B2B (1 Viewer)

[AMK]

I was reading in another post that when they use a hair dryer or hair straightener from the inverter they would run the engine at the same time and the B2b would help replenish and lighten the load.

Is this something others do, I’ve never thought about it but it’s seems the sensible thing to do.

what do the funsters think.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

B2B alone isn't going to provide enough juice for a heavy duty inverter powering say 1500W hairdryer. You could be pulling some 130Amp + at 12V from the inverter. Equally unless you have an impressive battery bank, that level of current would be more than the batteries could sustain for a short load (C rate for charge / discharge).

But running an engine on idle is also poor practice, especially if starting the engine cold and only running a few minutes so it doesn't really get everything up to temperatures. For the modern diesel it can also start to gum up stuff like DPF sensors. It'll be as bad as a generator, if not worse to neighbours on a campsite. It won't be energy efficient on fuel. Yes I know some service vehicles have hand throttle systems as they are perhaps kept parked up with occupants on duty for hours, but that isn't part of a standard motorhome.

 

[MikeD]

-

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Nasher]

A number 3 all over will solve the issue - no hair, no need for dryers or straighteners

In my cases, suffering from premature Kojakulation means I don't even need the hair cut!

 

[pappajohn]

Yes I know some service vehicles have hand throttle systems as they are perhaps kept parked up with occupants on duty for hours, but that isn't part of a standard motorhome.

As its a diesel engine fitted to both motorhome and service vehicle, possibly even the same make of vehicle, how can there be a difference and what makes a motorhome engine special?

 

[addoaddo]

On our motorhome with a 3l engine the b2b does not realing start unless the engine is running at over 2000rpm. At tick over it will generate hardly any electricity

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Kannon Fodda]

As its a diesel engine fitted to both motorhome and service vehicle, possibly even the same make of vehicle, how can there be a difference and what makes a motorhome engine special?

The engines will be the same, it's the modifications made to the service vehicle (ambulance etc) that make the difference so it is intended to sit running a little bit faster than idle to so as to keep some of the electrics running. Not dissimilar to a motorhome, but clearly a bit more critical there will be auxiliary batteries, inverters to power the treatment area kit. As above, you'll get limited charge from an idling engine, so need a few more revs, hence the hand throttle in ancient terms, probably replaced by modern electric stuff these days.

 

[Lenny HB]

As its a diesel engine fitted to both motorhome and service vehicle, possibly even the same make of vehicle, how can there be a difference and what makes a motorhome engine special?

The service vehicle has been driving and is fully up to temperature.
Start a Ducato up from from cold and let it tickover for ½ an hour and the temperature gauge will not have moved off the stop. Oil will not be up to temperature causing bore glazing & wear. The Cat and DPF will never reach operating temperature so with the cold gases going though them is a good way of buggering them.

If you want a bill for a few grand fine run your engine from cold to charger your battery.

 

[AMK]

It really sounds like a silly thing to do then doesn’t it.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Googlebot]

Ambulances are on a standard chassis with no mods as far as I am aware in my Trust. They do have auxiliary batteries though and are shorelined when not on the run to fully charge everything. If they do the wiring right, the standard Alternator can shove out over 20 amps to the auxiliary batteries. With modern LED lights, they are a lot less power hungry than they used to be.

They do however suffer with an overheating cylinder bore between 3 and 4 piston I think when left idling for long periods of time. The fleet Manager knows much more and is a very interesting chap to talk to.

In short, I wouldn’t let mine idle for long periods, hot or cold.