Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Fleet | Keystone RV Models > Travel Trailers
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 08-13-2019, 11:43 AM   #1
jsb5717
Senior Member
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,388
A little help for my son's generator

Just checking the electrical expertise here.

My son has a 30 amp TT. He has a generator that should be adequate but it keeps popping the breaker when the AC is turned on. There are 2 settings for the 30 amp plug...either 120v or 240v. He's using the 120v but it won't work.

This is his generator. Any thoughts?

http://www.ngcindustries.com/11-8120.html

Thanks for the help
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2019, 11:58 AM   #2
Customer1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 503
Which breaker? On the generator or in the RV? What size is the breaker?

Definitely plug into 120.
__________________
2018 Cougar 26RBS
2016 Chevrolet 3500DRW D/A
Customer1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2019, 02:27 PM   #3
wiredgeorge
Senior Member
 
wiredgeorge's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,392
Is the 30A 120V outlet on the generator the same as the plug on your son's RV cord? The 3500w (running) should be OK to run an RV a/c unit otherwise so we are likely missing something. And as already asked; pops the main in the trailer or the breaker on the generator?
__________________
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
wiredgeorge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2019, 03:12 PM   #4
jsb5717
Senior Member
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,388
It pops the generator breaker. The breaker doesn't indicate what amps it's protecting so it must be a general breaker for any over-draw.

The plug is a 4 pin twist but he bought the adapter for the RV plug from an RV dealer

I appreciate the help. I'm no expert in electrical so not sure what's going on. Seems like it should work.
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 08:18 AM   #5
flygrimm
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: BETHLEHEM
Posts: 11
jsb5717

Your first step is to hook up the generator to the trailer and run some other AC items like the microwave or just plug in something to one of the regular AC outlets. If all is well there then the air conditioner compressor might be drawing too many amps during startup (known as locked rotor amps). Also make sure nothing else is drawing power from the generator except the trailer's converter.

What is the rating of the air conditioner? 13,500 btu, 15,000 btu or something else. Does the air work when hooked up to shore power?

Your generator has a continuous rating of 3500 Watts and a surge rating of 4000 so it should handle the air conditioner, but not much else. I have the champion 3400 Watt inverter generator with a continuous rating of 3100 Watts and it runs our 13,500 btu air no problem, just don't ask it to run the microwave at the same time .

If the air is in good working order, it might just have a high startup amperage. You can try installing a hard start capacitor (the least expensive option) or try the Easy Start from Micro Air (a bit expensive).


Hard start capacitor: example only, your air conditioner might require a different model
https://smile.amazon.com/Supco-SPP6-...%2C127&sr=8-2l.


Easy Start:
https://www.microair.net/products/ea...nt=30176048267
flygrimm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 08:32 AM   #6
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,839
The generator appears to be a "off brand knock-off" obtained from a mail order business. I'm not suggesting that the generator is not worth the price paid, rather that many "low cost, off brand" generators are either "rebranded rejects" or "remanufactured and rebranded, low cost sales items"....

You didn't indicate that there's any problem when the trailer is connected to shore power, so if it's working on shore power, then the 30 amp RV main breaker is carrying the correct load and the A/C is working. That means the trailer is probably working normally (or the 30 amp trailer breaker would open with the A/C load). Assuming that it works on shore power, I'd suspect it's a generator issue.

Before spending a lot of time on trying to troubleshoot the trailer for possible problems, it looks like this is your son's generator and the problems are with the generator, when connected to his trailer....

Why not connect his generator to YOUR trailer, see if you can replicate an approximate "amp draw" by turning on ONE of your air conditioners. If the breaker on the generator does the same with YOUR trailer, I'd suspect the generator first and not the trailer. If, however, the generator performs well in powering YOUR trailer, then I'd suspect that your son may have an issue with his air conditioner and/or his trailer....

I'd suggest you verify that it's the generator or his trailer by connecting to YOUR trailer to see if the generator is performing to specifications. That way, you'll know where to focus your efforts rather than "blaming both and trying to find out which one".....
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 11:38 AM   #7
jsb5717
Senior Member
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,388
flygrimm and JRTJH,

Thanks, guys, good suggestions. I did suggest that he try running other stuff from the generator as a test. His trailer works fine on 30A or 50A (with plug adapter) shore power and runs the AC as it should.

Also, his AC is 13,500 BTU

I am also suspecting the generator itself.
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 12:10 PM   #8
jsb5717
Senior Member
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,388
Just confirmed with my son that the generator powers the coach and runs everything, including the microwave, except the AC. With everything else off, the AC alone pops the breaker.
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 12:21 PM   #9
flygrimm
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: BETHLEHEM
Posts: 11
Seems to me that the generator cannot handle the startup amperage for the air conditioner. Could be the breaker on the generator is faulty, the stated startup watts (4000) for the generator are overstated or there is a fault with the generator.

Try the generator on another trailer if possible and see if it starts that air conditioner.

Try another generator if you can get access to one.

I might try a hard start kit on your son's trailer. It's only about $20 and can be installed DIY in less than an hour. Lots if video's on YouTube.

Stuart
flygrimm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 12:54 PM   #10
jsb5717
Senior Member
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,388
Thanks, it does feel like the generator is weaker than stated. We are hooking it up to my trailer this Saturday to test that theory.

Thanks for the help
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2019, 12:34 PM   #11
duh1
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Panhandle of Florida
Posts: 75
champion 3500

I have a 2910bh Keystone pssport and tried 3 generators till i found the champion 3500 weight 90 lbs would run out trailer ac and frig not sure if i turn on all the lights but it does what is needed (home depot about 950 bucks) they have larger more potent ones but i wanted to be able to lift it myself and are much cheaper. good luck
duh1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2019, 11:26 AM   #12
flygrimm
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: BETHLEHEM
Posts: 11
How did your test with the generators go?

Stuart
flygrimm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2019, 12:01 PM   #13
jsb5717
Senior Member
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,388
Thanks for checking. The jury is still out. He can plug into the std household 120 outlet (20a) and run the coach just fine. However, in the 4 prong 240/120 outlet with an RV adapter plug the breaker pops. Still not sure why...
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2019, 12:18 PM   #14
flygrimm
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: BETHLEHEM
Posts: 11
If it's the breaker on the generator that keeps popping, I would think that there is something wrong with the generator. Bad breaker, bad wiring, maybe the adapter is faulty. Just some ideas. Were you ever able to hook up the suspect generator to something else or try a different generator on your son's rig?

Stuart
flygrimm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2019, 12:52 PM   #15
jsb5717
Senior Member
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,388
Thanks, I suspect something wrong with the gen. The same breaker operates both outlets. There is a selector switch to determine which outlet you're using. The breaker does't pop on the 20amp side, but does on the 30amp side.

We've also used 2 different adapter plugs with the same result.
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2019, 01:48 PM   #16
Roscommon48
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: grand rapids
Posts: 596
you got the answer, the generator can't deal with the A/C.

The new 2200 Honda generator is operate a 13.5btu a/c
Roscommon48 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2019, 02:13 PM   #17
jsb5717
Senior Member
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,388
The confusing part is that it runs the AC just fine on the 20a side, but not on the 30a side.
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2019, 03:49 PM   #18
xrated
Senior Member
 
xrated's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: "Murvil, TN
Posts: 2,198
Quote:
Originally Posted by jsb5717 View Post
The confusing part is that it runs the AC just fine on the 20a side, but not on the 30a side.
I may be wrong with this answer, but it seems feasible to me. The 30A twist lock type receptacle is able to provide 30A total at 120V...which equals 3600 Watts. But each leg of the 120 is only going to be able to provide 15A each...for a total of 30A. Since the A/C unit is 120V and is only being supplied from one of the hot legs, using the 30A twist lock recept is actually only providing 15A from that one leg. Basically, the other 120V leg is not being used. So 30A total....15A on each leg. Most likely there is nothing wrong with the generator, and the breaker is doing exactly what it should be doing, opening up or tripping because of the current being higher than 15A at start up.
__________________
2016 F350 King Ranch Crew Cab Dually Diesel 4x4
2018 Grand Design Momentum 394M
2023 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+
Excessive payload capacity is a wonderful thing

"If it ain't Fast....It ain't Fun"
xrated is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2019, 05:15 PM   #19
Wxman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: West Central IN
Posts: 141
Using the correct adapter? Xrated may be on to something in a sense. Since the generator is voltage selectable it should be able to put out the max watts at the 30 amp receptacle in the 120V only mode, correct? Somehow the switch parallels the load after the circuit breakers to give the max watts. But I believe it would still take both legs (hots) to get the max watts but they can be combined when in the 120V only mode. However, if the adapter is incorrect it may only be connecting one leg (hot) to the RV end of the adapter, which as would seem to limit to 15amps.
I am not a pro, but I think it would be interesting to know if both 'hots' of the adapter have continuity to the 'hot' of the RV side of the adapter.
__________________
Wxman
2018 Passport Elite 19RB (sold)
2021 Jayco Eagle HT 274CKDS
2017 Silverado Z71 5.3L 3.42 gears(sold)
2021 Sierra 2500 4x4 CCSB SLT (gas)
E4 16k/1.6k hitch
Wxman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2019, 06:21 PM   #20
bobbecky
Senior Member
 
bobbecky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 2,897
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wxman View Post
Using the correct adapter? Xrated may be on to something in a sense. Since the generator is voltage selectable it should be able to put out the max watts at the 30 amp receptacle in the 120V only mode, correct? Somehow the switch parallels the load after the circuit breakers to give the max watts. But I believe it would still take both legs (hots) to get the max watts but they can be combined when in the 120V only mode. However, if the adapter is incorrect it may only be connecting one leg (hot) to the RV end of the adapter, which as would seem to limit to 15amps.
I am not a pro, but I think it would be interesting to know if both 'hots' of the adapter have continuity to the 'hot' of the RV side of the adapter.
If the 30 amp outlet is set up to provide only 120/240 volts from the four leg outlet, there may not be a switch to actually select one voltage or the other, and if that is the case, the two hotlegs will be out of phase and are not able to be paralleled, so the 15 amps per hotleg is probably the what is wrong and why the A/C will not work. The dogbone adapter is only using one of the hotlegs to feed the 30 amp shore cable, just like if you were connected to a 50 amp pedestal, you are only using one of the 50 amp hotlegs, but that works in that situation. Another sad thing is, this generator has a 7 HP engine and doesn't really put out that much more power than our two little 2,000 watt Honda's paralleled, 2.8 HP each.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402 Montana
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC
bobbecky is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
generator

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:07 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.