The Moonshine Motel (4 Viewers)

[GLTHFJ60]

Discovered an issue with the diesel genset. Turned it on and ran it for a few hours, but it was not producing voltage, or at least my inverter was not detecting it. Not sure why, so I'll need to do some investigating on that front.

Hopefully it's a wiring problem I caused, and not that the generator doesn't generate, lol.

Finally dug into this.

As it turns out, I had L1 (black) and L2 (red) switched on the inverter. This was not a problem with the 50a plug to 120v adapter because that adapter bridges the 50a L1 and L2, and the inverter ignores L2 input if it's the same phase as what's on L1. It shouldn't (I don't think anyway) be a problem with 240v across L1+L2, but I wasnt seeing that, so I fixed it as a troubleshooting step. It probably depends on the phase config your provider (or genset) supplies, either 180* or 120* off.

This is how it should be. Those 6ga wires are hard to move.

After fixing that, turned the generator on and it was only producing 120v across L1 and neutral, but I celebrated it producing something

Snooped around the manual and found that the generator can be wired to produce 120v (only), 240v (only) or 120/240v, kinda like how a polyphase electric motor can be rewired.

So, I pulled the genset control apart to get to the generator wiring. This is a Cummins Onan HDKAS genset for reference.

Rewired the generator to the rightmost diagram 120/240v, hooked everything back up and now the genset provides my inverter with 245v. Success!!

One of the reasons why I chose this inverter is because it has an AC pass through port terminal block, meaning I can wire in a 50a 240v outlet that gets power directly from the input terminal block (not inverted or modified at all). That will allow me to run welders and other 240v shop equipment off the motel

Maybe I'll get to the shower and interior finishings soon. I'd like to. We will see. Now that the genset is operational I should service it, so that should come first.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Chopped a 45* into the front of the wheel wells to try a different style of ramp.

Bought a @BlackfishFab outlaw shower, which means my entire layout is getting much, much better. Tore the kitchenette apart today, moved the inverter, and began planning/making the new kitchenette. Three sections; left is sink/water works, center is fridge, right is electronics.

I will also make the dividing wall cubby about 6" shallower to get more room in the bedroom. Doesn't need to be so deep now that the fridge is down below.

I'm stoked! This will be a much better layout.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

She's coming along. Lots of work, but this is going to be amazballs.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Yassss

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Details, details.

 

[Zjohnsonua]

Nice counterto....I mean, workbench you made there. Built in parts washer, too!

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Counter came out tits. Plumbing is coming in nicely as well.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Plumbing done (except for the shower), wiring functional, fridge stocked with beer and working as expected. Counter fully screwed in and down.

The collapsible shower came in the mail today, so I've got to figure a mount for that. Excited.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Mulled it over for a few days and decided that to mount and plumb the shower, I needed this wall to be in its final form. Today was the day.

Furring strips, more insulation, then 5mm ply. This will get primed+painted white, then hopefully some form of metal cladding on the bottom 3' or so to protect from tires.

Now I get to pick out a plumbing fixture for the shower, build its mount, plumb and leak test, then insulate and ply.

 

[Hokie LX]

Needs a waterfall shower head for sure. Only the highest levels of luxury in the motel!

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Been plugging away. Got the plumbing figured out by installing a backer board screwed with wood to metal screws, in pocket holes, in a stud cavity, for the drop ear elbows to screw to nice and solid.

All the wall sheathing (on this side) up and painted with paint/primer in two coats. This one wall soaked up a whole gallon.

 

[Zjohnsonua]

Greasy hands. Smart-ass buddies. White walls. This is gonna be great.

 

[stevezero]

Been plugging away. Got the plumbing figured out by installing a backer board screwed with wood to metal screws, in pocket holes, in a stud cavity, for the drop ear elbows to screw to nice and solid.

All the wall sheathing (on this side) up and painted with paint/primer in two coats. This one wall soaked up a whole gallon.

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That last coat should be whiteboard paint. Write on, wipe off...

 

[GLTHFJ60]

That last coat should be whiteboard paint. Write on, wipe off...

I thought about chalkboard paint. Might still do that in some areas. Will decide after I get the metal cladding on the bottom few feet.

 

[Comet]

Do the Toyota grey, red and white scheme. Moonshine will thank you later.

 

[JohnVee]

Gloss or semi-gloss paint for easy cleaning.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Shower fixture, crude brackets out of aluminum, and the outlaw shower enclosure mounted.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

The blackfish outlaw shower is designed to mount on a 7' ceiling, or on a wall with his brackets. I have 8' domed ceilings, and didn't want it on the wall where it would impede me from getting into and out of the truck from the front for loading. That's why I did the ceiling mount brackets in the last post, to get the shower level to the floor and mounted up in the ceiling. That however meant that I needed to come up with a platform for the base of the shower.

Took me a few days, but I finally came up with a concept I liked, and built it this morning. The 3/4" ply platform and step store flat against the wall with a couple of cleats on piano hinge.

4x4 legs screw into the bottom of the platforms with nutserts and all thread, then the platform and step fold down from the wall. They are very sturdy.

Finally the shower comes down from the ceiling. It works exceptionally well.

Some paint to finish it up, and a hole in the floor for the drain, and I'll be gucci.

 

[Hokie LX]

All it needs is a flip down shower beer holder and then the design will be complete!

 

[stevezero]

All it needs is a flip down shower beer holder and then the design will be complete!

thank goodness you said beer holder and not phone holder. LOL