Electrical Help

Why don't you make a trial run in your driveway to see what you need to do...

What works best for us with our 30AMP Trailer is having a 10-gauge (10-3) extension cord and we use the RV30A-15A long "DOGBONE" type adapter. we can run just about everything in our trailer with the high current items like the A/C or Microwave only 'ON' one at a time - otherwise it will trip the house/garage breaker...


Your DP is probably a 50-AMP service which will work just fine plugging into a 15/20AMP service using the proper "dogbone' type adapters...

You will most likely have to plug your 50A Shore power Cable into a RV30A-50A adapter first then use the RV30A-15A adapter. NOTE the 30A-50A adapter has both 50AMP zones connected together in the adapter so both zones will be fed with the 15A/20A service. You will have to flip some breakers in your dual zone power distribution panel to make sure the 15A house/garage will operate enough without tripping the house/garage breaker.

Doing all of this at home before you go on your trip will really work out for you finding out what you can and cannot do...


Roy Ken

Yes, your transfer switch will automatically switch from shore to generator.

It is actually beneficial to operate like this as it exercises your transfer switch.

The transfer switch is suppose to take care of such a situation, but I always unplug from shore power. No need on taking a chance something might not work as planned.

But I am plugged in to a 20 amp plug at home when the coach is not being used and I can use everything in the coach except the air conditioners/heat pumps. Other then that I can use the frig, micro wave, furnace, lights, TV with no problems. I also keep the invertor on. So I do not understand what you want to use that requires that much amps, unless you want to use the air conditioner/heat pumps. Then that is a NO NO.

I never disconnect from shore when running the generator. The transfer switch takes care of that.

Word to your momma, thanks all!

Me too..while not necessary, it's too easy to simply unplug and fire up the genset....overrides Murphy's Law.....Dennis

I would highly recommend you follow barlow46's advice when using your generator. Although we have an ATS on our coach, when I exercise our genset I disconnect from shore power...

Best of luck and safe travels....

Most often the generator will take priority over the shore power. This involves a transfer switch that will prevent a back feed into the shore power. However, to be safe and not try to outguess how your coach is setup, unplug from shore power first and then start generator as 2oldman suggested. The shore power will help with your battery charging and run a few lights and such but not anything that demands a lot of power.

no,yes.