Onan Marquis 5500 install help

[yort]

The purchase of our 38RDO included an Onan Marquis 5500 LP but it is not installed. A quick check of the front bay reveals that the generator will not be able to sit flat on the floor because the depth of the bay is too small. Appears that I will need to mount 8" above the floor pan. Anyone install a generator in their Excel?

Troy
Waconia, MN
2003 Excel 38RDO

[BookIIRoadtrash]

yort, Let me be the first to congratulate you on your new Excel!! I see this is your first post and welcome to the Excel Forum.. It would be nice if you could post some photos of your basement before sunrise and I know after Workshop has had his morning coffee, that he will give you some good direction on the installation of your generator.

[MonacoMama]

yort...Congrats on your new Excel and welcome to iRV2 and the Excel Forum!

I am one of the non-Excel members that tend to hang out over here - so I cannot answer your question specifically about the gennie - but I can tell you that I always saw the gennie padlocked in the back of the pick-up truck bed when my in-laws had a fifth wheel.

Again...Congrats & welcome to the forums..we hope you visit & post often!

[ExcelRVGuy]

Yort,

First, let me thank you for purchasing an Excel 5th wheel. We hope you enjoy it. The 38RDO was a great model for us.

The front compartment will need to have a platform for the generator to sit up on. Peterson Industries can make the platform for you if you will call us at 800-368-3759. We don't install the platform unless the coach is ordered "generator ready". Leaving the platform out gives the owner about 6" more depth for storage.

You may want to order a vented generator door also. Without the vented door, you will have to leave your front access door open when running the generator.

I would suggest installing dual 40# LP bottles so you don't have to refill as often.

Thanks,
Bryan

[Workshop]

My thought would be a platform for the generator also as ExcelRVGuy suggested. That could be ordered from PI or have it made locally from a business that does welding. I've had a lot of things made for my unit that way and was lucky to find a local shop here that's good to work with.

My unit came preped for a generator and I decided not to use it for a generator and now its used for storage and future will use portables if ever needed. Did your unit come prepped for a generator? Generator box, vented door, and propane feed.

I have a large flat floor in that compartment on my unit....could you provide some photos or drawing...measurements.

Sure you can get a lot of good ideas here.

workhorse

[Still Working "NOT"]

Troy,

Something that has not been mention is that after you get your platform mounted, you will be venting the generator out the bootom of the compartment. This allows you to have cooling air to come in around the generator. There should be a sheet with the instructions that show you what you need. If not look at the Onan website and you can download a manual.

You will also need a transfer switch to switch from shore power to generator power. Any good electrical supply business should have one. You can get by without this but I DO NOT SUGGEST THAT ANY ONE DO THIS. If you do, you also have power going to the shore power plug which makes it hot, All it takes is for someone to open the cover and someone gets fried. Trust me 110 volts get your attention.

If you are not comfortable in doing this work, get a qualified electriction to do it foor you.

[yort]

No signs of a generator prep package, so a platform is needed plus venting for fresh air intake. An exhaust pipe was included, does this need to be used or can it be exhausted out the bottom of the compartment? Would a large hole out the bottom work for air intake and exhaust?

As for the power connection, is the camper setup for this or do I need an electrician trained in RV electrical to setup?

Thanks for the feedback!

Troy
Waconia, MN
2003 Excel RDO38

[Still Working "NOT"]

Quote:

Originally Posted by yort No signs of a generator prep package, so a platform is needed plus venting for fresh air intake. An exhaust pipe was included, does this need to be used or can it be exhausted out the bottom of the compartment? Would a large hole out the bottom work for air intake and exhaust? As for the power connection, is the camper setup for this or do I need an electrician trained in RV electrical to setup? Thanks for the feedback! Troy Waconia, MN 2003 Excel RDO38

Guessing that your's is setup like my 2003 RGE, none of the electrical work is on it. Open the front bay and you see if there is any wiring and gas line pipe in the compartment. If not then everything will need to be put in. I'm basing this on the fact that you don't have the platform to set the generator on. It's sounding like you only have the generator box in the front compartment.

On my 2010 Wild Cargo it is generator ready and all I would need to do is put the generator in.

I would go to an Excel dealer or a respectable dealer and they can give you better info then I can with out seeing you unit. They can also do the work for you.

I think Bryan is telling you most of what you need to do.

[Still Working "NOT"]

Click on the link for some more info.

Restoration 101: Life of a 2001

If you have never done any electrical work, do not take on the project. Have someone do it for you!!

[Workshop]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Still Working "NOT" Guessing that your's is setup like my 2003 RGE, none of the electrical work is on it. Open the front bay and you see if there is any wiring and gas line pipe in the compartment. If not then everything will need to be put in. I'm basing this on the fact that you don't have the platform to set the generator on. It's sounding like you only have the generator box in the front compartment. On my 2010 Wild Cargo it is generator ready and all I would need to do is put the generator in. I would go to an Excel dealer or a respectable dealer and they can give you better info then I can with out seeing you unit. They can also do the work for you. I think Bryan is telling you most of what you need to do.

Almost forgot the section I did in '101'.

Thats a good refresher on some of what will be needed. One of the first things I would look for is the steel/metal box that the generator sits in. As mine came prepped for a generator, it had one and not sure if all Excels came standard with it.....and the propane feed, starting cables, ATS etc is what defined the 'Generator prep'.

Looked on the web for installation instruction for the Onan '5500'...and couldn't find anything that I could download that would give detailed instructions on the installation and requirements. If I saw the reference, it stated___contact the dealer. Why its not available for download...don't know.


yort asked...so a platform is needed plus venting for fresh air intake. An exhaust pipe was included, does this need to be used or can it be exhausted out the bottom of the compartment? Would a large hole out the bottom work for air intake and exhaust?

I would use the exhaust pipe, vented to the outside, to remove the fumes and some of the exhaust heat to the outside and have the intake higher, level with the generator. I think this would provide better cooling and air circulation.

I would not use an onboard generator without an ATS, automatic transfer switch. Still was correct about the hazard of the voltage feedback to the inlet plug. Not sure what the manual requires as far as electrcal installation for the generator but would guess as a minimum: wiring for the starter and outputs leads to the ATS.

Could be a lot of work but depending on your background and experience in electrical and propane installation.....and then there is that +200 lb generator to move around. It weights more than me on a good day.

What manuals did you get?

[yort]

I believe the cost will be more than justifiable for the amount of use. We plan on putting the camper on a seasonal site and possibly taking off the site for the 1 long family vacation each year. I will try to sell, any suggestions on value?

Troy