bill h
coastal reconquista
Senior Member
Joined: 08/02/2001
View Profile
|
pianotuna wrote:Hi pnicols,
It is not the cost of the fuel cell initially. It is lifespan and fuel costs. Right now the technology asks for very pure fuel. That's well fine and dandy, but it makes them costly to operate.
That is true for the alcohol/water fuel. Propane fueled fuel cells are on the horizon, and the purity of available propane is being looked at. Sulfur content seems to be a concern.
Quote:They are not "silent" either apparently.
The one we Beta tested last winter made a white noise, like a small torch. Behind the coach we could not hear it. Just around the corner, it could be heard, and I put a rug mat over it to make it silent. However, whenever a rattle trap was running within earshot (a long distance on a quiet night) we welcomed its white noise blanking effect in drowning out noise.
Quote:If they would build an RV with electric drive motors and a fuel cell to power them, I'd be interested.
I remember a few propane fueled Class A motor homes from the '70s. It's a stretch, but perhaps we will see propane powered fuel cell vehicles.
NOTE: Any incorrect spelling is intentional to prevent those annoying popups.
84 Barth 30Tag powered by HT502/Thorley/Weiand etc, Gear Vendors OD.
Siamese Calvin and Airedale Hobbes, 4WD Toyota toad
|
vermilye
Oswego, NY, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/11/2004
View Profile
|
I want an RV with 3 or 4 of GM's fuel cells to power everything, including drive power. They list the following specs:
"The new stack has 640 cells with a continuous power output of 102kW (134 horsepower) and a peak power output of 129kW (173 hp), the company said. It weighs 82 kg (180 pounds) and measures 32 1/4 inches by 5 ` inches by 20 inches, or 82 cm by 14 cm by 50 cm (58 liters)."
Only problem is they are still running around $1,000,000.00 each & require pure hydrogen for fuel.
Jon Vermilye Travel & Photo Web Pages ... My Collection of RV Blogs & Journals
My Travel Journal - Jon's Journeys
Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park, MT
|
RobertRyan
Australia
Senior Member
Joined: 03/16/2008
View Profile
 Offline
|
Quote: It's also my guess that fuel cells are probably making inroads into the progressive Australian RV world way ahead of the U.S..
Not as yet, but you never know.
|
Oldtymeflyr
Littleton, CO
Senior Member
Joined: 04/18/2004
View Profile
|
We had a boat at Lake Powell for more then 10 years, a twin engine Sea Ray and did not have air conditioning and we did not want it.
Yea its hot, but at Lake Powell you are right next to some nice clean cool water. Even at night with a canopy overhead (basically covering the whole 31 foot of boat during the day) we were able to sleep comfortably.
We don't run a TV, the music is quiet if at all.
Sometimes, we have been at campgrounds with the generators droning on and on and I wonder why? Its actually much quieter at home in the Denver area.
For those of you who want to camp in the shade, set a solar panel in the sun and run a cord to your rig, one campground host did that with a 4 foot by 4 foot panel, he would move it during the course of the day.
|
fly-boy
Los Angeles, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 11/05/2004
View Profile
|
I don't understand complaints about generators- If you don't want noise then camp where there are hookups or where there are no other people/rv's. Complaining about rv generator noise at a nascar event is rather amusing.
I certainly appreciate the solitude and quiet of camping- Nothing like flipping the inverter on and making a cup of coffee or watching the news in the middle of the forest! But rather than expend energy complaining about others I spend it finding camp spots that offer exactly what I want- including generator free zones- unless I start mine. 
2012 GMC 3500 SLT Duramax
2009 WW HKD plus 4 feet
2008 Custom Rhino
2005 CRF 450
2008 KTM 50
2006 KFX 50...
|
|
|
bill h
coastal reconquista
Senior Member
Joined: 08/02/2001
View Profile
|
fly-boy wrote:
I certainly appreciate the solitude and quiet of camping- Nothing like flipping the inverter on and making a cup of coffee or watching the news in the middle of the forest! But rather than expend energy complaining about others I spend it finding camp spots that offer exactly what I want- including generator free zones- unless I start mine.
Do you ever get settled in at just the right boondocking spot and then have someone park nearby and run their rattletrap day and night?
|
Pauljdav
Everett, Wa
Senior Member
Joined: 12/01/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
The guy next to me this weekend had a 200o watt honda. It ran for hours and was running loud and fast. I don't know what he was running unless he left the water heater on electric.
I could not even hear my 3000 watt honda with his running.
|
fly-boy
Los Angeles, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 11/05/2004
View Profile
|
bill h wrote:fly-boy wrote:
I certainly appreciate the solitude and quiet of camping- Nothing like flipping the inverter on and making a cup of coffee or watching the news in the middle of the forest! But rather than expend energy complaining about others I spend it finding camp spots that offer exactly what I want- including generator free zones- unless I start mine.
Do you ever get settled in at just the right boondocking spot and then have someone park nearby and run their rattletrap day and night?
I have never had that happen- the scenario you picture is much different than a Nascar race or other busy location. But since you ask- if it did happen his generator would need service the next day- In no way would I tolerate someone parking near me in the boondocks and running a loud generator. I would not even ask them to turn it off- It would simply have a catastrophic failure in the middle of the night.
|
mt head
New Mexico
New Member
Joined: 02/16/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
The camping experience on public lands would be greatly enhanced by a ban on generator use when tent campers are present. We shouldn't disrespect our camping neighbors in this way. I personally have made modifications to my camper so that I no longer need a generator.
|
pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 12/18/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Hi mt,
What are those modifications?
mt head wrote:I personally have made modifications to my camper so that I no longer need a generator.
Regards, Don
Kustom Koach Class C 28'5" 256 watts solar, 875 amp hours in two battery banks 12 volt batteries 2500 watt inverter.
|
|
|
