Silverleaf

Topic: Silverleaf (Read 1863 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #25 – May 02, 2012, 06:12:11 pm

I talked to Brett Wolfe about what he thought I should do when the retarder temp gets too hot (say >300 degrees). He advised slowing down (i.e., reducing the energy going into the retarder oil) and shifting to a lower gear so that the engine rpm is higher, which in turn increases the flow in the engine/trans cooling system. I hope he sees this and comments. It would be better coming from him.

How hot did your retarder get? Did you go down any long, steep hills?

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #26 – May 02, 2012, 07:00:13 pm

Quote from: George Hatfield – May 02, 2012, 06:12:11 pm

How hot did your retarder get? Did you go down any long, steep hills?

No, I didn't have any retarder gauges working until we stopped today and I talked to Mark @ Silverleaf.
I am looking to set some MAX. Temp readings in the system so that IF the retarder did get too hot I will get a yellow and then red light warning on the gauge. So from what I am hearing so far 300F should be high end?

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #27 – May 02, 2012, 07:22:59 pm

10-year old rule and rationale, developed at an FMCA Seminar:

- Allison has two sampling locations, the Retarder section, and the Sump
- As stated above, Foretravel uses the Sump location, and the Sump reads lower (cooler) than the Retarder section by about 50 degrees.
- The Allison Engineer said the Retarder software starts "loadshedding" at 300 degrees (Retarder) and ceases working entirely at 350 degrees.
- Conclusion was, using Sump temps, 225-250 degrees = "Caution"; >250 degrees "Red" and "Back-off".

This worked for me for several trips through the Colorado Rockies.

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #28 – May 02, 2012, 07:31:04 pm

I had a fun time driving down route 14 out of Yellowstone. IT was intense mountain driving. I never went above 225 degrees. I was running up to that for a couple miles that only had short downhills. I decided that it was lunchtime and let it idle a bit. cooled down nicely as I ate my sandwich. Then started driving again. No problem. Oh and it was over 100 degrees out. That makes a difference at altitude.

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #29 – May 04, 2012, 08:13:37 am

So coming up the highway at 62 mph the retarder temp readings I am getting are about 366-f with the retarder inactive. When I engage the retarder at an off-ramp etc the temp goes up to about 550-f.
The transmission temp is running normal and does not change much at all even on hills. I think it may have something to do with the values I put in the parameter editor. Mark had me put a multiplier of two in and I wonder if that doubles the sump temps on the gauge.

Anyway, the retarder seems to be working fine.
We drove the mountains over to Asheville and I was glad to have it. On a side note it is beautiful here.

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #30 – May 04, 2012, 10:06:50 am

In my experience, the retard temp should be the same as the trans when it is off. If I were you, I would try a multiplier of "1." I really don't think it gets that hot (i.e., 550 degrees)..... but 275 seems about right.

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #31 – May 04, 2012, 10:40:24 am

I fully agree George. I believe the reason Mark had me multiply by 2 was to get the gauge to read the sump. I will call him Monday and see if there is another approach. I guess it doesn't really matter as long as I know the readings are double actual temps.

By the way thanks again for your input and help with getting this thing set up.

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #32 – May 04, 2012, 10:50:39 am

Are the Laptops plugged into your 110 circuit and do they take a lot of battery power when the gen is not running??
I have a gps to work on my computer but seldom use it as I need power from somewhere to operate the computer. DAN

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #33 – May 04, 2012, 11:05:57 am

I plug in the computer to 110 the inverter takes care of it with no effort especially when the engine is running.

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #34 – May 04, 2012, 11:18:15 am

Thanks for that tidbit John. I have been unplugging my laptop and running it off it's battery until it gets low then plug back in and start the genset. Fortunately my little Acer Aspire goes about 6 hours until it dies.

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #35 – May 04, 2012, 11:31:58 am

Like John we use an inverter and plug the computer into it while we are driving. Works very well. I don't think the computer charger draws very much (at least relative to your house battery capacity).

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #36 – May 04, 2012, 11:37:14 am

Quote from: Dan J. Stansel – May 04, 2012, 10:50:39 am

Are the Laptops plugged into your 110 circuit and do they take a lot of battery power when the gen is not running??
I have a gps to work on my computer but seldom use it as I need power from somewhere to operate the computer. DAN

Dan,

Try a <$10 car plug to your netbook/laptop. Ebay is cheap with Radio Shack being a bit more. Ross stores even have them. Your computer could run for almost a week off the cigarette lighter plug. They plug in the same place with the same kind of connector as the 120V power supply.

See an example at: Replacement DC Car Plug for Rocketfish Laptop Power Adapter RF-BPRACDC2 | eBay

Pierce

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #37 – May 04, 2012, 12:29:31 pm

Should have added that for those running engine software or GPS off of a Mac with Bootcamp, VMWare, etc., the slick magnetic 12V adapter is also available with an example at: Car Charger For Apple Macbook Pro 15" 17" Laptop 12V DC Power Adapter Cord | Again, check laptop vs adapter for compatibility before ordering.

Pierce

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #38 – May 04, 2012, 12:37:07 pm

ok another question which I should know but----If the boost switch is on and gen off and running down the road will that charge the house batteries back for the use of the laptop by the engine . DAN

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #39 – May 04, 2012, 12:43:13 pm

Dan, no need to use the boost switch. The isolator takes care of it and the alternator charges to the central stud and splits to the house and chassis from there.

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #40 – May 04, 2012, 05:28:22 pm

John: Tks for the info. I am going to operate my laptop out of the 110 soucket by the drivers seat and see how that works out. DAN

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #41 – May 04, 2012, 06:24:37 pm

Dan.... Just to clarify my post above, we use a small Radio Shack inverter (400 watts I think) for the computer charger. I plug it into one of the 12 plugs in the dash. I guess I could use the whole house inverter, but it seems like overkill and I figure the less I use it, the longer it will last.

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #42 – May 04, 2012, 09:46:50 pm

George, I have been using mine every trip for a lot of years. I have not worn one out yet. In fact mine switches on automatically when shore power is not present.

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Re: Silverleaf

Reply #25 – May 02, 2012, 06:12:11 pm

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #26 – May 02, 2012, 07:00:13 pm

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #27 – May 02, 2012, 07:22:59 pm

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #28 – May 02, 2012, 07:31:04 pm

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #29 – May 04, 2012, 08:13:37 am

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #30 – May 04, 2012, 10:06:50 am

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #31 – May 04, 2012, 10:40:24 am

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #32 – May 04, 2012, 10:50:39 am

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #33 – May 04, 2012, 11:05:57 am

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #34 – May 04, 2012, 11:18:15 am

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #35 – May 04, 2012, 11:31:58 am

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #36 – May 04, 2012, 11:37:14 am

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #37 – May 04, 2012, 12:29:31 pm

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #38 – May 04, 2012, 12:37:07 pm

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #39 – May 04, 2012, 12:43:13 pm

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #40 – May 04, 2012, 05:28:22 pm

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #41 – May 04, 2012, 06:24:37 pm

Re: Silverleaf

Reply #42 – May 04, 2012, 09:46:50 pm

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