Over heating Power Tech Genset continued.......

[JOC1212]

Had a nice talk with Jeff at Power Tech. He feels that Country Coach did not engineer the generator bay with the proper air flow for adequate cooling.

His suggestion is to "drill some holes (1") in the floor of the bay and add a suction fan to the bay to increase the fresh air into the bay.

Has anyone already one this fix??

If so where did you drill the holes??
My genset it in a factory supplied metal box, did you drill through the bottom of the genset box??

If you installed a fan where in the world did you put it?? Was it to suck fresh air or expel hot air??

I'm just not seeing where I can cut any 1" holes in the bottom of the bay without removing the generator. Then it is still in it's "factory box".

There is a pretty good sized hole under the "motor mount" that goes straight into the fresh air intake, which seem close to the pancake muffler.....(2 fingers away)
Help.....Please.

[deandec]

https://prevostcommunity.com/adImage...Prevost-26.jpg

A 17kw Power Tech in a baggage compartment bay. It looks like there is no metal encasement on this one.

[Smitty77]

I understand your goal is to have your generator stay cool. And also understand approaching the manufacturer of the generator for input.

Did CC always have perfect coaches? Nope... Mistakes were made (Many times 'influenced' by those who owned them at any give time - National and forward.), and those mistakes can be aggravating to deal with...

That being said. Many times suppliers of sub component's, will state that the planned usage is fine... Who can really say today, if the install of your generator was not within the guidelines of the manufacturer - at that time? And in reality, it does not matter anymore...

Me?

I'd reach out for input to Premier RV Service, who has 'Staff' who were involved in Engineering, as well as many other disciplines with CC, over the years. Or, Oregon Motor Coach, who also have a sound CC knowledge base.

I know you're posting here, and perhaps elsewhere too, for input. On a 'design deficiency' by CC... That ship has sailed... and may not be accurate. Focus on the solution today.

IMO, as a layman. Absolutely you should be able to 'enhance' the cooling efficiency of the Generator compartment. Very good chance others have done so before. Hopefully someone will share what they have done. But also, working 'with' the two recommendations above, might be your fastest way to a solution.

Fingers crossed for you. My $.02!

Best of luck,
Smitty

[JOC1212]

Smitty:
Thanks for your input. You're a 100% correct. I do want to stop living in the past and certainly will as soon as I can get this issue resolved. We've been fighting this issue since 2007 when we purchased this coach.

My confusion is that I've spent over $10,000 trying to get this issue resolved. I don't want to list the names of the organizations since it could be construed as bad mouthing them. The problem persists to exist.

The service manager at Power Tech is telling me to "drill 1" holes in the bottom of the genset bay, I don't see where there is room to do that. The service manager at one of the places you suggested says that we should put vents in the bay door, the service manager at Power Tech says definitely not to do that.

Hopefully you can see my total confusion and frustration.
I'm on this site hoping that someone else that has had this issue can tell me how they resolved it. I refuse to believe that Coach #11100 is the only one that Country Coach built with this issue. I know that someone else has had the issue and resolved it. I'd just like to know how.

[Smitty77]

Hi JOC1212 - I sent you a PM. And rereading my post, I wanted to be clear in no way was I attempting to knock what you're trying solve, and what you have done - reading other posts, I knew you've spent some good coin on this already. (Reading my post, it could have come across as knocking you - sorry, was not my intent!)

Best,
Smitty

[Smitty77]

Hi again JOC1212. Had sometime to go do some research on this, and see you did post for help at the old Yahoo Owner's Forum.

This may seem a bit out of the box, but heck - no one ever accused me of ever being in the box to begin with...

How about sourcing a Refrigerator Vent (Like they put into the coach side walls, for access to the back of a Three Way Fridge.) Cut and then mount this into the basement bay door of the generator. IF enough room exists between the inside of this now mounted vent and the Generator - mount a 12V Radiator Fan, to push air out of the cabinet (The Power Tech must be getting enough fresh air to feed the Diesel itself. So focus on expelling the heat thru that door bay door.

Maybe something like this 'slim' unit fan?

https://www.upgr8.com/store/radiator...inch-blue.html

If you have that access refrigerator vent painted to match the coach, it will disappear some. Or, maybe a stainless steel (Non rusting.), and paint that to match. Something like this:

https://www.upgr8.com/store/radiator...inch-blue.html

Another option would be to check with maybe West Marine for Stainless Steel vents used in boating. Either leave it shine, to make a statement. Or, paint to match to help it hide...

So that's some input for you to noodle over!

Again, good luck,
Smitty

[gnvrvin]

Smitty
Both your links go to the fan
But good ideas

I am still on the camp that someone had the same issue..dang if it cant be more than frustrating for JOC1212

greg

[Smitty77]

Originally Posted by gnvrvin

Smitty
Both your links go to the fan
But good ideas

I am still on the camp that someone had the same issue..dang if it cant be more than frustrating for JOC1212

greg

Thanks Greg! (I'm average on a computer, and well on a Samsung S21 - I'm - well the results of a double post to the same site - speaks for itself!

This was the link to West Marine for JOC1212!

https://www.westmarine.com/west-mari...000226993.html

The more air in, and out, the cooler the bay with the Generator will be. As, JOC1212 know!
Smitty

(I'll also share. On our first 'Camper', a 1968 VW Weekender (Not a Westphalia - no Pop-Up!) We had cooling issues, as we'd gone with an 1835, from the 1600, during a rebuild. Duel Carb's, etc. But, we also had the Cam's changed during the Blue Printing, for a more broader powerband v top HP ratings. To assist on Air Cooling. We had Scoops on one side of the engine bay, and yes - louvered vents on the other side. And more louvers cut into the rear engine access panel. (Each cylinder had a separate temp gauge for monitoring. And even going to Titanium valves, and some other alloy (Inconel?) - the cylinder head closest to the exhaust system (My mistake, as I should had Dual mufflers installed!) was the only one that really ever got too close to being too hot!). I look back on these days - as prepping me for climbing hills at the speeds that the Power to Weight Ratio of the engine/vehicle would allow!)

[JOC1212]

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My frustration comes from feeling that I'm the only one with this issue when I know that I'm not and no one else telling me how to resolve it.

Power Tech is empathic telling me not to put vents in the bay door but to drill holes in the floor of the bay and add a fan......not sure which direction the was to blow but it doesn't make much difference since there is not much room in that bay.
Then I have Oregon Motor Coach telling me they would solve this issue by putting vents in the bay door. My confusion there is that the same people that are at Oregon Motor Coach were at Country Coach when this issue was first discovered, and we took it to CC to be resolved. Wonder why they didn't put vents in the bay door back then????

Today a good friend who is an engineer that has designed multiple generator buildings for power back up suggested that due to the limited room in the bay that an external (under the coach) heat exchange might be the ticket.
that would add coolant capacity and get the "extra radiator" away from the generator to be cooled by the "clean cool air" away from the generator.

All I want is someone who has solved this problem to tell me how they solved it. If I'm supposed to drill 1" holes in the floor of the bay, where to drill them?

Hopefully you all can see how this is frustrating and confusing.
Thanks Smitty your idea seems to be the simplest and easiest to implement.

IF SOMEONE HAS SOLVED THIS ISSUE PLEASE CONTACT ME...I'm getting to the point that we're seriously thinking of selling our coach in lieu of putting any more money into solving this issue.

[gnvrvin]

JOC1212
Found another older post..look at #17
Couple ideas were suggested

https://www.countrycoachforums.com/i...?topic=21780.0

Smitty was on to something .....go figure

This just ain't right
Greg