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Air Compressor–So it begins.
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Mark, Just make sure you run your gen once/mo loaded…you’ll never wear it out…the more you use it the fewer problems. No kidding. Geo.
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Geo, we run the genny once a month…. we have 155 hours on it as we have just past one year of ownership! Where does the time go? Wow, and 19,000 miles showing.
Mark
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Mark,
I realize some owners are very reluctant to run the generator while going down the road, but if you consider doing that at least some of the time you can see some benefits.
First, it takes the load off the alternators and inverters. If you are running AC units it is from power generated by the alternators, and then pulled from the batteries by the inverters. The engine is still consuming fuel consistent with the work asked of it by the alternators so running the generator has little difference on fuel consumption.
But when you do run the generator while driving to provide whole coach comfort, you can also run everything else in your coach with no restrictions because of the generator capacity. So you get to exercise the generator and at the same time power up the entire coach as if you were on shore power.
To put this in perspective it is widely understood our generators are good for at least 30,000 hours. If you only average 40 MPH in all your miles of driving you will have driven 1.2 million miles by the time the generator reaches those hours. Which is why if I did not have an OTR coach, I would start the generator when I started the coach, turn everything on and enjoy the ride.
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Interesting, I would have thought the generator would consume more fuel than allowing the inverters to power two or more ac’s.
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Great post Jon, I understand and agree with all of what you said. And we do just that, if we are Rollin we are running the generator. And of course enjoying the ride.
Bill
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In the winter, how do you put a load on the generator when rolling down the road?
Generally, I like the coach at 50 degrees max (ok, maybe 68 is good)… so, I’m not using hardly any heat at all. ‘C’ might want his seat heater ON.
How would I load the genny in the winter? I guess I could turn on the floor heat. I’m not really sure how much juice that uses.
Mark
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The primary reason to run the generator while going down the road is to provide for a comfortable environment. If you don’t have heavy loads such as to run an AC just leave it off. The load on your alternators and batteries will be negligable because as you point out you realy don’t have any heavy demands.
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Air Compressor is in, hub seal and brake cans next…..
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Steve, while you are there, the air bags & shocks are right there if you don’t have any idea of their age. Half the problem is getting the bus all supported.
By the way, the lights are in, but Trucklite had to make the Amber lens and they are supposed to ship late this month.
Bill
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Hey Bill!!
Good to hear from you! Jeff changed out my bags a few months ago, I think I’m going to change the shocks while I’m in there too. Look forward to getting those lights too..Steve
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Hub Seal is in, brake chambers on, now new shocks, Jeff, apprecieate the information you gave Bill yesterday!!
If I keep going, I will have a new bus…… Right!!
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