| Author |
Message |
Sandcastle (208.11.184.74)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 5:26 pm: | |
I want to do what everyone has said not to do. I want to connect my Generator fuel supply to the supply side on the primary filter for the engine. I can see a possible problem when one is not running that the other wiil suck fuel out of the filter of the unit not running and then possibily suck air. My thought woulkd be use check valves. Has anyone done this and or solved this problem. I intend to mount my generator in the compartment over the engine where the coach AC was. I have an Eagle model 20 from NJ. Art |
Peter E (64.165.9.103)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 5:54 pm: | |
I agree, check valves could work... BUT:
I have had check valve problems, they sometimes don't work, and then it is a royal pain in the but getting the system primed and purged again.
I advise against it... |
Stan (68.150.152.113)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 6:49 pm: | |
Check valves work best on a pressure line. The check valve on a DD filter is in the suction line and has to have a very weak spring that can be overcome by the suction on the fuel pump. I would not want to depend on this type of valve. If you really want to use your design, use manual or electric block valves to isolate the systems but don't forget that if both engines are running they will be competing for the same fuel. |
BrianMCI96A3 (65.173.87.107)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 10:16 pm: | |
Let me add one more voice, to the others that have said not to do it.
As a diesel mechanic of 25 years experience, I suggest it is simply not a good idea.
Brian |
two dogs (65.177.145.220)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 11:05 pm: | |
you can get a fuel tank at any truck salvage for about 20.00..(the kind with the step built in)if it's steel you can weld brackets on it& mount it anywhere ,PLUS lots of states let you pay less for that diesel ,just tell them it's refer fuel,no road tax...I also agree with not messing with the motors fuel.. |
Jim-Bob (64.12.116.135)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 11:21 pm: | |
Detroit Diesels have a powerful gear pump. When the main engine is running it will overpower the genset's pump. It WILL cause the genset to run out of fuel. Install a separate pickup for the genny.
In addition, if your genset has a diaphragm type fuel pump, it is designed to lift fuel a maximum of 36 inches (from LOWEST fuel level). If your genny is located high, you need an electric fuel pump mounted near the tank to push fuel up to the genset. The electric pump should be activated by the same circuit as the genset's run solenoid or by an oil pressure switch.
We see these fuel starvation issues often in marine applications even where the genset is on the same level as the main engine & only 4-5 feet above the fuel. |
DrivingMissLazy (66.168.175.51)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 8:31 am: | |
I strongly recommend that you take the time now to do the job properly and install a separate fuel pickup for the genset. In the long run, you will be glad you did. It is much easier to do it right the first time than having to go back and do it right later on.
Are you taking short cuts in doing your electrical or plumbing or your interior? If not, then why take a short cut in installing your genset?
It is a royal pain in the a** to run out of fuel for the genset while you are on the road or at your favorite camping spot or even while stopped overnight at Flying J.
On most of my cross country jaunts, I run the genset 24/7 for days at a time.
Richard |
Frank Allen (152.163.252.199)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 10:20 am: | |
we just put a pickup tube in the top of the main tank and fed the gen set, the diaphram fuel pump picked it right up, i got about 6 inches from the bottom of the tank, put a fitting on top for a return, worked just fine. Did not have a fuel guage at the time and my thinking was the gen set would stop before the big deisel did in case i got too low, this set up worked great for me, i did not put anycheck valves in the line
Frank Allen
4106 |
sandcastle (208.11.184.74)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 10:49 am: | |
Thank for all the advice and being the vote is 100% against my plan A, I will move on to plan B or C. Plan B is a seperate tank near the generator so I can purchase "off road disel" and save, but also have a transfer pump. The transfer pump will move fuel from the road tank to the gen tank but not the other way. Plan C is additional dip tubes in the main tank. What has been the experience running the Webasto heater off the same dip tube as the generator? Do I need to plan for two additionad dip tubes? Again thanks for the advice.
Art
Eagle 20NJ |
two dogs (63.185.96.216)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 11:27 am: | |
sure like "B"...webaasto is off road also |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.130.179.60)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 12:21 pm: | |
Off road fuel is not readily available unless you're in a real rural area. The IRS allows deduction of the federal fuel taxes you have paid using form 4136 on your 1040. This is a credit and not an itemized deduction. Just make sure you have written proof of purchases.
This doesn't help with state taxes. Check with your state as to refunds available for those.
Jim |
two dogs (63.185.72.63)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 12:29 pm: | |
different states are different...HOWEVER..."if" you go to a truck stop ,& go up to the fuel desk & say you want to purchase some "off road diesel",they will laugh you out of the building...words are important here. you are purchaseing "refer fuel"...about 25% of the trucks out there have refers... |
RJ Long (67.181.211.253)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 6:36 pm: | |
Art (Sandcastle) -
One of the more interesting fuel tank systems I've seen for a genset was plumbed thusly:
~ Two tanks, main coach and genset.
~ Genset tank in old HVAC compartment, adjacent to the main tank.
~ "T" fitting on main tank's return line from engine. Top portion of "T" was same diameter as main fuel return line. Leg of "T" was reduced down to 1/2", IIRC. Fuel flow was thus split between main tank and genset tank.
~ 1" line came out the side of the genset tank, very near the top, and flowed over into another return fitting fabricated on side of the main coach tank, just slightly below the top, and downhill a little from the genset tank's opening.
~ Genset tank had it's own pick-up and return lines to the genset.
The way this system works is a portion of the returning fuel from the engine is split off and into the genset tank. When the genset tank is full, excess fuel then flows out the 1" overflow line and back into the main tank. So your genset tank is automatically filled when your engine is running. There was also a valve on the genset tank's "fill line" so you could bypass the genset tank if you wanted, if the main supply was low, for example. Also, you could run your genset tank dry, and not affect the main coach supply.
I do not recall if there was a provision to allow draining the genset tank back into the main tank. . .
Granted, this system does not allow the use of "reefer" fuel, to some folk, this is a non-issue. . .
BTW, this coach also had dual fuel gauges on the dash, one for each fuel tank.
Interesting engineering concept, eh?
FWIW,
RJ
PD4106-2784
Fresno CA |
mclough (65.137.125.88)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 8:30 pm: | |
man,
its to bad all you smart guys are out on the west coast!!!! iwould love to have yall assist me here on the east coast. LOL |
Tom Caffrey (Pvcces) (65.74.66.104)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 9:53 pm: | |
Our boat has a main engine and an auxiliary, both feeding from a common supply line. The stove has a day tank.
No matter which engine is used, their returns feed the day tank. When the day tank is full, it overflows into whichever main tank is in use.
Because each supply and return can be changed to whichever tank you want to use, you can even use the valving to move fuel from one tank to another (rarely done).
In normal use, we never have to even think about the stove fuel. It's a pretty nice setup. We'll probably set up our coach generator the same way if we ever go to diesel.
For what it's worth.
Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576
Suncatcher |