Towing with generator running

Djacobp · 06-24-2015, 06:01 PM

Are you able to power the TT with the shoreline plugged into generator at the same time the 7 pin connector is plugged into the tow vehicle? Example... Pulling TT down highway with camper A/C powered and operating. Has anybody else done this before?

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PARAPTOR · 06-24-2015, 06:35 PM

Have run on the board generator many a time to run AC while on the road, including today Memphis 97+ degrees. My question would be can your generator run while bouncing down the road and is the shore power connector close to the generator?

Djacobp · 06-24-2015, 07:09 PM

Im sure we will figure out a way to securely fasten the generator to the bed of our truck. And as far as getting the shoreline to the bed of the truck...we have an extension cord that we will run to from the back of our TT to the bed of our truck. But my question is...what will happen with power being supplied to the battery via the 7 pin connector and the generator running power to the battery and the rest of the our TT?

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**chuckster57** · 06-24-2015, 07:54 PM

Check the 7 way plug at the junction box. If the 12V feed from the truck is connected to the positive from the battery, then all you would have to do is turn off the 120V breaker for the convertor.

Both the battery positive and the power feed from the truck should be black.

Larry1013 · 06-25-2015, 02:14 AM

Most trucks have a mega fuse and a relay located in the fuse box under the hood for the 12v power supplied to the trailer via the 7 way plug for the battery charge.

One could pull this fuse and/or relay to eliminate the 12v at the 7 way plug. On a Ford truck wiring diagram, when not towing the trailer, you could leave the fuse out as there appears to be no other use for this 12 volt circuit except to charge the battery in the trailer. I would think similar on other vehicle brands.

Or one could install a switch in the 12 volt power wire from the pin box to the battery to turn this off.

PARAPTOR · 06-25-2015, 04:45 AM

You know really never put a lot of thought into this seeing that I do not have schematics. I pictured this as two groups of batteries and individual charging systems hooked together. One charging source being the multistate converter which I would think would back off to a trickle charge if a higher than normal voltage was detected. I have ran the generator many a time on the road with no problems.

I have used the truck to put a small charge on the Raptor batteries to start the generator.

As stated if you kill the 120 VAC breaker to the converter, its not going to charge anything. Rigs 12VDC systems will be run from the two groups of batteries and TV CHARGING SYSTEM.

OR as stated you can disable the truck 7 pin feed.

The way this weather is, I will be using the generator the rest of the trip.

IF I recall other RAPTOR OWNERS run their generators on the road. Only concern that I recall from previous posts was what effect if any will traveling
have on air flow to the generator.

MY concern would still be are these portable generators built to run while bouncing down the road in a truck bed?

WELL my experiences and my two cents. Interested in others comments

Larry1013 · 06-25-2015, 06:20 AM

I believe if you kill the 120 VAC breaker, you defeat the purpose of running the generator.

I am not sure the OP's reason for wanting to run the generator. I would suspect that the thought is so they can operate the air conditioner and/or some other 120VAC device if someone were in the trailer.

If one only wants to charge the trailer battery(s), then there is no reason to want to operate the generator during travels as the 7 way plug would provide the 12V to do this.

Festus2 · 06-25-2015, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry1013

I am not sure the OP's reason for wanting to run the generator. .

Perhaps to cool down the interior so when they arrive at their destination, the inside is "ready to go". ???

tommy_z · 06-25-2015, 07:37 AM

My 2007 Ford uses a separate fuse and relay for the 12V charge line. If you're going to run the genny, the converter will be trying to charge the battery, so you don't want the truck doing the same. Just pull the truck relay out.

I would love to be able to run a genny while underway to keep the interior cool. I just don't know how to safely do this with my SUV. I'm still hunting for a way to have the genny on the trailer.

PARAPTOR · 06-25-2015, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Festus2

Perhaps to cool down the interior so when they arrive at their destination, the inside is "ready to go". ???

Djacobp · 06-25-2015, 08:21 AM

Yes the purpose of running the generator is so we can use the A/C in the trailer to keep our dogs cool and to have it cooled down in there when we arrive.

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**chuckster57** · 06-25-2015, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry1013

I believe if you kill the 120 VAC breaker, you defeat the purpose of running the generator.

I am not sure the OP's reason for wanting to run the generator. I would suspect that the thought is so they can operate the air conditioner and/or some other 120VAC device if someone were in the trailer.

If one only wants to charge the trailer battery(s), then there is no reason to want to operate the generator during travels as the 7 way plug would provide the 12V to do this.

You would only turn off the power to the convertor., that way it's not trying to charge the batteries at the same time the tow vehicle is. The whole reason for running a gen and plugging in while on the road is to operate the A/C to cool the interior in this particular case.

PARAPTOR · 06-25-2015, 11:20 AM

I would think a smart multistage converter could deal with someone else like a TV charging its batteries

To date have seen no problems, like you said turning off the converter eliminates one of the charging sources.

shane772 · 06-25-2015, 12:47 PM

Hope you update this after you've tried it. I'd love to keep the dog in the camper while traveling.

Larry1013 · 06-25-2015, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

You would only turn off the power to the convertor., that way it's not trying to charge the batteries at the same time the tow vehicle is. The whole reason for running a gen and plugging in while on the road is to operate the A/C to cool the interior in this particular case.

Ok. I see where you are going and why. I was short sighted in my thoughts.

I think for me it would be easier to pull the fuse and/or relay seeing how I have no other trailer that requires the 12vdc from the truck.

gearhead · 06-25-2015, 06:25 PM

Running the generator to run the trailer A/C for the dogs.
I remember when Dad would put the hunting dogs in the "turtle shell" of the '53 Chevy for early season hunting trips. Probably got 110 degrees in there.

Just kidding with y'all.

Djacobp · 07-15-2015, 06:22 AM

Arriving at Bar Harbor. To bad it is a rainy day but we ran the generator the majority of the trip. All we did is took the fuse out and we had no problems.

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PerryB · 07-15-2015, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Djacobp

Yes the purpose of running the generator is so we can use the A/C in the trailer to keep our dogs cool and to have it cooled down in there when we arrive.

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I'm going to start doing the same thing except the dogs are going to stay in the truck and the BOYS are going in the 5th wheel.

johnm · 07-16-2015, 06:08 AM

I've plugged the RV into the power pole many times without unplugging from the TV so ... so what would be the difference of the genny? However, I'm not saying it's a good idea but nothing "bad" happened.

EricLynnAllison · 07-16-2015, 12:27 PM

Similar to above, I've stopped to eat and used generator for microwave without unhooking truck. Is that a problem?

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