Sunday, Mar 25, 2012 at 11:43
First of all...no compartment containing liquid or gass fuel or batteries should be completly sealed...sorry point blank end story.
Alll these compartments should be adequately sealed from the interiour of the van ( fuel resistant sealers and materials) and should be
well ventilated to outside air.
I am constantly gobsmacked at how many campers and caravans have this stuff in inadequatly vented compartments.
This is dangerous goods stuff.......this is why stuff burns and blows up.
People continue to underestimate what is required to house these devices safely and how much ventilation is required.
OH..BTW..have you thaught what happend if the fuel
tank leaks or ruptures spilling ??litres of fuel in the compartment.
Does the compartment contain a bund, how and where does it drain.
Now to the venitlation.....you are far better off with good passive ventilation...holes and big ones..... a few slots will do bugger all ..... because the fumes are there day and night.
If you must use forced ventilation and you may
well need to..the fan needs not to present a source of ignition.....so it needs to be brushless DC as a minimum or better, ignition protected or intrinsicly safe.
The fan needs to have a power source that is continuous so battery supplied.
Look in the marine shops they have a variety of bilge blowers...you wont need anything too big.
This is a very serious issue that is consistenty bady addressed or totally ignored.
As far as I am concerned the best place for a generator is in open air on the drawbar with a rigid cover, not in a compartment.
cheers
AnswerID:
481333
Follow Up By: ozjohn0 - Sunday, Mar 25, 2012 at 13:10
Sunday, Mar 25, 2012 at 13:10
I totally agree with bantam.
And another point. Why would someone need a solar powered fan for a genny that produces enough electricty when it's running to power umteen fans.?????
Am I missing something?
Ozjohn.
FollowupID:
756703
Follow Up By: Member - Shell P (W.A) - Sunday, Mar 25, 2012 at 13:19
Sunday, Mar 25, 2012 at 13:19
Hi Bantam,
Thanks for your
views,
As it turns out our BBQ that used to be housed on our A-Frame fits perfectly in the Gennie compartment so now the gennie can go on the a-Frame. Perfect solution and the best part is it didnt cost us a cent:)
this is why I love these forums,
Thanks again
Shell.
FollowupID:
756704
Follow Up By: The Bantam - Sunday, Mar 25, 2012 at 15:21
Sunday, Mar 25, 2012 at 15:21
All good then...now if you have a fault ya genny can piss fuel and unless someone doese something realy silly ya van wont explode.
I just cant believe the qulaity of the advice from the dealers and manufacturers.
A generator with an inbuilt fuel
tank...that some time has to leak or spill in a sealed compartment.........what ya had there was an IED that any arab terorist would have been happy with.
cheers
FollowupID:
756714