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01-14-2016, 08:47 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,334
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Power outage, generator use
We are having a general conversation (not an argument) in our RV park concerning use of on-board generators when our park electricity blacks out. Generally, does one need to turn the circuit breakers off at the power box before you start and use the generator?
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Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
2019 F450 6.7 Powerstroke
2018 Mobile Suites 40RSSA
2021 40' Jayco Eagle
2001 Road king w/matching Harley sidecar
2021 Yamaha X2 Wolverine 1000
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01-14-2016, 09:49 AM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 12
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When I do my monthly maintenance, I turn off everything, turn the circuit breakers off before firing up the generator
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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D. Allan Inman
Retired LEO
2015 Keystone Raptor 375TS
2016 Chevy 3500HD
Duramax/Allison DRW
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01-14-2016, 11:07 AM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Venice
Posts: 5,346
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This all depends on how your gen is installed ... if you have an automatic transfer switch you should not have to do anything. JM2˘, Hank
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Hank & Lynn
2007 Cougar 290RKS, E-Z Flex, 16" XPS RIBs ( SOLD .. Gonna miss her ... looking for new 5r)
2004.5 Dodge 2500 QC, LB, 5.9HO, WestTach gauges, Ride-Rite
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01-14-2016, 11:21 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 3,153
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If wired with the switch then you will not be back feeding onto the line. I would think if you did not have the switch, you would have to unplug the rv and plug it into the generator thus doing the same thing, taking the trailer off the grid.
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2013 Premier 31BHPR
2014 F350 6.2L
Soon to be just DW and I
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01-14-2016, 11:33 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,334
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Many thanks. What was said is about what the general consensus was in the conversation. I think I'll just turn the breakers off at the box in case I need the generator.
__________________
Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
2019 F450 6.7 Powerstroke
2018 Mobile Suites 40RSSA
2021 40' Jayco Eagle
2001 Road king w/matching Harley sidecar
2021 Yamaha X2 Wolverine 1000
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01-14-2016, 12:47 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 2,910
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As a retired electric utility lineman who worked with a fellow lineman who was killed years ago when a generator started up during an outage and he was up a pole working to make repairs, I would strongly suggest unplugging your rig from the power pedestal before staring a generator. I would not want to depend on a switch as the way to isolate your generator from the utility system and possibly endanger a worker. The visible open created by the cord not being plugged in is the only safe way to do this.
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Bob & Becky
2012 3402 Montana
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC
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01-14-2016, 01:00 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobbecky
As a retired electric utility lineman who worked with a fellow lineman who was killed years ago when a generator started up during an outage and he was up a pole working to make repairs, I would strongly suggest unplugging your rig from the power pedestal before staring a generator. I would not want to depend on a switch as the way to isolate your generator from the utility system and possibly endanger a worker. The visible open created by the cord not being plugged in is the only safe way to do this.
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^^^ What he said. We've had a number of reported malfunctions of automatic transfer switches, some of which have included power to the trailer power cord during generator use. Physically unplugging the trailer power cord is an "absolute" and avoids any potential for a "hanging circuit breaker" or "malfunctioning transfer switch". Better safe than sorry !!!
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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