Adding Another Shore Power Input
I mounted my generator on the rear rack of my 5'r and it worked great during our trip to the NoCal Coast last week. Just run the cables on the ground, hook 'em up and start the Genny. I was think...
Forum Discussion
DutchmenSport wrote:
However, you'll need to do some modifications because the plugs on the trailer side are male. If you have power running thorugh one cord, you'll have power in the other cord (regardless if on shore power or generator power). The bare pins on the plug will be live with 110 volts of AC elictricity! So although the idea is good, if you can figure out a way to switch out both plugs you'll be using (on the camper end) so they can end up being female instead of male, it would work.
Swapping the gender of the RV connector is not a solution for a couple of reasons. First, it then requires that one use a male to male cable (sometimes called a "suicide cord") to hook up the shore power or generator. Should the RV end of the cable be disconnected, you have the same problem as above.
Second, it allows shore power and generator power to be connected together. If that were to actually be done, there is a very good chance that the generator would be spectacularly destroyed, with engine or rotor parts flying free and such like. Even if the generator is not running it likely would suffer catastrophic damage. A generator head makes a fine electric motor.
It is essential that only one source of power be able to be connected to the RV at any time. A transfer switch, whether automatic or manual, is one good solution. Another is to wire up the generator to what amounts to a permanent extension cord that the main AC inlet is plugged into.
