Generator swap

[sharring]

I have a 1996 Dutch Star Diesel. I came equiped with a Onan 6500 watt propane powered generator. I would like to switch to a Onan 7500 watt quiet diesel. Has anyone done this? Would this be hard to do?

[Dave78Chief]

You might have some installation size problems:

Your 6.5K NHE Dimensions: L25" x W21" x H15"

Current Onan 6K (HDKAH) or 8K (HDKAK) QD Dimensions: L36.5" x W24" x H23"
http://www.cumminsonan.com/www/html/...ets/a-1408.pdf

Older used 7.7 (DKD) QD Dimensions: L36.25" x W20" x H24"

Dave

[sharring]

Thanks for the info. lucky for me that the 6.5K NHE is mounted sideways in between the frame rails. In all directions there is some room to spare.

[Iron Man]

Is a diesel supply line existing or will you have run a line from the tank? If you have to run a line that could be interesting!!!

[sharring]

I haven't checked that far yet. I'm hoping that there is a place to install another line. Beings diesels are sometimes installed in the same units from the factory as an option I'm hoping that the diesel tank is the same.

[Mr_D]

You'll be much happier with the diesel, I know we are and it was one of the reasons for upgrading from a 2000 DSDP to a 2002.

[wa8yxm]

I am surprised they put a Propane Generator in a Diesel rig. Normally they power the generator off the main engine tank, not the cooking tank.

IF, there is no existing Generator fuel out on the tank then you can easily add one. In fact the job is easier than you might think save for one step.

With the tank as empty as you can safely get it... Drop the tank, on top you should find the fuel-guage sender/outlet (A round device held in with a locking ring on most tanks but may be bolted in place) you replace this part with one designed for use with Generators. it will be identical save for having two outlet pipes..

One other concern.. Depending on the design of the rig (Floor plan) consider plumbing the exhaust up up and through the roof.. I have seen (ONE) motor home factory built this way and I've read of a couple who modified their rigs that way.

If you modify yours remember that exhaust pipes get hot. So the trick is to triple wall it. (3 pipes, one inside the other each with air space between them) The center pipe ends in a exhaust tip or device, the other two are simply capped (the cap is attached to the smaller pipe) in the manner of sewer vents so air can flow keeping the outer most pipe very cool. Or you can use the Gen-turi method as well (Basically install an Gen-Turi) Saves having to hook up a Gen-turi like I do when you use the generator.

[Wizard]

All the generators I have ever had, 5, I think, all had a single wall exhaust pipe that exhausted just under the outside of the coach very near the generator. Not sure about the Quiet Diesel as I've never had one.

I also have a propane generator in my Journey. Don't matter much to me as I use it very little. Reason I would think of changing it would be if its used often, it can burn through a tank of propane very quickly.

[michelb]

Many mhs from those years came with LPG gen as standard and QD as an option so I don't think you'll have space problems since they'd probably fit either. That said, I would really think seriously about your motivation of doing this and the benefits. There's probably not much argument that giving the choice, the QD gen is a better option than the LPG gen but is there that much benefit? From what I've seen, even a used QD genny is around $5000 (I don't think there's much demand for used LPG gens so you might not even get half that for the one you're pulling out). I wouldn't be surprised if the labour involved in swapping them is easily another $2000 (I don't believe your gen is on a slide so it will have to be removed from below (actually even if it was, you might still have to remove it from below)) and it's probably not trivial to remove the LPG lines and run lines to the diesel tank. Since your mh was built for the 6500W gen, it's possible that you transfer switch will only handle that much so you may not get any benefit from the extra power (or worse might have to replace the transfer switch). Do you really use the gen enough to justify spending $5k-7K to upgrade the gen? For that much money, I'd be inclined to think you could just sell your mh and buy a more recent one with a QD gen and then you get the QD gen and a more recent mh.

[lonestarace]

x2 what Michelb said

Our first diesel pusher was a learning experience, a 98 DSDP with propane 6.5kw Onan. We thought, shopped, and researched long and hard about replacing it with a Onan QD. It never made any sense(big expensive project). We sold the MH and bought a unit with a QD and will never own another DP wo/a diesel genny.

Good Luck