I might need a generator

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

Pretty sure this dude is a crackhead. First it's oNan not oRan. Second, there's no chance in hell you're getting 33 KW out of something that size. You can get 3.3KW out of that but not 33 KW.
https://yakima.craigslist.org/for/6130570048.html

I think the poorly written ad says: 120Volt, 33Aamps , 4.0KW

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

I think the poorly written ad says: 120Volt, 33Aamps , 4.0KW

I figured that out with the 1800 Hz but not the amps for some reason. Maybe his crack is better than mine.

Side note: I guess I should check my genny out. I have a 5500 W I bought years ago. It's gasoline so I don't want to use it on the bus but the light poles where the bus is parked are likely 15 amp GFIs. When it's welding time I'm going to need 20 amps. If that guy is 4 KW and 33 Amps then my 5500 W should be at least 30 Amps.

[PNW_Steve]

My $ 0.02.....

I have the Honda EU-30001 generator. I LOVE IT!!! Quiet, efficient and reliable. I have owned it for 12+ years and it has never failed me.

It will not be going in my bus though. I have traveled with a diesel generator that feeds from the main bus tank and I have traveled with a gas generator that had to be fueled separately. Being able to boondock for three weeks is awesome(diesel). Being limited on fuel availability (we could only carry 8 gallons of gas) when I traveled with the gas generator sucked. Having to buy gas & diesel when fueling up was a pain. You could add a larger aux tank for a gas genny. We did not have that option.

I a strongly on the side of diesel generators in diesel coaches and gas in gas.

[Iheartbus]

Gosh now I really want a diesel one, all of them are just so expensive. It would take 3 months of saving to get one! I'll have to hunt for those half off deals or CL.

[Robin97396]

That's where a good silent diesel generator can cost as much as a stout solar system.

I like the junk yard generators out of wrecked RVs, or Craigslist. The guys on Craigslist are usually resellers or RV dismantlers.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by Iheartbus

Gosh now I really want a diesel one, all of them are just so expensive. It would take 3 months of saving to get one! I'll have to hunt for those half off deals or CL.

I am with you. I have been scouring CL and Ebay looking for a "deal". No luck yet but I have not given up.

Another idea that has been kicked around on this forum is using a small diesel engine to drive an alternator to charge/feed your battery bank/inverter.

I have seen the 6hp Lombardini engines for a few hundred dollars and throw an appropriately sized alternator on board. I have even had thoughts of an Arduino based throttle controller that would vary the engine speed based upon electrical load.

Something like this: https://theepicenter.com/blog/genera...er-horizontal/
but with a diesel engine and variable throttle.

[Robin97396]

I don't know what they're selling for, but have you looked at the military diesel generators? Sometimes they have 5k and 15k generators. A skoolie would be hard pressed to get the 5k under the skirt but the coaches could likely run the 15k.
They just sold a bunch of 5k diesel generators that all had about 10 hours on them.

[Iheartbus]

Originally Posted by Robin97396

I don't know what they're selling for, but have you looked at the military diesel generators? Sometimes they have 5k and 15k generators. A skoolie would be hard pressed to get the 5k under the skirt but the coaches could likely run the 15k.
They just sold a bunch of 5k diesel generators that all had about 10 hours on them.

I wouldn't know where to look for those.

[PNW_Steve]

Military surplus generators: Generator Sets for sale in online auction | GovPlanet

[nwarner2010]

I bought the harbor freight inverter generator. Been a great little generator, it's been more reliable than my dad's Yamaha inverter generator. If you go the harbor freight route be sure to check the bottom. I had two that were cracked. I didn't notice it until about a month after I bought it. Returned it with no issues even after I stop drilled the crack and smeared expoy all over it and got a replacement, got it home and the replacement also had a cracked bottom. Returned that one and got a third. This one ended up being fine, checked it in the store before taking it home that time. In the future I'm considering getting a second one and using the harbor freight parallel kit. It also fit nicely in my engine compartment for plugging in the block heater and battery heating pads to be sure the bus started in the cold northern ny winter's last year.


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[Brad_SwiftFur]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

Military surplus generators: Generator Sets for sale in online auction | GovPlanet

Shoot, I see several 10KW gens at $300 bids in GA ... for that price I'd snag one for home use during power outages.

[Robin97396]

Ft Lewis was selling lots of air conditioners during the winter. I think they were actually self contained heat pumps but needed 3 phase.

There's good deals on the federal sites, but you've got to be willing to take your chances. Sometimes you have to make a little lemonade with what you get.

I usually shop on GovLiquidation for items at Ft Lewis. Oregon only has National Guard and mostly old equipment.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by Robin97396

That's where a good silent diesel generator can cost as much as a stout solar system.

I think I want both (solar and genny). I want to be heavy solar light genny for when I spend months in the PWN.

Originally Posted by Robin97396

I don't know what they're selling for, but have you looked at the military diesel generators? Sometimes they have 5k and 15k generators. A skoolie would be hard pressed to get the 5k under the skirt but the coaches could likely run the 15k.
They just sold a bunch of 5k diesel generators that all had about 10 hours on them.

I haven't done any honest searching (limiting terms , etc.) but all the ones I've seen are great big suckers. Trailers and +30kw. While badass, not exactly practical.

Originally Posted by Iheartbus

I wouldn't know where to look for those.

govdeals.com and publicsurplus.com ... same places as you look for a bus.

[Tango]

I found my Honda eu3000 iS on the local Craigslist for about half retail. Couple had bought it for an incoming hurricane that came close but not through their area. Freaked them into moving back North so I got it like new with less than an hour on it.

Love it. Can just barely tell it's running from 5 feet away and powers my 8000 btu A/C without ever coming off "Economy Mode" idle.

[Iheartbus]

Originally Posted by Tango

I found my Honda eu3000 iS on the local Craigslist for about half retail. Couple had bought it for an incoming hurricane that came close but not through their area. Freaked them into moving back North so I got it like new with less than an hour on it.

Love it. Can just barely tell it's running from 5 feet away and powers my 8000 btu A/C without ever coming off "Economy Mode" idle.

Wow, lucky...

[Yellowbus1984]

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[family wagon]

Originally Posted by Tango

I found my Honda eu3000 iS on the local Craigslist for about half retail.

I didn't do that well... got my EU7000 at about 80% of retail. But now PNW_Steve has me questioning whether I can get something comparably quiet that sips diesel instead. I'm sure I'd have no trouble unloading that EU7000, but... can $4-6k buy a comparably quiet diesel gen set? In a brief search I'm seeing the RV QuietDiesel 8000 listing at $8300 with shipping. Used seems hard to fine. Looks like I'll have to fit a gasoline tank into the bus somewhere and keep that EU7000.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by family wagon

I didn't do that well... got my EU7000 at about 80% of retail. But now PNW_Steve has me questioning whether I can get something comparably quiet that sips diesel instead. I'm sure I'd have no trouble unloading that EU7000, but... can $4-6k buy a comparably quiet diesel gen set? In a brief search I'm seeing the RV QuietDiesel 8000 listing at $8300 with shipping. Used seems hard to fine. Looks like I'll have to fit a gasoline tank into the bus somewhere and keep that EU7000.

I had a Kubota powered diesel generator in my last bus that was quiet but not quite as quiet as my Honda. To achieve that we built a box around the generator lined with sound proofing material an remote mounted the radiator.

It was very quiet compared to most of my neighbors but not quiet as quiet as the Honda.

What I would like to achieve is a diesel powered generator that works in a similar manner to the Honda (and other) inverter generators. Varying engine speed based upon demand.

[Tango]

I would love to have a diesel (and just one fuel type) but nobody makes one small (or cheap) enough to meet my needs.

[1olfart]

Tango.....I might be able to provide a decent 'GINerator" action if it's Tanqueray. We can discuss it at the next Houston meet up.