| Author |
Message |
Ray Lala (Rayshound)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 10:04 pm: | |
Wondering if any problems using a marine diesel generator in a conversion. Do these units usually have a water exhaust manifold? can it be removed an a stock onan exhaust manifold installed? Trying to get info as I have someone interested in selling me a 8kw. Also what would be the smallest kw to use? is 5.5 kw enough in general? I have a lead on one of these also. |
David Evans (Dmd)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 10:44 pm: | |
Ray, the marine diesel units are usually cooled by a heat exchanger, with salt water pumed thru one side and then out at the exhaust elbow to give it a push on out.Yes you can change the exhaust manifold and if you check the archives I'm sure this thread will pop up. I have been waiting to find a Panda unit to do the same thing with. Another someday dream.... |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 11:19 pm: | |
All the commercial motorhome makers use a 6.5 as standard.
That would be enough to run both rooftop airs and a few other
appliances. An 8kw sounds even better! If it's cheap enough,
runs great, and doesn't have too many hours racked up, I'd
go for it. It's easier to use diesel, than gas or propane, and the
liquid cooled genset is always quieter than an air cooled one. |
Donald Lee Schwanke (Dontx)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 11:52 pm: | |
I used a marine diesel, was initially worried about getting another manifold. In the final use, I used the water exhaust manifold to advantage, since it made the genset quieter and ran more heat out of the engine inclosure. Use a slightly larger radiator, or as I did, just put more fan to it with 120v fan. Worked out very well. |
John Jewett (Jayjay)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 11:55 pm: | |
Ray, if this is a two cylinder, it may be too tall to fit in a bay, and they are extremely heavy.. I've owned two marine units. one was an 8KW two cylinder and had way too much vibration, the other was a 6.5KW four banger (both Onan's). Unless it's a real super bargain, I'd shy away since the conversion is a pain in the proverbial. If from saltwater the cylinder walls can be too thin. It won't cool properly. or worse, do like the one I had, spring a leak from the water jacket into the cylinder. Yuk,instant scrap iron! Jack Conrad has converted several marine units, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you contact him. He eventually gave up on them and went to a standard RV unit. Cheers...JJ |
Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 7:43 am: | |
Ray,
If the 8 KW is a 2 cylinder with the cylinders vertical and the injector pump mounted on the side of the engine, running off the camshaft, I would look elsewhere. This generator is heavy, noisy, and vibrates. If it was used in a salt water atmosphere, you may have ongoing electrical problems due to corrosion. Also, right now the market has a lot of marine equipment that was submerged or damaged during last years hurricanes. Check it very carefully. I just sold one I was going to use in our bus.
After modifying a couple marine generators and considering the hassles, we decided to just bite the bullet and purchase a PowerTech 8 KW. We feel this was one of the best decisions we made. Feel free to email me for more info. Jack |
Donald Lee Schwanke (Dontx)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 8:16 am: | |
Mine was a Universal 4 cyl job (made by Kubota), which never used salt water for cooling in the engine jacket, but used regular antifreeze which was cooled by running the antifreeze thru some pipes on the outside bottom of the boat. I guess not all are made that way. |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 9:28 am: | |
Ray -
Jack made an excellent point (and something I forgot about):
"Also, right now the market has a lot of marine equipment
that was submerged or damaged during last years hurricanes. "
There's an awful lot of garbage hitting the market daily, most
of it from Florida's coast. I'd be real careful buying anything
marine that's "used". We watch guys stripping out submerged
boats here along the Indian River. All parts probably headed
for "Ebay", and the like... I've been to yard sales, with great
looking fish finders and radio gear, for el'cheapo..
"Cavity Empty" |
Ray Lala (Rayshound)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 10:51 am: | |
Thanks guys for the info. This is a 4 cylindar yanmar with a kohler generator head. Its been sitting in the guys garage for 3 or 4 years so I don't feel it would be a hurricane issue but it has 1800 hrs which is low but is being sold as is and it has some rust. It does have a heavy looking water manifold. Like I mentioned earlier I have another lead on another generator but am questioning if it is to small. It is a yanmar 2 cylinder with a 5.5 kw head 5.0 cont. duty. It is a big unit for construction site, mostly cabinet with forklift carrying features but the mg set could be pulled out. |
Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 11:42 am: | |
If it has some rust, check the electical connections closely for corrosion. If you see green corrosion on the steel crimp-on connectors, it means there is corrosion inside the copper wire. Not Good. You will be constanly fighting electrical connection problems. Don't ask me how I know.
5.5 KW would be marginal for a bus conversion. It would barely run 2 roof ACs. Check the RPM it needs to run at. If it is a construction generator, it may run at 3600 RPM. Typically, construction generators are noisy and need a lot of ventilation. Jack |