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Old 04-13-2009, 08:12 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 48
Year: 1993
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International Cornbinder
Engine: DT466
Rated Cap: 84
New member with some generator questions

I just bought a 1993 IH bus that I plan to convert over the summer. In fact I bought it off Ebay today. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... &viewitem=

I plan to run a single 13,500 BTU AC rooftop model. The back 10-12ft of the cabin will be used for atv storage and will be framed off so the single AC unit shouldnt have too much trouble *I hope* keeping it cool. I would really like to use a diesel generator for ease of use(only one type of fuel needed). How many watts should I need? I plan to use a furnace for heating, no microwave, and probably a flatscreen tv.

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Old 04-14-2009, 11:03 PM   #2
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Adirondack Mountains NY
Posts: 1,101
Re: New member with some generator questions

Congratulations, and welcome!

What you should do is make a list of all the things that will plug in and do the power draw in watts. If there's no watt rating on the device but it shows amps, then amps times volts equals the watts.

Figure in a battery charger - you will probably some day want to be able to run the lighter loads from a battery bank through an inverter instead of 24/7 generator. State campgrounds up here allow 5 specified hours per day of genset use. I suspect even liberal ones have quiet hours at night. It all depends on where you intend to park, plus allowing flexibility for changes in plans.

When you get the total, add at least 1/3 both to allow for things you haven't thought of yet, and to relieve the strain on the genny. Buy the next size or two up. If you figure this, your question will eventually answer itself.

A too-big genny will waste fuel (I know one pair of too-big gennys that each burn either 30 or 60 gallons per hour AT IDLE!).
Too small a genny will be stressed and have a shorter life.

Good luck, and nice looking bus.
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Old 04-15-2009, 06:37 AM   #3
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 48
Year: 1993
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International Cornbinder
Engine: DT466
Rated Cap: 84
Re: New member with some generator questions

Thanks for the reply, I intend to get a 2000w inverter for running lights and a furnace and basicaly anything but the AC.
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