What is "under hood generator"?

These are belt driven 120VAC 60HZ Generators. Alot of emergency vehicles use them...

This one shown is in the 2000WATT to 3000Watt model. Of course you have to be running the truck motor...

photo from GOOGLE search

Something like this would be good while you are on your road trip and could be running things in your motor home from it etc.. I don't think I would like the idea of just running the truck motor while sitting at a camp ground running one.

I used to have a 1000WATT ARMY SURPLUS model a long time back that was belt driven off a Sears type 5HP upright gas motor. Did pretty good...

This is no different from any other gasoline motor driven generator - just a different application...

Just my thoughts
Roy Ken

Usually they mount a second unit that looks like an older 12 volt generator before they switched from generators to alternators. Usually takes room and mounting brackets as most are separate units. I think I've seen some that were combined with an alternator into one unit. In today's vehicles, as crowded as the engine compartments are, I'm not sure where there would be room for one except maybe on a Dodge/Cummins diesel.

And, yes the engine has to be running to provide the power to run the generator.

There is also another type of generator that runs off of the vehicle's 12 power which turns a small generator that produces 110VAC. Again, the engine has to be running all of the time. They're not very practical as the output is sort or minimal. I have two of them sitting in the garage.

Bill

As above. Mine is a 3500 watt "second alternator" mounted low on the passenger side of the Sprinter's engine compartment. It turns when the engine is on, so yes, you use the engine when you need a generator.

For the E-Trek vehicle like mine, with a large battery bank, the engine generator assures that as you drive around in the day, your batteries are fully charged when you park up. Should you run the batteries down, then yes, you run the engine for an hour or so. Those with experience in the setup claim that this is seldom necessary, considering the type of RV's most often done by Class B rigs.

If you tend to park up for several days at a time, this may not be the best setup.

as obgraham says-technically it is a high amp alternator-however it's more of a system

the 'total' E-trek is 8 6 volt batterie/engine generator/6000 watt inverter charger-solar panels-plus the special wiring for all that power(about 50 amps).

the 'partial e-trek' is 4 6 volt batteries/3000 watt inverter/charger/solar panels and the special wiring.


although roadtrek says minimum 2500 watt inverter or minimum 5000 watt inverter in the recent past they are actually using 3000 and 6000 respectivley