Anyone travel with Gen running to power AC?

K.Reeve wrote:
as to the question above, they are not disconnecting the wiring plug from the TV, they are just turning off the Inverter, so the 5th wheel/TT/whatever's generator can run the A/C and fridge , without trying to charge the trailers battery's. since the 7 pin plug is connected to the TV, the +12 volts would want to fight the Trailers +12 volts from its on board charging system. while in theory it should not hurt anything, with all the on board computers and******on todays vehicles, it can cause electrical problems, weird input signals to the computers, throw an idiot light. all kinds of things.

but anyway the 7 pin connector stays attached, they are just running the Gen to supply 120 volts to the stuff inside the trailer. and truck is suppling the 12 volts for brakes and turn indicators.

I've been afraid to try running genny when plugged into truck. Afraid I'll mess up my truck.

Some say its ok, some say no. How would I go about turning off the inverter...or disconnecting it. Mine's in the cargo compartment behind a panel, so not easily accessed if I'd need to disconnect something from it.

You shouldn't have to unplug or turn off anything, I don't. The charger (alternator, converter, or solar) can all play happly together. The one outputting the highest voltage will get to be the boss and the others will back off. It will usually be the alternator in charge, pun intended. All charging sources in both vehicles are connected to a battery first then distrubuted. So the charge line in the tow vehicle 7 pin really goes from tow vehicle battery to camper battery. Batteries make a pretty good cushion for any anomolies but there really shouldn't be any, especially coming from the camper to the truck because converters typically output very clean DC.

as to the question above, they are not disconnecting the wiring plug from the TV, they are just turning off the Inverter, so the 5th wheel/TT/whatever's generator can run the A/C and fridge , without trying to charge the trailers battery's. since the 7 pin plug is connected to the TV, the +12 volts would want to fight the Trailers +12 volts from its on board charging system. while in theory it should not hurt anything, with all the on board computers and******on todays vehicles, it can cause electrical problems, weird input signals to the computers, throw an idiot light. all kinds of things.

but anyway the 7 pin connector stays attached, they are just running the Gen to supply 120 volts to the stuff inside the trailer. and truck is suppling the 12 volts for brakes and turn indicators.

mowdoc wrote:
You can run the gen down the road with no problems but I found this will not help on my Fuzion.

Last July 4th holiday we started out from Las Vegas heading to Lake Havasu City AZ. It was 114 in Vegas so I fired up the gen and both A/Cs to keep the camper cool. It was 76 degrees inside as I had been on shore plug running A/C at home.

When we got to Havasu it was 123 and when I went inside to set-up the rig it was 123. The Fuzion had allowed enough air thru itself on the road that it had lost all cooling that had been there.

Bottom line for me is running heat or A/C on the road is a waste of effort as the Fuzion doesn't insulate itself well enough.

WOW!!
I've got a Fuzion Touring Edition and have pulled it from Louisiana to California including Vegas. We ran the generator about an 1-11/2 hrs before we stopped for the night and the rig was nicely cool.
Not sure if your rig is just not sealed good or that it was just so extra hot outside that maybe it could not cool down.
Have had no issue with my Fuzion.

carringb wrote:

joebedford wrote:
Your trailer lights are 12V. You have a 12V battery in your trailer. That's what runs the lights not a connection to your TV's battery.

Guess you guys don't believe in turn signals or brakes lights?:h

Exactly. Or brakes.

how about the brake controller that is connected through the cord?

And in responce to another comment. You won't find me riding in a trailer of any kind going down the road.

joebedford wrote:
Your trailer lights are 12V. You have a 12V battery in your trailer. That's what runs the lights not a connection to your TV's battery.

Guess you guys don't believe in turn signals or brakes lights?:h

dtappy3353 wrote:
I must have blinked or not mechanically gifted on this topic.

I understand how a trailer can operate on a generator/inverter.

What I don't understand is, when traveling, how can trailer lights function when disconnected from the tow vehicle?

Please help me to understand this one.

Gawd....I feel stupid even asking the question.

Thank you.

Your trailer lights are 12V. You have a 12V battery in your trailer. That's what runs the lights not a connection to your TV's battery.

I have a group of friends and when they travel together they'll sometimes stay in the fifth wheel toy hauler with the genny running and rest,cook watch a movie while the other couple driving their mega Cab diesel Dodge.

shawnct450r wrote:
Lots of people do it. As for me, for some reason, the alternator in my 04 F250 does not like it when I have the trailer connected and the genny running. That's not to say that yours will. You'd have to try it, but it is a common thing in the warmer climates. Hope this helps.

You can do it. High voltage or ac ripple from the trailers charger will trip the alt light.