Generator Compartment Build

[Jcparmley]

I just bought a 20kw PowerTech Gen Used.  I have been reading on the best way to install it in my MCI 102DL3 coach.  Of course I want to build a quiet box.  My plan is to remote mount the radiator in the old AC bay.  I plan to also pipe the exhaust to the roof.  My question is how to bring air through the quiet box over the gen and vent it outside without defeating the "soundproofness".  I found pics of a gentleman making his Gen compartment on another site.  I was planing on mimicking his build.  Check out the pics and tell me what you think will work and not work.  Thanks

[Jcparmley]

More pics.

[Jcparmley]

More pics

[Jcparmley]

Some final pics

[buswarrior]

Openings have to go around corners to suppress sound.

Creating a series of switchback cavities, with enough cross section to satisfy the particular air flow needs of the equipment is the challenge.

Sound deadening material lining the switchback takes all the bounce out, and silence will be lovely.

Switchback cavities consume space, but the silence of operation will make you forget soon enough...

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[Melbo]

Put a shroud on the squirrel cage that matches up to the radiator so you get the maximum air flow through the radiator.  I used sheetmetal on the fan and a rubber edge against the radiator so as not to damage it from vibration.   I see that you have it perpendicular to the center line of the bus.  I had to rotate mine because when we were parked it worked fine BUT when we hit highway speeds the fan (by the way my fan draws approx 7.5 amps) could not keep the generator cool.  I'm guessing the fan could not push the air out but I don't know.  I just turned the radiator and fan 90 degrees (it blows towards the back of the bus now and really has only a small area to vent out of) and all was well.

HTH

Melbo

[richard5933]

If that's in the bay where the a/c used to be, aren't you pushing air in the opposite direction the factory did? Not saying it won't work, but perhaps there was a reason the factory did it the way they did which has something to do with cooling efficiency, low pressure zones, etc.

My thought is that you might find there was a reason the factory sucked air in the side and blew it out the floor. If so, it wouldn't be that difficult to turn the squirrel fan around and follow the same air flow direction the factory did.

Otherwise, that's a great looking install and I'm jealous at how clean it looks.

[chessie4905]

Are you using those little airbags for mounts on your generator?

[Jcparmley]

Are you using those little airbags for mounts on your generator?

I would like to use the air bag mounts but PowerTech wants over two hundred dollars a piece.  Anyone know if you can get them cheaper somewhere?

[chessie4905]

http://forum.prevostownersgroup.com/archive/index.php/t-6209.html

I know this is putting the cart before the horse, but may come in handy soon.

[Jcparmley]

Interesting thread.  I wonder if the air bags are the best type of isolation.

http://forum.prevostownersgroup.com/archive/index.php/t-6209.html

I know this is putting the cart before the horse, but may come in handy soon.

[chessie4905]

Quite common on Prevost Marathons. My nephews 92 has them. He mentuoned he started the generator and there was quite a bit of vibration till they inflated. 17 kw Martin. Other Owners mention them on Prevost forums.

[daveola]

My generator "doghouse" was a little more ghetto (no fancy welding involved or slideouts), but it does a good job of soundproofing.  My biggest mistake was to make the air cavities too small in order to make everything fit (I put the radiator in the same bay).  It's hard to make things bigger, later, that's for sure.

Using any sort of shock absorber (such as rubber feet) for the generator and using sound deadening plywood (it's dense plywood with an internal lead liner) combined with reflecting insulation worked out well.  I wish I had made more room and more plumbing for a better muffler, that's the biggest source of noise at this point, so that's a future project.

Pics:

http://bus.getdave.com/Album/Electrical/Generator/

[Jcparmley]

 Hi Dave
Does your setup kill most of the noise?  What do you mean when you suggest you would do something different with the exhaust?  You also mention the intake.  Is it too small? Not enough air flow?  Does your gender overheat?

My generator "doghouse" was a little more ghetto (no fancy welding involved or slideouts), but it does a good job of soundproofing.  My biggest mistake was to make the air cavities too small in order to make everything fit (I put the radiator in the same bay).  It's hard to make things bigger, later, that's for sure.

Using any sort of shock absorber (such as rubber feet) for the generator and using sound deadening plywood (it's dense plywood with an internal lead liner) combined with reflecting insulation worked out well.  I wish I had made more room and more plumbing for a better muffler, that's the biggest source of noise at this point, so that's a future project.

Pics:

http://bus.getdave.com/Album/Electrical/Generator/

[Van]

Hi Dave
  Is it too small? Not enough?  Does your gender overheat?

  LOL! Sorry!