So it is -24 C ( -11F) here in Alberta Canada this morning
The wind chill they say is down to -33 (-27F)
I have my coach in storage under cover outside beside my house.
Here's hoping I did everything correctly for winterization
-Coach on blocks to alleviate pressure on air bags
-covered with a great cover ensuring adequately air flow
-plugged into 15 amp outlet ( no problems or tripped breakers!)
- fuel stabilizer and bio additive in fuel tanks
-inverter on to keep coach batteries charged
-separate trickle charger on start batteries to keep them charged
- LOTS. Of mouse deterents put in coach
- tires over inflated
-water system including washers and Aqua hot winterized with pink
-4 Lasko personal heaters running ( 2 in the manibloc/water pump compartment and 2 in the hose/ power sewage bay). On all the time. Temps in each are well above freezing as monitored by thermostats. No heat in coach- thermostat in the interior basically reads the same as the outside temp.
-I try to run ah and gen once per month, although I am pretty sure the gen will not start in these temps(to bad it did not have a block heater)
I do not go into the coach in the winter as per say except to check the inverter to make sure it is charging ( on float charge most of the time)
- wheels chocked all around
Am I missing anything here? Opinions welcome!!!!
warm weather!!!
Chris
My O-pinion, considering I've never had to cope with similar conditions, is that you have done the best you can with what you have to work with. Of course, you could always look for ways to improve your setup down the road. I would say installing a 50 amp shore power pedestal would be first priority (would allow more options for heating the interior, if desired). After that - a enclosed coach barn (at the top of MY list for years). GOOD LUCK!
Drain P traps filled with pink also? Yikes I don't miss that. Great memories. Stay warm.
Scott
So I'll probably never experience those conditions with our coach, but I wonder what the cold soak temperature limit for starting the generator is? Coldest start I've ever made is 31 degrees F
Scott
Scott, our generator will start at around zero. Seemed to be fine and warms fairly quickly! As you know, we have been in some really cold nights and days in Yellowstone. Aqua Hot ran for 7 months, non stop!
7) PT-ECU-63 deactivates the Low Oil Pressure and High Water Temperature Switches for 6
seconds, this will assure oil pressure build-up time. If oil pressure does not build-up the engine will
immediately shut down and go into a fault mode. Likewise for a high temperature situation.
8 If engine will not start on the first attempt the PT-ECU-63 will initiate the start cycle 2 more times
before going into a fault mode. Glow Plugs will preheat for 8 seconds per attempt. Engine will
crank for 8 seconds per attempt
Copied from the powertech 10k manual. Ive heard that cycling glow plugs several time before allowing the start to continue will help in cold weather. Ive never needed to try I will check my glow plug resistance on next generator service.
Scott
Peter, you are doing fine. Yes, don't forget the traps, a couple of cups in each is good.
We have started the coach and departed for warm from MN at -30°F, the AH was on overnight before with the engine preheat loop on and the coach heat on. Tough hooking up the Jeep but we managed. We drove slowly for several miles just to get things moving and then drove until almost dark and stayed over night at a Walmart. By then it had warmed up to -18°. The next day we got to Huntsville, AL where it was just above freezing. Whew!
We left MN last week and it was 4°. Light snow the day before we left and 2 days later they had 16". Glad to be gone. For some good reason we seem to be leaving earlier each year.
I've started my generator at -4 F and I cycle the glow plugs once. I press the start/stop
button and count 9 seconds the push the button again and right away again and then
it starts right away. I don't see that it wouldn't start a lot colder. If it was -20 I would
cycle the glow plugs 2 times. I have started equipment as cold as -30
I guess I forgot to mention the traps for the shower, bathroom sink and kitchen sink have pink poured directly into them
And yes...a 50 amp hookup is on the books for when it warms up!!
Kinda makes me long for Arizona..lol
I had to give the generator a shot of ether at 17 degrees, 8000 feet in Yellowstone. Elevation makes a huge difference of how it starts. We live at 2000 feet so it starts almost instantly at any temperature here.
Warmer weather at lower elevation at Mammoth Campground plus open all year.
Pierce
Have noticed that with my engine as well. We're at 6k and I usually end up using the boost switch. At 2k it's almost instant every time.