Project Fleetwood bounder 1994 (1 Viewer)

[PeterCarole29]

Hi to all.
This will be our first RV and a daunting project as al fixtures and fittings have been completely stript out even down to the roof lining ply.
We are very excited as i have always wanted one. It have a perfect condition onan water cooled 6.5 kva generator which runs the 2 air con units which are original and working i assume are 110v.
I am looking for advice as the intention will be to refit the motorhome with uk fitments that are 240v.
Should i sell the 110v generator or is there a practicle solution to change 110v to 240v when only using the generator

 

[gus-lopez]

Not really. You would be better finding a 240v gennie.You could then use a transformer to step down to 110v for the air con units.that way you then have the rest standardised at 240v

 

[PeterCarole29]

Thanks for your reply when we we collect it hope fully this week end and had a good look at the electrics that have been left in no doubt i will be asking some more daft questions

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[Dodgey]

Many standard fit gennies in rvs are easily changed to 240, don't know how, but all ours were set for 240. Standard uk conversion is to add a suitable 240 to 110 convertor to power the us equipment.

 

[PeterCarole29]

Thanks Dodgey its the dont know how bit i,m looking for .

 

[pappajohn]

Thanks Dodgey its the dont know how bit i,m looking for .

It involves some rehashing of the stator wiring within the generator and needs someone with the know-how to alter it BUT it only changes the voltage, not the frequency.
We use 50Hz (1 cycle = 1Hz) whereas the yanks use 60Hz.
Most things will still work but electronic items don't like it.
Transformers etc will eventually burn out.

At 6.5kva it's going to have a BIG engine, maybe a 480cc to 600cc industrial V Twin and thirsty....my 5.5kva had a 480cc V twin Briggs and Stratton.
You MAY get 80 or 90minutes per gallon or you may not as they run at 3600rpm whether it's powering both air con units or nothing at all.....and they are noisy.

Better in my opinion to forget it and buy a 3kva suitcase generator or a 2kva and forget the (also noisy) air con.

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[pappajohn]

As Dodgy said, if you go the suitcase route you need a voltage converter to run the USA stuff and it should be a proper converter.
Some use the yellow 240 to 110v builders transformers but they aren't designed for long term use and can overheat if used for hours continuously.

 

[RogerThat]

Hi to all.
This will be our first RV and a daunting project as al fixtures and fittings have been completely stript out even down to the roof lining ply.

Sounds like a great project! Photos please

 

[PeterCarole29]

Thankyou Pappajohn.I have a much better understanding now.
We have had motorhomes for 25 years and never used or needed to use a geny yet .Having said that we have never had air con units to run .When i get it home i will look at it and plan how we will actually be using the motorhome.
Thanks again

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[PeterCarole29]

Sounds like a great project! Photos please

When i get it home .Looks like its going to be another week i will take some photos

 

[Allanm]

Check what the genny runs on, we had a 6.5 kva Onan genny in our Winnebago that ran on lpg and an 80 litre lpg tank ( that also fuelled the furnace, cooker and fridge) so it worked out pretty cheap to run.
It wasn't very noisy either, we used it all the time to run the a/c when it was hot outside.

If it was me, I would keep the generator and figure out a way to get it to work with the rest of the 230 v kit

 

[pappajohn]

With mine it was configured to only run one aircon unit off hookup
If I wanted both it had to be generator.
They must draw a massive current at start up.

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[Tootles]

Should i sell the 110v generator or is there a practicle solution to change 110v to 240v when only using the generator

Some Onans are already wired for 240 volts. I bought one a few years ago that was, it was just a matter of finding the 240 supply cable behind the 110 outlet. Give Onan a ring, and ask for their tech department. Have the model number ready.

https://lasmotorhomes.com/cummins-generators/

 

[tonyidle]

It should also be easily possible to drop the output from 60Hz to 50Hz. With non-inverter generators the output frequency is set by the governed speed of the engine so, again, Onan should have details of how to slow it down slightly.

 

[jockaneezer]

There seems to be a lot more "ONANism" on this thread than usual, thought I'd strayed onto f@ct$.

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[PeterCarole29]

Hi ,I am following all you comments thanks.Unfortunately for me i have bought the RV Privately but it is 250 miles away as its having engine and brake service before i bring it home.I had an hour looking over it started the engine which ran sweet also the geny which worked the air con one at at time as the switch in the motorhome only allowed that.I looked at the geny and it said 110 volt on the label. The facts you are giving are exactly what i was hoping for as its great to know the anal details to be able to make an informed decision. And yes Jockaneezer fact are refreshing

 

[PeterCarole29]

Check what the genny runs on, we had a 6.5 kva Onan genny in our Winnebago that ran on lpg and an 80 litre lpg tank ( that also fuelled the furnace, cooker and fridge) so it worked out pretty cheap to run.
It wasn't very noisy either, we used it all the time to run the a/c when it was hot outside.

If it was me, I would keep the generator and figure out a way to get it to work with the rest of the 230 v kit

Hi it is my hope to find a way to keep it if its practicle.I have been told it runs off diesel and when i glanced at it i saw injectors so assumed it was diesel.
I bought it on ebay and was so pleased when i was at the van you just overlooked things as they just are not important. now I,m home its time to solve the downsides.

 

[PeterCarole29]

Some Onans are already wired for 240 volts. I bought one a few years ago that was, it was just a matter of finding the 240 supply cable behind the 110 outlet. Give Onan a ring, and ask for their tech department. Have the model number ready.

https://lasmotorhomes.com/cummins-generators/

Thanks will do .

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[Landy lover]

Hi be well worth your while joining the sister forum to this WWW.RVOC.co.uk you will find a couple of people on there with Fleetwood bounders Destination Unknown and Adi4 -- DU have done extensive improvement to theirs and Adi4 has his own garage at Weymouth and has good knowledge of all things American and Onan gennies. He has also done the impossible constructed and fitted a slide out to his bounder.

 

[PeterCarole29]

Hi be well worth your while joining the sister forum to this WWW.RVOC.co.uk you will find a couple of people on there with Fleetwood bounders Destination Unknown and Adi4 -- DU have done extensive improvement to theirs and Adi4 has his own garage at Weymouth and has good knowledge of all things American and Onan gennies. He has also done the impossible constructed and fitted a slide out to his bounder.

Thanks for that .i,ll get it home and then contact them .Anyones experiance is helpfull.
I can see this van being a ongoing project from being a live in whist we build a house and holidays away with the family.

 

[PeterCarole29]

Some Onans are already wired for 240 volts. I bought one a few years ago that was, it was just a matter of finding the 240 supply cable behind the 110 outlet. Give Onan a ring, and ask for their tech department. Have the model number ready.

https://lasmotorhomes.com/cummins-generators/

Yes mine must be 240v so alls good

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[PeterCarole29]

Sounds like a great project! Photos please

Sorry RogerThat just going over some threads and noticed i hadnt replied.Photo attatched

 

[PeterCarole29]

And the other end

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Well, you certainly have a blank canvas with which to work some magic. Best of luck and keep us posted on progress........

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[PeteH]

My first R-V, A Pace Arrow, Was an personal import. I converted it to UK spec; retaining the Original 110/115 Volt Onan Genny; I got a Transformer rated at 4.5KVA, to step up to 220/230. from a Company in High Wycombe. Using this set-up I could manually switch via a 40Amp Rated Centre Neutral Switch. To allow 230V EHU to step down to 110/115 for the original equipment. Whilst retaining 230V for the UK Power. BUT when running the generator the transformer stepped UP, to supply the 230V based equipment. Effectively a "Dual" system.

 

[PeterCarole29]

My first R-V, A Pace Arrow, Was an personal import. I converted it to UK spec; retaining the Original 110/115 Volt Onan Genny; I got a Transformer rated at 4.5KVA, to step up to 220/230. from a Company in High Wycombe. Using this set-up I could manually switch via a 40Amp Rated Centre Neutral Switch. To allow 230V EHU to step down to 110/115 for the original equipment. Whilst retaining 230V for the UK Power. BUT when running the generator the transformer stepped UP, to supply the 230V based equipment. Effectively a "Dual" system.

Hi thanks for the reply. Once i had it home and run it up tested it all and it has already been converted so all good but thanks for the advise