-
replace Vanner with Victron?
-
Well, the Fast Idle Test was no big deal. I measured the four corners of my Victron setup, as well as next to the +24v terminal on my chassis battery. The highest temperature was 91 degrees Fahrenheit, and the readings at all five points stayed within a couple of degrees of each other over an hour and fifteen minutes. Ambient temperature was about 72 degrees, and it was cloudy. Pretty nice day, come to think of it. I ran at fast idle (950 or so RPM, I think) with the OTR running at max cool and the suspension all the way down. I suspected my IR thermometer was faulty, but confirmed it by measuring the ground, my arm, my pole barn . . .
I think I learned more about my bus generally than I did about this installation. I would have expected higher temps than that at fast idle. I guess the lack of ram airflow in the cooling design means standing still doesn’t hurt the cooling, and it’s all a question of power output. I’ll do a road test in the next few days and report back.
One thought I did have is that the temperatures probably go up after shutdown due to radiant heating in the absence of air flow. This only occurred to me after the engine had cooled down. I’m thinking it’s a non-factor since the Victron units will not be operating when the alternator isn’t outputting. Nevertheless, I’ll try to monitor temps after shutdown next time.
1984 96" with 8V92TA
(remodeled Liberty Coach)
Greenwood, MO -
Dick, I glanced at remote-display thermometers last night, but didn’t get very far. Any recommendations for systems that aren’t gold-plated?
-
I was told a long time ago fast idle was used to generate some heat, such as to keep a driver warm on cold nights in a truck. But it will never get all temperatures into the operating range, and that includes the transmission.
On later coaches with electric clutches they will reach higher temps, unless your coach has radiator shutters because I believe your fan is always pulling air.
-
Well, I finally got around to doing a road test. Sunny day at about 78 degrees F. I ran 55 miles down the highway at about 65 mph and then parked at fast idle. I found the hottest temperature for my engine bay electrical components (including all batteries) was around 135 F. That was on the outbound leg. On the way back, my cruise control decided to fail in the on/resume position, so even with it turned off I was hammer down until I stepped firmly on the brake. Then, it held whatever pedal position I applied manually. Since I was going through some small hills, I eventually needed “full throttle,” leaving me once again hammer down. My solution was to drop to 4th gear and let it run against the governor at about 60 mph. I cautiously monitored engine and transmission temps, but both remained fairly even. Transmission around 185 and engine at about 172. At home, I shut down and went straight back to measure temps. They had made it to about 143.
That’s below the maximum temperature for the Victron equipment, so I’m going to run with it and see how things hold up. If higher outside temperatures cause things to heat up too much, I’ll look at moving stuff inside. Thanks for all of your comments and suggestions!
a couple of edits:
I again forgot to monitor temperatures after shutdown to see if they went up. I doubt I’ll do another run just for that.
Dick, I ordered some temperature sensors to cobble something together with a Raspberry Pi computer. That should be a fun project.
2000 Featherlite H3-45
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Leesburg, FL -
Keep us posted on the raspberry Pi!
-
I’m almost certain as ambient temps rise the temps in the area being measured will increase at least as much as that temp rise is.
My 8V92 would run at the temps shown, but long steep hills would have the engine temps at 195 so there could be a spike in temps when in hilly areas also.
Log in to reply.