm not really sure how hot it is where you are. My bus currently has two operational circulation fans plus an extraction fan running off 35W of solar panels. The circulation fans help with the heat. The biggest difference was painting the roof white. When it was grey, it was too hot to touch. Now it's just warm not too hot.

A tarp over the roof might help too. I'm thinking of things that don't need a generator.

I have a 30A plugin if I need 120v power.


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[chessie4905]

Two Harbor Freight generator for around $1000. Buy extended warranties. One that will run two and one that will run one. Use them this season and sell next year.

[Oonrahnjay]

I Like where you're going with that... Can that run 3 roof ACs? ...

     NO!  Not even close. 

[luvrbus]

You can buy a decent take out 12.5KW diesel unit for $2500.00 the pop up on FaceBook from time to time on the Bus/Rv parts for sale page.I wouldn't go 2 grand for a temporary setup you will never get your money back on anyways   

[k9disc]

Will the Harbor Freight things hold their value after a year or 18m?

I think I could disassemble and mount the MEP stuff and put it back together when I get a proper rig.

I don't know though, just looking at things without having had touched stuff...

[k9disc]

You can buy a decent take out 12.5KW diesel unit for $2500.00 the pop up on FaceBook from time to time on the Bus/Rv parts for sale page.I wouldn't go 2 grand for a temporary setup you will never get your money back on anyways   

I have not seen that deal in the last few weeks... Kind of close, but they were funky or far away.

I saw a couple of projects that were totally doable, but I'm not sure what it takes to regulate power coming out. I think it should be fairly monkey simple, like the rest of electric $#!%, but what would I know. Part of me was thinking,"Get something beat, run it til it dies and have a plan for rebuilding it." It would be good practice for life on a bus.

But the gen set for us is pretty mission critical. We can't really just walk out of the coach if it's hot, or hang outside. We've got to move and sequester a dozen dogs... lol

So, I'm looking for the cheapest way to make it happen quickly and reliably. Judging by what I saw online, craigslist, auctions, and whatnot, $2k seems to be the minimum. $3k and I have a permanent solution to start with.

Although  I did see some old onan's 6-10Kw that were at $1500, but they looked rather beat and proprietarily electronic and whatnot... I think the genny and HVAC is important enough for my personal application that I'm going to go top shelf all the way around.

But first, got to get another AC Unit (split or roof) and a 5-10Kw generator. 

Again, though. I don't know a thing. Treading water over here... I think. :-D

[kyle4501]

Will the Harbor Freight things hold their value after a year or 18m?

Harbor Freight & holding value ---- strange to see in the same sentence.    

3 A/C's will pull 45 amps . . . . ain't no way you will have enough surface area for the required amount of solar panels to provide that.

When you look at the total cost over the life of the system, Solar electricity is usually the most expensive electricity option there is -

Look for a wrecked, older high end RV -- lots of good stuff to be had . . . .

[Zephod]

I have solar for ventilation and phone/tablet charging.

As far as running AC is concerned, people do manage it off solar. There are plenty people with websites about it.

Harbor Freight generators offer the best bang for the buck. Having said that, fir cheapness if running, I'd suggest a propane generator. Propane is dirt cheap and you'll likely have a propane stove, gas fridge and gas water heater.

My bus is currently tied into a shore 30A power supply. I don't have a generator.


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[DoubleEagle]

You are not being realistic about your generator or A/C needs. As has been said, it will take at least three roof airs (or four) to cool that coach while going down the road, or one or two while parked if you have coach air. Temporary multiple generators (especially Harbor Freight stuff) will not cut it. You need a serious diesel generator that is tied in to a properly wired electrical system, and I doubt that your total cost is going to be much less than $5,000 for the generator, wiring, and A/C's. Regarding used generators - the engine usually outlasts the generator unit, so if it has 8,000 - 10,000 hours on it, the generator head might not last much longer unless it has already been replaced. Dogs can tolerate some heat, but once they get used to being cool, they will suffer in a bus with no A/C because the generator malfunctioned. If you go the cheap temporary route, you had better have a backup ventilation plan. Forget any solar panel nonsense; no amount of panels on a 40' bus will power serious A/C even if the sun is shining 24 hrs a day with properly angled arrays. The space station solar panels can generate a minimum of 84 kw of power, but it would take 84 buses to cover the same area needed. One eighty-fourth of that would be 1 kw, minus atmospheric interference. There are solar panels that are more efficient than the ones used on the space station, but even the best (at high cost) have no hope of cooling down your bus. They are good for trickle-charging and other low power tasks, only.

[k9disc]

Harbor Freight & holding value ---- strange to see in the same sentence.    

3 A/C's will pull 45 amps . . . . ain't no way you will have enough surface area for the required amount of solar panels to provide that.

When you look at the total cost over the life of the system, Solar electricity is usually the most expensive electricity option there is -

Look for a wrecked, older high end RV -- lots of good stuff to be had . . . .

Yup

Yup, but great for doodads, charging, downtime, and throwing shade on the roof.

Great idea on the OLDER high end salvage RV...

[k9disc]

You are not being realistic about your generator or A/C needs. As has been said, it will take at least three roof airs (or four) to cool that coach while going down the road, or one or two while parked if you have coach air. Temporary multiple generators (especially Harbor Freight stuff) will not cut it. You need a serious diesel generator that is tied in to a properly wired electrical system, and I doubt that your total cost is going to be much less than $5,000 for the generator, wiring, and A/C's. Regarding used generators - the engine usually outlasts the generator unit, so if it has 8,000 - 10,000 hours on it, the generator head might not last much longer unless it has already been replaced. Dogs can tolerate some heat, but once they get used to being cool, they will suffer in a bus with no A/C because the generator malfunctioned. If you go the cheap temporary route, you had better have a backup ventilation plan. Forget any solar panel nonsense; no amount of panels on a 40' bus will power serious A/C even if the sun is shining 24 hrs a day with properly angled arrays. The space station solar panels can generate a minimum of 84 kw of power, but it would take 84 buses to cover the same area needed. One eighty-fourth of that would be 1 kw, minus atmospheric interference. There are solar panels that are more efficient than the ones used on the space station, but even the best (at high cost) have no hope of cooling down your bus. They are good for trickle-charging and other low power tasks, only.

I think I am being reasonable, which is why I'm looking for a 5-10Kw diesel genset on the cheap. I want a 10-15Kw rig, maybe even 20Kw -- we do shows and stuff a bit too -- but I'd like to spend my money on something a bit more permanent once we get our $#!% together and I get my feet under me.

I've talked to Wrico and eventually, 2018ish, I'd like to go that route. But until then, I need 5-10Kw of power, minimum without shlepping gasoline or putting LP in the bus. Not AT ALL a fan of pressurized gasses.

Again, this will be our home in just a couple months. Of course, we'll be wintering in FL in a sweet mother in law suite, but we've got not much time to get ready to live in this thing.