| Author | Message | ||
| Douglas Tappan (Dougthebonifiedbusnut)
Registered Member Username: Dougthebonifiedbusnut Post Number: 90 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 75.69.223.64  Rating: N/A |
Hey all, I'm looking at my newest Northern Catalog and see a Star genset 13kw 20 hp Honda engine. Do any of you have first hand experence or can give me a ya or na about this gen. At 2300. do you think the gen side is reliable? | ||
| George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member Username: George_mc6 Post Number: 840 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 76.171.79.185 Rating: N/A |
Doug, This being a bus site, I have to ask what you intend to use the gen for? If its for use way OUTSIDE of your house, or temporary construction type service, its as good as the rest? IT CANNOT BE MOUNTED IN A BUS COMPARTMENT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES! G | ||
| David Guglielmetti (Daveg)
Registered Member Username: Daveg Post Number: 58 Registered: 2-2009 Posted From: 64.163.110.102  Rating: N/A |
Okay, for what it is worth, what differences are there for a gen set mounted in a bus (engine compt. or baggage bay) vs. any other gen set application. I can think of a few, such as noise, exhaust dispersion, intake/flow/ventilation, etc...but what am I not thinking about? Personally, while the Honda engine is a great product, the rest of the gen set may be crap, based solely on the vendor and pricing...could be way off here. Just thinking out loud on a lazy Saturday morning. | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 331 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 74.244.14.221  Rating: N/A |
I tend to agree you get what you pay for and there is no getting around that with genrators. If it were me I would keep my eyes open for a good used powertech or similar | ||
| larry currier (Larryc)
Registered Member Username: Larryc Post Number: 223 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 205.188.116.203 Rating: N/A |
Hey, Doug! I don't know about the gen set. They burn alot of fuel and I like to keep them as small as I can for that reason. I still love your CROWN and think its the finest coach to ever grace the web. I know what ever you do will be awesome. | ||
| doug yes (Dougg)
Registered Member Username: Dougg Post Number: 87 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 162.40.208.80 Rating: N/A |
I use a Star Genset from Northern for emergency power. Works fine, but I don't use it alot. | ||
| George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member Username: George_mc6 Post Number: 841 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 64.55.111.6 Rating: N/A |
Doug & Dave, There are essentially three types of generators: 1. "Construction/temporary power," like the Star shown. 2. "Permanent standby," where the whole unit is enclosed to protect it from the elements. 3. RV type "COMPARTMENT MOUNTED" generator. The main difference between types 1 & 2, and the reason for the greater cost of type 3, is the cooling system. ALL of the cheap temporary type take cooling air in around the recoil starter, and PUSH it over the engine to cool it. This hot air comes out of both sides and the other end, and in a compartment, it is taken back in, and re-heated. The carburetor intake will get hot air in a compartment, and the generator and compartment overheat quickly! Gasoline tank is on the top, as it has no fuel pump, so we can figure out what is going to happen in 7 or 8 minutes! An RV-compartment type gen has a much more enclosed cooling system, and takes air in from the compartment, PULLS it over the engine, then exhausts the hot air out the bottom thru a duct that is sealed to the floor. Carburetor air is taken from cool air that has just come in thru the required inlet louvers. An oil pump, a fuel pump to take fuel from a remote tank, remote controls, probably low oil shutdown, and more battery charging... 1800 RPM, instead of 3600, so its a whole lot quieter, and lasts longer. G | ||
| Douglas Tappan (Dougthebonifiedbusnut)
Registered Member Username: Dougthebonifiedbusnut Post Number: 91 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 75.69.223.64 Rating: N/A |
Thanks guys, especially Larry for his highly motivating, and kind words.and George who has once again put me but on the correct track. | ||
| David Guglielmetti (Daveg)
Registered Member Username: Daveg Post Number: 61 Registered: 2-2009 Posted From: 64.163.110.102 Rating: N/A |
Thanks George. | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 914 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 208.54.200.82  Rating: N/A |
George, I have a water cooled Honda EV6010 gas gen that turns at 3600 rpm and if it were any quieter I couldn't stand it!! | ||
| Mike Eades (Mike4905)
Registered Member Username: Mike4905 Post Number: 190 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 97.106.122.149 Rating: N/A |
I have a wirco 8k diesel, watger cooled,and I put an automotive muffler. I put a 50 gal tank in the next bay. The battery is mounted on the same slide out rack as the3 geenerator. If you need advice call Dick Wrigth at Wirco. Great people that know conversions. | ||
| FloridaCliff (Floridacracker)
Registered Member Username: Floridacracker Post Number: 401 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 67.8.98.138 Rating: N/A |
Doug, Been in your shoes with the generator decision when I first bought my bus. I can tell you that I looked at about every option and with cost being a major consideration. I ended up buying a used Honda ES6500 for around $1.5K, which is basically a EV6010 in a frame. It is gas. I mounted it on a slide, its quiet for a gas unit, even at 3600 rpm, but under load, it is considerably louder than a comparable RV/Bus diesel. My personal experience is the gas units have a short life compared to the diesel. I realise I bought mine used, but I really didn't expect to have to replace the cam, worn pulley key way,(common problem with the Honda) and have it through a rod through the casing about 100 hours later, about a month ago. Well I broke down and bought a 8Kw PowerTech Diesel used with around 400 hours for about 4K. Rated at 30,000 hours not around 1000 like most gas units. Plus I can dip my tank for fuel. Not having to carry around two fuels is "priceless" I should have done this in the beginning and I would have been around 1500 in the black, hope it saves you a few bucks. Cliff |