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Old city bus, using engine as a generator
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Mikekom
New User
Mar 28, 2017, 8:16 AM
Post #1 of 7
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Old city bus, using engine as a generator
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Hi. I am a newbie looking for some information and on which forum topic to ask this question. I hope this may be of some interest to someone out there and can point me in the right direction. I bought a 1970 GMC New Look Transit Bus at an auction at a heck of a price. The engine has been rebuilt and I want to refurbish it as a food truck. I wish to use the engine as my generator, it is a Allison 6V71 238HP? Is it my correct understanding that I would need to put in a more robust alternator and this should be able to give me the power that I need? I am looking for generator power in the 10,000 to 12,000 W range. I have experience in food trucks, but not so much in Detroit Diesel engines. I would be very much grateful for any information that someone might give me. Thank you for your time. Regards, Mike (links removed, not allowed)
(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Mar 28, 2017, 8:24 AM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 28, 2017, 8:52 AM
Post #2 of 7
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Re: Old city bus, using engine as a generator
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Why would you want to waste all the fuel and energy of a bus engine running all the time instead of just installing a smaller, self contained generator that would cost a lot less to operate? If you did use the bus engine you would still need a inverter to convert 12V to 110V. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Mar 28, 2017, 8:53 AM)
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Mikekom
New User
Mar 28, 2017, 9:07 AM
Post #3 of 7
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From an aesthetics view point, I would have to put the generator onboard the bus. To clarify, I am using the back half of the bus as seating. I was thinking about installing a generator and then putting an insulating box around it to use as a table (obviously vented to the outside) but I was under the understanding that the most efficient power generation would be by taking power from the idling engine. Am I mistaken?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Mar 28, 2017, 9:14 AM
Post #4 of 7
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I would expect the bus has luggage compartments underneath that could easily be converted to generator storage. Even if it doesn't, the space should still be available. You can't install a generator inside the bus. You will kill everyone and I think that would be bad. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Mikekom
New User
Mar 28, 2017, 9:33 AM
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I've taken a look underneath, it doesn't appear to have much space. So, in your ooinion, running off an idling engine (what about a PTO generator?) is too inefficient and I should find a way to attach a purpose built generator to the bus without it lol too clunky?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Mar 28, 2017, 9:36 AM
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Yes, that's pretty much it. You are also going to have to likely find a place for propane tanks for cooking also. I have seen many converted buses build a platform to the rear for those things and the generator too. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Mikekom
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Mar 28, 2017, 11:38 AM
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I have a nice underneath for propane and grey water containing. Now I have to get creative with power generation. Thanks for your help!
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