generator

[Benrubid]

When camping at a campground my Fuzion 322 requires a 50 amp service. if only a 30 amp service is available, can i plug into the 30 amp service and run my generator to make up the difference, so that I can run both A/Cs, etc, or will that harm the camper?

[happytrails]

You may wind up harming your camper AND your generator. The small generators are not meant to "synchronize" with the incoming utility power like that so they will be out of phase with each other and that is VERY dangerous. I work for a power company with large generators and the synchronization with the power system/grid is something that cannot be done incorrectly.

Also, if there were a fault on the campground power, your generator would feed into the fault which could also cause damage to your generator. Most home generators that are "full requirements" include a manual or automatic transfer switch. This switch is used to switch the house from utility power to generator power and isolates them from each other. This is very important for both synchronization and for protection of the the utility workers.

[SteveC7010]

From another point of view:

The last thing any of your camping neighbors want to hear in a campground with electrical hookups is a generator.

Get a 50 amp site or just use one A/C.

[happytrails]

From another point of view:

The last thing any of your camping neighbors want to hear in a campground with electrical hookups is a generator.

Get a 50 amp site or just use one A/C.

And there's that too!!;)

I just got excited when I heard he was going to hook his generator up to the utility power. I've seen what that does first-hand! It's one of those moments when you crap your pants and then look back on it years later and kind of go, "Man that was cool, we could have died though.":eek::eek:

Of course my experience is with connecting generators that output 2MW - 15MW or 2,000,000 - 15,000,000 watts, just to keep it in perspective.

[Festus2]

[QUOTE=Benrubid;42761 can i plug into the 30 amp service and run my generator to make up the difference, so that I can run both A/Cs, etc, or will that harm the camper?[/QUOTE]


"Will that harm the camper? Running a generator in a site with electrical hookups, even a 30A, would harm most campers .. and I'm not referring to the RV's but to the people inside them.

[hankpage]

It is not good campground etiquette but if your Fuzion has an automatic transfer switch it will transfer all power use to the gen and disconnect from shore power. No damage done other than ticking off your neighbors.

[SAABDOCTOR]

Hi happytrails I have woundered how many linemen get hurt or worse:eek: when so one uneducated soul hooks up a gen to the line!! when we had our big snow here in oct. generators were flying out the door of home cheapo and not one had a transfere switch with them. i was in the electrical dept. getting fresh power cord for mine. and i asked thesalesman about transfere switches he looked at me with the deer in the headlite look and said what's a transfere switch. wtfo:D

[campingcpl]

When camping at a campground my Fuzion 322 requires a 50 amp service. if only a 30 amp service is available, can i plug into the 30 amp service and run my generator to make up the difference, so that I can run both A/Cs, etc, or will that harm the camper?

You might want to try one of these. Personaly I have never used one but have talked to a couple of people that have and they say they work.

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-power-cords/rv-cheater-box.htm

[hankpage]

If the gen is permanently installed and hard wired there has to be a transfer switch.(Either auto or manual) If gen is portable then you have only one plug that goes to shore power or gen ..... one plug one source of power at a time. can not use both.

[happytrails]

Hi happytrails I have woundered how many linemen get hurt or worse:eek: when so one uneducated soul hooks up a gen to the line!! when we had our big snow here in oct. generators were flying out the door of home cheapo and not one had a transfere switch with them. i was in the electrical dept. getting fresh power cord for mine. and i asked thesalesman about transfere switches he looked at me with the deer in the headlite look and said what's a transfere switch. wtfo:D

Happens all the time, but fortunately most linemen know better than to work without checking AND they always work on the line as if it was live or at least they should be. I know ours do. You do not necessarily need a transfer switch. You can connect your generator to a new (appropriately sized and configured) circuit breaker in your existing panel and then use your main panel breaker to disconnect from the utility. It's unfortunate that Slowes and Home Cheapo don't have good people in their departments. My old college professor retired and went to work for Slowes. He was an electronics/electrical course professor and they put him in the plumbing department. I asked him why and he said he had no idea because he applied for electric department!! :confused:

[happytrails]

..... one plug one source of power at a time. can not use both.

oh come on now! You aren't giving people enough credit here. You'd be surprised at how well you can connect one plug to more than one thing through the magic of wire nuts extension cords and all around desperation.:)

[hankpage]

Happens all the time, but fortunately most linemen know better than to work without checking AND they always work on the line as if it was live or at least they should be. I know ours do. You do not necessarily need a transfer switch. You can connect your generator to a new (appropriately sized and configured) circuit breaker in your existing panel and then use your main panel breaker to disconnect from the utility. It's unfortunate that Slowes and Home Cheapo don't have good people in their departments. My old college professor retired and went to work for Slowes. He was an electronics/electrical course professor and they put him in the plumbing department. I asked him why and he said he had no idea because he applied for electric department!! :confused:


I would hope that anyone who knows how to back-feed a panel would be smart enough to turn the main off first and trying to run everyone's appliances in the county would definitely overload your generator........... But I believe the OP was talking about a factory installed gen-set, not a Rube Goldberg DIY nightmare. ...... Although the proper size extension cord from the 20amp outlet on the pedestal could be used to run the second A/C. :yes: ( the devil made me say that)

[SteveC7010]

Although the proper size extension cord from the 20amp outlet on the pedestal could be used to run the second A/C. :yes: ( the devil made me say that)

Actually, not a bad plan as long as the second A/C is electrically completely separate from the TT's circuitry. (Except for ground, of course.)

If I were installing a 2nd A/C, I would not connect it all to the existing TT circuits. Instead, I'd install a small breaker box wired direct to the 2nd A/C, probably down in the basement somewhere convenient, with a 20 amp breaker and pigtail. I would also install a standard 20 amp breaker in the TT's regular panel and feed it to a 20 amp outlet located near the 2nd A/C's pigtail.

That way, the pigtail could be plugged into the outlet for normal operation with a 50 amp feed to the trailer, or, if on a 30 amp post in a CG, the pigtail could be moved to a 20 amp extension cord which in turn, would plug into a separate 20 amp outlet on the pedestal.

All the components needed to do this are readily available at any Home Depot, Ace Hardware, etc. It's all pretty much standard residential style wiring and components.

[SAABDOCTOR]

steve tha almost sounds like army inteligance!!. i just finished put a 21kw generator in at my house and the transfer switch was most impressive! The linemen here in the north east took a lot ofcrap from people during our two big storms last year. any of the guys i saw i thanked them and brought them hot coffe. they were great that is a tough job!(tx). i saw the post of the "y" shaped cord plugged into the power post at a campground. and thought great some one will make a cord and try to hook the gen and the line together omg:eek::bm: