Community Forums

rtootle · 08-07-2012, 07:49 PM

I have a Tiffin Allegro Bay 2003 with an Onan 5500 watts generator. I dislike the fact that when the coach gas tank reaches 1/2 tank then the generator will automatically shut off. I know this is a safety feature to conserve fuel until you refuel but I would like to disable this feature. Does anyone know the procedure to bypass or disconnect this feature?

Thanks in advance.

Dutch Star Don · 08-07-2012, 08:37 PM

I think disable is the wrong word choice. You can't turn or switch anything off. The only way to change this is to remove your fuel pickup unit and lengthen the generator pickup tube. I know that on Monaco coaches, at least the older ones, you could buy the new tube which came untrimmed. The factory cut it to length.

I know the length of the tube is a safety feature, but I wish this was something that was left up to the owner to decide.

Gary RVRoamer · 08-08-2012, 06:38 AM

If it shuts off at 1/2 tank, I would complain to Tiffin and see what they can do. It is supposed to be 1/4 tank.

As Don explained above, the shutoff is physical fuel supply - the fuel pick-up tube for the generator is cut short so that it only reaches part way into the tank.

wa8yxm · 08-08-2012, 09:14 AM

It should be 1/4 tank.. The average fuel tank holds about 400 miles,, Now imagine you are way out in the boonies and you run your tank down to say 1/16 with the generator, it's 50 miles to the nearest fuel pump. With a quarter tank you have 2x what you need to get there, with 1/16 tank you have a 25 mile each way hike for fuel.

It is not a shut off, it's a "out of gas" situtation. The generator stops when it can no loger suck fuel from the tank, To "disable" that feature would require removing the fuel tank and changind the outlet/gauge assembly (or at the very least bending one of the pick up tubes).

rtootle · 08-09-2012, 06:10 PM

Removing the tank sounds like a pretty big job. Would it be possible to cut the line and splice it into the same the fuel line that feeds the main engine?

Thanks for the replies.

H. Miller · 08-10-2012, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

The average fuel tank holds about 400 miles

Most we've seen hold 100 gal. and at 8 mpg it's more like 800 miles till "tank dry".

nightriderrv · 08-10-2012, 06:30 AM

For safety reasons I would do it the correct way

Triker56 · 08-10-2012, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H. Miller

Most we've seen hold 100 gal. and at 8 mpg it's more like 800 miles till "tank dry".

You are forgetting all those gas units with smaller tanks.
And that Wa8yxm has one of those low MPG Gas MH's.

My DP fuel tank is 90 gal. And I go 600-700 miles between some fill ups.
And still have more miles left in the tank.

400 miles will take around 39-40 gal. for a fill up in mine.

John S. · 08-11-2012, 03:16 PM

My take up tube is down to the 1/3 level. I have a 200 gallon tank and I usually will go about 800 miles or so max before I fill up. I hate going belown 1/2 a tank and if it is summer running the generator and going 700-800 miles will knock me down there so I usually fill up just before 1/2 at about 80-90 gallons.

MattC · 08-12-2012, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtootle

Removing the tank sounds like a pretty big job. Would it be possible to cut the line and splice it into the same the fuel line that feeds the main engine?

Thanks for the replies.

While that is not all that difficult an operation, it does leave you open to running the coach out of fuel and never knowing about it until it really matters. I have seen this happen twice and both were people that knew better.

A much better idea for the short term (until you get the fuel pickup in the tanks made right) would be to buy an outboard gas can to tie down in a basement space and set it up to fuel the APU (genset). It can then be removed and refilled as needed.

Matt