Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Bill and Marsha on May 18, 2019, 06:42:46 pm

Title: Generator Breaker Box Ventilation???
Post by: Bill and Marsha on May 18, 2019, 06:42:46 pm
Other than to check the oil I haven't spent much time in the Gen compartment since purchase. Yesterday I changed the oil and filter and starting looking and wonder what in the world was this ugly contraction mounted on the from of the generator breaker box. It seems it is a vent ??? Surely nothing like this came from Foretravel, I would like to remove it if it isn't necessary. Any thoughts on this?

Title: Re: Generator Breaker Box Ventilation???
Post by: D.J. Osborn on May 18, 2019, 06:48:58 pm
I'm guessing it's there to bring in cooler outside air for the generator air filter.
Title: Re: Generator Breaker Box Ventilation???
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on May 18, 2019, 08:44:07 pm
Cold Ram Air Pipe (also known as C.R.A.P.)

It could possibly increase the High RPM EPH by up to 10%  :thumbsup:

EPH = Electrons Per Hour
Title: Re: Generator Breaker Box Ventilation???
Post by: Bill and Marsha on May 18, 2019, 08:52:21 pm
Ram Air Intake.  It could possibly increase the Top End EPH by up to 10%  :thumbsup:

EPH = Electrons Per Hour
LOL...It's in the way and I would like to remove it. Being on the front of a large learning curve I thought I would ask if anyone knew what the point was or if there were and known issues with the wiring getting hot in the breaker box.
Title: Re: Generator Breaker Box Ventilation???
Post by: jor on May 18, 2019, 09:11:50 pm
I can't figure why a guy would add that setup. I think I'd just throw it. The stock setup works fine as long as you replace the air filter when needed.
jor
Title: Re: Generator Breaker Box Ventilation???
Post by: FourTravelers on May 18, 2019, 09:24:59 pm
 :o   
Maybe one of the PO's was Rube Goldberg?
If mine ..... I would pitch it and return it to it's FT factory set up..........
Title: Re: Generator Breaker Box Ventilation???
Post by: John Morales on May 18, 2019, 09:56:55 pm
Looks like over kill.  I have a flexible vent tube on the back of my control box and an air dam connected to the left side of the control box.  The air dam connects to the large rubber boot on the end of the generator.  My assumption, and I may be wrong.  The air that flows through the box is to help dissipate the heat that comes off of the regulator heat sinks and cool of the regulator.
John M
Title: Re: Generator Breaker Box Ventilation???
Post by: amos.harrison on May 19, 2019, 07:58:36 am
Where is the control box that is normally in that position?  Is the air filter canister with the filter still behind the contraption?  It may take some work to return to the original configuration.
Title: Re: Generator Breaker Box Ventilation???
Post by: Bill and Marsha on May 19, 2019, 08:18:02 am
Where is the control box that is normally in that position?  Is the air filter canister with the filter still behind the contraption?  It may take some work to return to the original configuration.
The vent is into the face of the control/breaker box, it doesn't invade the air filter canister at all except to block the front of it. For some reason one of the previous owners felt the need to get air into the breaker box, I'm calling it a breaker box because there is a breaker on the left side next to the contraction. If I remove it there would be a round hole cut in the face of the box that would need to be covered or the box would need to be replaced to return to stock.
Title: Re: Generator Breaker Box Ventilation???
Post by: FourTravelers on May 19, 2019, 08:25:08 am
You might could replace all of that contraption with a small cooling fan installed in place of the PVC junction box.
Powered by the 120 v output of the generator.............. just a thought........ it would help to know what the original problem was that prompted this modification.

Title: Re: Generator Breaker Box Ventilation???
Post by: Bill and Marsha on May 19, 2019, 08:39:02 am
Looks like over kill.  I have a flexible vent tube on the back of my control box and an air dam connected to the left side of the control box.  The air dam connects to the large rubber boot on the end of the generator.  My assumption, and I may be wrong.  The air that flows through the box is to help dissipate the heat that comes off of the regulator heat sinks and cool of the regulator.
John M
I will check the box more thoroughly, hopefully mine is constructed the way yours is and will be okay without the current set up. Thinking of putting a small vent plate over the hole in the box, air can still get in just won't be RAM air...
Title: Re: Generator Breaker Box Ventilation???
Post by: wolfe10 on May 19, 2019, 09:23:35 am
Bill,

A test of whether this is good/bad/neutral is to see if there is excessive dust/debris in the box.

If not, I see no harm in leaving Rube Goldburg's contraption.
Title: Re: Generator Breaker Box Ventilation???
Post by: amos.harrison on May 20, 2019, 10:36:06 am
Bill,
Does your coach have the mod that moved all the generator relays to the front driver's side bay with the generator radiator fan?  Maybe this was the PO's alternate.