I am curious to see if any one has a GPH chart for a 10kw generator on a 1997 U295. I dry camped last weekend and used the generator for approximately 10 hours at about 1/4 to 1/2 load. I checked the MPG after the trip and I got 7.4. Any ideas would be great.
Terry
I always figure about 1/2 gal per hour, so if I can find a campground for under 30 bucks figure that is cheaper than running the generator for 16-18 hours.
Generator Fuel Usage (http://www.beamalarm.com/Documents/generator_fuel_usage.html)
For a 10Kw 1800 rpm generator, I figure .4+ gph at 50%, .65+ at 75% and .85+ at 100%. In hot weather, that's about $30-$35 a day for both air units to be on. Light load for 10 hours would be somewhere around 2-3 gallons.
Too bad they can't idle with a light load and the gph would be .1/hr or less for the TV, entertainment center and interior lights plus sending hot water to a heater core. Really small Euro diesel cars (Smart diesel) have trouble producing enough hot coolant for the heater while idling in cold weather. I have watched a Fiat diesel (no radiator, house heat exchanger) even take heat out of the exhaust for a house while generating.
Pierce
Cannot comment on Gen gph as we do not use it and do not use a/c in summer. We spend the time out of the RV when away and at night run a fan- works for us!! Investment in solar sure looks like it is paying off for all other uses (plus propane for hot water) as we try to stay out of RV parks, or dry camp in them at a lot lower fee.
John H
I usually figure about .5 gal per hour, here in Florida we only dry camp in the winter so it's about 3 hours per day to charge battery's and make coffee in the morning. These days at $4.00+ per gallon generator time can add up quickly.
I will say that when I pull out of the garage in the summer I turn it on and shut it foo when I get to my destination. So I have a good run that I can base it on running the same trip summer and winter. It is about 3/4 a gallon an hour in the summer.
My experience with the MCI7 with the separate 50 gal diesel tank for the 12 KW genset, burned exactly 10 gal every 24 hrs routinely. Running 24/7 when on the road, ran for weeks at a time. Every 4 days refilled and kept going. Yes total electric setup.
As they say, Your mileage might be different.
Buying fuel is about the most economical part of the RV experience, eh.
Dave M