Generator Auto Start

[erniecarpet@...]

What price range are these units in?

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Weatherford, Texas

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[erniecarpet@...]

Thanks, Don. Wonder how much of a problem it is to install a unit?

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Weatherford, Texas

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[erniecarpet@...]

In a message dated 10/30/2008 6:01:42 P.M. Central Standard Time, al@... writes:

Sure would be nice to do a group buy and install during one of our
local rallys.

sounds like a plan

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Weatherford, Texas

that way we could dry camp, almost

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[Larry Kehler]

I am interested in knowing if anyone has retro fitted a generator auto
start module to their bird. What brand and how has the experience
worked out?
My brief internet search appears that there are several brands
available to retrofit.
I am tired of getting up in the middle of the night to check voltage
because of my big Amana amp sucking refrigerator.

Larry Kehler
94 PT40 "BAM"
Home in St Louis

[Don Bradner]

The previous owner of Blue Thunder installed (had a dealer install) a Magnum
AGS, http://www.magnumenergy.com/Autogenstart.htm

I installed an earlier-model magnum in 2003 in an SOB, which did not have "quiet
time" but otherwise was the same, and I've been very satisfied with both.

Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
Posting today by satellite from RATS
My location: http://www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1

On 10/30/2008 at 10:36 PM Larry Kehler wrote:

>I am interested in knowing if anyone has retro fitted a generator auto
>start module to their bird. What brand and how has the experience
>worked out?
>My brief internet search appears that there are several brands
>available to retrofit.
>I am tired of getting up in the middle of the night to check voltage
>because of my big Amana amp sucking refrigerator.
>
>Larry Kehler
>94 PT40 "BAM"
>Home in St Louis

[Don Bradner]

Magnum AGS runs ~$240

On 10/30/2008 at 7:14 PM erniecarpet@... wrote:

>What price range are these units in?
>
>Ernie Ekberg
>83PT40
>Weatherford, Texas
>
>**************Plan your next getaway with AOL Travel. Check out Today's
>Hot
>5 Travel Deals!
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[Al]

Sure would be nice to do a group buy and install during one of our
local rallys.

Al Johnson
'96 BMC B100
Mandeville, Louisiana
Getting ready to go back to Muriel's to have sofa redone next week
--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
wrote:
>
> Magnum AGS runs ~$240
>
> On 10/30/2008 at 7:14 PM erniecarpet@... wrote:
>
> >What price range are these units in?
> >
> >Ernie Ekberg
> >83PT40
> >Weatherford, Texas
> >
> >**************Plan your next getaway with AOL Travel. Check out
Today's
> >Hot
> >5 Travel Deals!
> >(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x...71803/aol?
redir=http://travel.aol.com/discount-travel?nc...av00000001)
>

[Don Bradner]

I found it pretty easy in the SOB, where I put the switch on the dash and the
module at the left of the driver's knee. The professional install in Blue
Thunder has the module against the roof behind the right-front overhead door,
and the switch on the wall left of the driver's head. The complexity is mostly a
matter of how you run the wires.

On 10/30/2008 at 7:43 PM erniecarpet@... wrote:

>Thanks, Don. Wonder how much of a problem it is to install a unit?
>
>Ernie Ekberg
>83PT40
>Weatherford, Texas
>
>**************Plan your next getaway with AOL Travel. Check out Today's
>Hot
>5 Travel Deals!
>(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x...ttp:/\
/travel.aol.com/discount-travel?ncid=emlcntustrav00000001)

[Larry Kehler]

That is why I started the thread but we have only received one
experience report. I have identified at least three manufactures, all
are in the $250 range with as much as 25% discount for orders of 4 or
more units.
One model even has a remote key chain starter!
Other features include:
-Quiet hour set
-inside temp level start
-DC volt level start
-AC volt level start
-check for crank turn before restart

Larry Kehler
94 PT40 "BAM"


> Sure would be nice to do a group buy and install during one of our
> local rallys.
>
> sounds like a plan
>
> Ernie Ekberg
> 83PT40
> Weatherford, Texas

[Pete Masterson]

My coach has an 'auto-start' feature but I haven't learned the magic
incantation to make it work as I might expect. (Not a question, just
an observation.) However, the primary problem I see with generator
auto-start is that most campgrounds have a quiet time where generator
operation is prohibited. (e.g. I stayed in a California State
campground with an 8 PM to 10 AM "quiet time" enforced. --I had to
shed load to avoid damage to the batteries by turning nearly
everything off.)

My current practice, if I'm spending a night were there's no shore
power and running the generator isn't an option, is to simply turn
off the "amp-sucking Amana" when I go to bed. The refrigerator does
not warm up much with a shut down of 7 or 8 hours during the night.
(If I'm staying someplace that it really hot and requires AC for
comfort, then I wouldn't not use the generator and/or I'd stay where
there was shore power.)

I've analyzed the situation with the amp-sucking Amana and the
solutions I've come up with are:
1. replace the inverter(s) with true sine wave units. The modified
sine wave of the OEM inverters cause a loss of efficiency in the
compressor motor operation that might make a difference in overall
energy use.
2. Replace the amp-sucking Amana with a new higher efficiency
refrigerator. Since the energy labels aren't as "honest" as is ideal,
check ratings in Consumer's Reports to find the most energy efficient
model that will reasonably fit the space used by the Amana.

These two steps would go a long way toward improving the performance
of the system as it is designed. However, they're probably more
expensive and more of a problem than setting up the generator auto-
start.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Lebanon, TN



On Oct 30, 2008, at 6:36 PM, Larry Kehler wrote:

> I am interested in knowing if anyone has retro fitted a generator auto
> start module to their bird. What brand and how has the experience
> worked out?
> My brief internet search appears that there are several brands
> available to retrofit.
> I am tired of getting up in the middle of the night to check voltage
> because of my big Amana amp sucking refrigerator.
>
> Larry Kehler
> 94 PT40 "BAM"
> Home in St Louis
>
>