Portable generator instead of APU

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Edjahman, Oct 10, 2016.

  1. bzinger

    bzinger Road Train Member

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    I wonder if your 8500 unit has the same dimensions as my 5000 unit ?
     
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  3. flatbeb mac

    flatbeb mac Medium Load Member

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    I shut off my upper bunk in extreme temps, I just lay the bunk curtain up over the top bunk. Helps a lot, of course it's not a huge sleeper. Been trying to figure out a fridge situation, but kinda getting over that idea.
     
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  4. Hurst

    Hurst Registered Member

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    I think it probably does. I bought it at Lowes,.. all the 5000 - 10,000 BTU had pretty much the same dimensions.

    Hurst
     
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  5. bzinger

    bzinger Road Train Member

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    Got mine at home depot and it's a GE like yours .
     
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  6. lilillill

    lilillill Sarcasm... it's not just for breakfast

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    I open the upper bunk windows when the sun starts beating down. It lets the hot air out and helps keep the truck cooler.

    Alternatively, placing a fan on the floor blowing up at the roof, to bring the hot air down to be cooled, works well too. You just have to suffer with the initial hot air.
     
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  7. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    I have a feeling you may have either repositioned the fuel tanks forward on the right side or gave up large fuel tanks seeing a curved bracket sitting emtpy behind your custom box.

    There is one boo boo that cries out at me. Bear with me as I explain.

    You carry gasoline in a plastic container inside a box that is relatively thin walled if you ever run over something like a angle iron, it could punch through and make your gas fuel contact the hot stator possibly = fire.

    Have you thought about sourcing a 2 and half gallon or 5 gallon metal Jerry can in the pre-ban style? All you need to do with it during hot weather is to loosen the lid and let it breathe out the excessive pressure from time to time.

    I like to play devil's advocate in solving potential problems before they get to be a problem you understand?

    If that is your ground wire for the 5th wheel up there on the right hand rail notch train maybe take a look at it closely to be sure it's not corroding itself off ground and hurting your trailer in the future possibly?

    Again, Im not trying to be anal or difficult, but my eye roves over everything and i cannot help but poke at things that could stand to be looked at before they become a problem.
     
  8. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    What about the shaking? That window going to stand up to it? Much less the hardware below inside the door? I know it's a freight shaker, but you are generating I imagine pretty good harmonics that would rattle that window over yonder.
     
  9. Hurst

    Hurst Registered Member

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    Never touched the fuel tanks. They are the larger 150 gal tanks. Columbia and Century both have their tanks forward like this.

    I believe you have my exhaust support confused with the large bracket.

    Here is a better angle.
    [​IMG]

    The exhaust at the elbow gets no where near hot enough to ignite gasoline. This is a pre-emissions Acert C15. No hot DPF to worry about.

    When I did the generator, I had the 5th wheel replaced with a new one at the same time. The spiral you see is the air line for the slider. Its actually rubber hose,.. no metal. Its just dirty.

    Hurst
     
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  10. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Much better. Thank you kindly.

    Again thank you and Bz for a good tour. I learned a few things today and tonight. I have to do some thinking.
     
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  11. Hurst

    Hurst Registered Member

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    Not sure I understand what you mean by shaking? I dont drive with the AC in the window. The AC itself is very quiet and smooth. No noticeable vibrations or harmonics. When the AC is in the window,.. the truck is not running. Only the generator,.. which is also quiet, smooth and almost vibration free. From inside the sleeper I can not tell if its running or not.

    The window glass it tempered,.. very strong. How ever,.. what you see is an illusion. The glass is not supporting the full weight of the AC.

    As you can see in this trial fit,.. its braced more by the door frame,.. than the glass itself. There is no metal to glass conctact. There are rubber gaskets to prevent this.
    [​IMG]

    Hurst
     
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