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10-13-2024, 08:13 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2024
Posts: 35
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Run House air while driving?
I had the dash air filled, lasted 3 Months.They can't find the leak?
I can only imagine the cost to figure out and repair this system$$$$$$$
Don't really use the rig much, 2 or 3 times a year to KC & OKC, for work, don't like hotels. Not a lot of places in Colorado that can handle these rigs and have electric. The ones that do get reserved 6 mo. in advance, I will learn how to play that game this winter. I like staying on lakes!
Does it harm the House air or generator to run while driving?
Does any one know fuel consumption of a 8kw Onan Diesel (Cummins) under load?
__________________
2003 Tiffin Phaeton, Freightliner, 35RE
Cat 3126E, 330hp, Allison 3000 6 spd.
Project in Progress
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10-13-2024, 08:21 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Boise Valley (SW Idaho)
Posts: 2,053
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We ran our rooftop AC's on our Dynasty while traveling, numerous times. Worked just fine.
Google search https://www.google.com/search?client...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
The search produced a number of about ½ gallon per hour at half load. Fourteen amps at 120 volts would be about 1,600 watts which would be about 20% load. I'm guessing you would burn a gallon of diesel every three to four hours running one AC. It adds up, but it's not over the top.
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Jim & Angie, Boise, ID
2021 Entegra Esteem 27U
2017 GMC Acadia Denali
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10-13-2024, 08:33 AM
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#3
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Full timing
Posts: 7,379
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BajaBobber
I had the dash air filled, lasted 3 Months.They can't find the leak?
I can only imagine the cost to figure out and repair this system$$$$$$$
Don't really use the rig much, 2 or 3 times a year to KC & OKC, for work, don't like hotels. Not a lot of places in Colorado that can handle these rigs and have electric. The ones that do get reserved 6 mo. in advance, I will learn how to play that game this winter. I like staying on lakes!
Does it harm the House air or generator to run while driving?
Does any one know fuel consumption of a 8kw Onan Diesel (Cummins) under load?
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Look at page 15 for fuel consumption rates:
https://www.cummins.com/sites/defaul...ops-manual.pdf
__________________
2018 Road Warrior 427
2013 Can Am Spyder RT Limited
2017 Ram 3500 w/Aisin w/4:10
2 Dachshunds DJ (RIP 9-12-19) & Joey (RIP 5-14-21)
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10-13-2024, 08:49 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Western Slope of Colorado
Posts: 407
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BajaBobber
I had the dash air filled, lasted 3 Months.They can't find the leak?
I can only imagine the cost to figure out and repair this system$$$$$$$
Don't really use the rig much, 2 or 3 times a year to KC & OKC, for work, don't like hotels. Not a lot of places in Colorado that can handle these rigs and have electric. The ones that do get reserved 6 mo. in advance, I will learn how to play that game this winter. I like staying on lakes!
Does it harm the House air or generator to run while driving?
Does any one know fuel consumption of a 8kw Onan Diesel (Cummins) under load?
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Doesn't hurt a thing. Do it all the time.
Sold the diesel a few years back and don't remember the half load consumption off the top of my head, but it's not a deal breaker.
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04 Monaco Monarch 30 PDD on Ford F53 chassis V10
97 Monaco Executive 40ft - SOLD, downsizing
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10-13-2024, 06:16 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Fleetwood Owners Club Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: North East Florida
Posts: 2,111
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Your 8kW gen needs a little run time and since you said you only make 2 or 3 trips a year, it would be a good idea to just use the house air while traveling.
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2019 Horizon 42Q
Cummins L-9 450 HP
Maxum Chassis / IFS with Tag
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10-13-2024, 07:38 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Western NC
Posts: 227
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I do it. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't think of taking a summer trip without running the roof AC.
__________________
Gary & Tracy
Proud owners of the "TikiBus" - a 1987 Elite Coach Corporation 36' diesel pusher on a Gillig bus chassis. Flat towing a 2020 Jeep Gladiator
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10-13-2024, 08:37 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: South Louisiana
Posts: 107
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First thing I do when leaving for a trip after unplugging shore power is start the generator and turn both ac units on. I'm old and fat and don't like to be hot. Everything runs while traveling and the interior is cool and comfortable when we stop for the night. I have an 8kw power tech generator and it burns about 3/4 gallon of diesel per hour, small price to pay!⁷
Enjoy your travels, that's why we do this.
Ronnie
__________________
2006 Forest River Charleston 400qs
2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara toad
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10-13-2024, 10:51 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 1,555
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People have measured it and claimed to use less fuel with the generator and rooftop AC than the dash AC. The only explanation I can come up with is if their coaches run the fan on high for the dash AC, that can easily be more HP than the generator.
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10-14-2024, 12:11 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: Bohemia NY
Posts: 718
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SafariBen
People have measured it and claimed to use less fuel with the generator and rooftop AC than the dash AC. The only explanation I can come up with is if their coaches run the fan on high for the dash AC, that can easily be more HP than the generator.
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For running the dash AC the compressor is the fuel consuming load, especially at higher engine speeds. You are pressurizing a gas into a liquid and the faster you try to turn the compressor the resistance increases which loads down the engine. HP lost; fuel consumed. Maybe 2 to 3 HP. As for running motors yes there is definitely the HP load on the alternator. 746 watts = 1 HP. There may also be a condenser fan motor.
An 8KW generator will use ~1/2 to 1 gallon per hour. If at 60 MPH you are getting 7 miles to the gallon, you are using ~ 8.6 gallons fuel. If you add a gallon for the generator that will bring you to ~ 6.3 mpg. I doubt the dash AC reduces fuel economy that amount.
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Dennis
Bohemia NY
2008 Nimbus 342 SE Carlyle
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10-14-2024, 08:11 AM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2024
Posts: 35
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WOW
Never had that much response to a post so fast and informative.
I was going to do it pretty much on mater what, I'm old and hate being hot. I kind of run hot no matter what..
But this is great news 1/2 gal an hour, well worth it. I kind of figured at least 1 gallon. Was just hoping it wasn't 2 gal, but I would run it anyway.
It would be a real pain to figure this out since it is hooked to a 100 gal. tank.
Thanks to all of you.
__________________
2003 Tiffin Phaeton, Freightliner, 35RE
Cat 3126E, 330hp, Allison 3000 6 spd.
Project in Progress
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10-14-2024, 08:40 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 1,555
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Quote:
Originally Posted by d23haynes57
For running the dash AC the compressor is the fuel consuming load...
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I agree with the argument that the dash AC is not that inefficient that the generator and roof top units could use less fuel. The big diesel at half load is far more efficient than the little diesel at low load. The vehicle AC system is not terribly efficient, but neither are rooftop units, there is not enough difference to matter there. The low efficiency of the small diesel at low load, combined with the loss from the generator seems like the dash AC would use less fuel, but people have tested it and found the generator uses less fuel.
Has to be the fan, that's the only explanation I have. I've seen figures of 15-50HP for the engine fan on high speed, that's way more than the generator consumption.
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10-15-2024, 08:06 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Location: I Can See the Alamo
Posts: 311
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BajaBobber
I had the dash air filled, lasted 3 Months.They can't find the leak?
I can only imagine the cost to figure out and repair this system$$$$$$$
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There was an extensive discussion of this issue on the Entegra owners forum a few months ago. Bottom line is that these AC systems need to be recharged every 7, 8, 10 months even when there is no repairable leak to be found. Owners had just gotten used to having the dash air system recharged every year or so at a cost of $500 to $700 a pop and running the roof air during the times that the dash air didn't cool.
The solution was found to be learning how to recharge the system one's self. As long as the system is working and the compressor hasn't been shelled by running the system totally empty, its not difficult to recharge the system. Spend a little time on YouTube learning how to do the recharge and buy a cheap set of gauges (< $100) on Amazon.
I have a digital thermometer that clips into one of the AC vents. When the delta between ambient and dash gets below about 20 degrees, I add a can or two of R134a. Takes about an hour, saves me hundreds of dollars each time and I only run the roof air on the very hottest days. Not difficult and keeps the co-pilot happy (priceless).
__________________
John, Jean and Mea the Super Springer Spaniel
2019 Entegra Aspire 44B, 2022 Jeep Cherokee TrailHawk
www.BataanMissing.com
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10-15-2024, 08:59 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 1,555
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Yes, not unusual for them to leak. Sometimes re crimping the pressure hose at the compressor fixes the leak. The hoses get installed by the coach builder, and might not be the best crimp, plus the compressor hose gets the most heat and vibration.
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