Power outage, generator use

[notanlines]

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?

[allaninman1]

When I do my monthly maintenance, I turn off everything, turn the circuit breakers off before firing up the generator


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[hankpage]

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

[GaryWT]

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.

[notanlines]

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.

[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.

[JRTJH]

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.

^^^ 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 !!!