Install cheap generator questions

tyler

Active member
Jun 22, 2013
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I bought a cheap 4850 max, dual fuel generator as the 78 Onan has no control board, pipe and muffler, starter, or good wires. The house battery is up
front, and the propane is up under the front dinette w Royale design.

So, simplest plan is to add a bbq propane tank where a rear house battery would sit, put the whole generator where the onan sits, plumb the exhaust
out, and add a 12 volt radiator type fan to bring fresh air into the box. my main question is: as long as everything is installed well, probably with
a physical barrier between the genny and the bbq propane tank, is that going to be a problem?

And a backpressure question follows, is it ok to just plumb pipe out to an appropriate exit point, which could be two to five feet of pipe AFTER THE
muffler? I would think the main advantage of moving the muffler outside (extra pipe before the muffler) the box is heat, yes?

In four years, my pattern of generator use is pretty limited to roof AC going down the road, and 15 minutes in the morning when boondocking to run my
Keurig coffeemaker. Oh, and that time the alternator belt flung off and I ran the genny to keep going!

I could plumb in the big original ASME tank, but then I have two regulators (one at tank, and one at generator) as it comes ready to attach to a BBQ
type tank. Am i correct two regulators don't work correctly?

All pictures, ideas, improvements, etc are appreciated

--
1975 Glenbrook, 1978 Royale rear bath
Raleigh, NC
 
I put a 7500 in my 23'. It had had a junkerac varispeed nightmare. Went with it. I bolted the muffler to the bumper and plumbed to it. Worked
fine.

--johnny
--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
 
Johnny, I remember you made reference to a certain kind of fuel pump for your install. Low pressure because it is expecting gravity feed. What was
that term?

--
1975 Glenbrook, 1978 Royale rear bath
Raleigh, NC
 
Tyler,

Google "Lawn Mower Fuel Pump" and you'll find a bunch of what I call
"crankcase pulsation pumps". They're plastic bodied pumps with a diaphragm
which is operated by the pulsations in the crankcase. There are three hose
connections: 1. To the crankcase to pick up the pressure variations. 2.
Fuel In. 3. Fuel Out. Could hardly be simpler or cheaper. Hardest thing
is finding the place to tap into crankcase pressure -- probably the rocker
cover or the oil fill tube.

I don't think much of the portable tank back there in the heat. You
shouldn't have any trouble with the regulators -- Check Jerry Work's LGP
conversion for "how to".

​Ken H.
 
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/new-genset/p59102-pump-plumbing.html

Pictures of mine on the photo site. Album is called new genset. It shows among other things, how I connected the pulse line, and the pump mounted on
the bay wall. Pulse pump was 6 bucks shipped prime. It also shows how I modified the dipstick to get crankcase pulses without getting oil as well in
the line.
While the pictures are the genset I used, the pump system will work on any of them. Remembeer, the needle valve for gasoline is only spec'ed to
handle a head of less than one foot. Nobody's electric pump is going to work, and the pulse pump is cheaper anyhow.

--johnny
--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased