I'm a full timer that mostly prefers staying elsewhere than RV parks. There are times when I just want to run one roof A/C at night to sleep (or during the day) instead of "lighting up" the entire coach with the 17.5 kw Powertech Gen Set installed on my 97 Royal. I'm considering buying either a gas or diesel aux generator in the 3000-3,500 range to use for this purpose. The reason for this would be fule economy but one has to consider the cost for the parts compared with the long term fuel savings. Responses could comment on the fuel useage of the big gen set but I seem to be getting data that suggest the consumption is between 1-2 gallons an hour depending on the load. Reucing that to a half gallon an hour (or possible less) would save approximatley $30 a day if you used 10 hours a baseline of running the gen and rounding out at $3 per gallong. The 2nd reason I like the idea (if it is practicle) is lower noise and peace of mind. I had the big generator set almost catch on fire when the turbo burned up about a year ago and now I never sleep as sound with the gen on as I do when staying plugged in at an RV park.
I'm analyzing the feasability of either using a run of the mill portable gas gen that would stow in the bay OR I'm wondering about a compact air cooled diesel gen that might fit in one of the two available spaces at the rear (of a 45' XL) that are extensions of the engine bay. I thought the Prevost service center could run an extension off the main engines fuel line (probabley incorporating a check valve) or the return fuel line perhaps that would eliminate the need to keep refueling and probabley be safer (would prefer not to have fuel tank in the heated main engine bay of course). Disposing of the fuel tank, it might fit in that space.
The other method might work as follows. One of the storage bays (where I keep my medium size tool box) has a 110 volt outlet that I never use. Since this terminates at the main fuse block, I thought of using the existing wireing to that plug in reverse as an input to put power to the fuse block using that outlet as an input obtaining power from the portable gas generator. I might be able to leave the generator run in place inside the bay next to my tool box if I vented the bay properly. With a remote electric starter, it would be convieient to toggle on and off as needed with the only draw back being that I have to now carry gas around instead of tapping into the diesel supply (as in the first example with the diesel gen installed in the engine compartment).
Since this proposed bay to carry the gas gen is in the passenger side instead of the drivers side (where the 50amp shore power cord is), I'm proposing running the power to the fuse block through the 110 volt outlet in reverse like I said. From there, I presume I can toggle what I want to power on an off at will (stove top, either roof airs, one battery charger, etc) by turning everything else I don't want to run off. I don't know if the gauge of wire from that one outlet is large enough to handle the amp load without a possible fire hazard. I don't want to test out my fire extenguishers and it occurs to me that I better check this througoghly before charging ahead. I joined the Prevost Owners Group specifically to put this subject out there.
I'll remain and see if anyone has any comments on this [semi] off the wall idea. Thanks in advance to all.
Jeff Bayley