Forum Discussion

Explorer

Apr 05, 2016

generartor switching question

like the title says, I have a question on the switching of my gen-set
I have a 2012 road warrior by heartland ( toyhauler ) with a Onan 5kw gen set. the question is I know when you are plug into shore power there is a auto switch so that if you start you gen set it either runs on generator or shore power but wont let them connect to each other and damage gen set. So which is the default side ? meaning if the power goes out and we start the gen set and the power comes back on while we are asleep ( as we have done with no issues ) what power are you on ? the shore power or gen set ?

13 Replies

randy328
Explorer
Apr 05, 2016
On my current KZ and my last one the generator has precedence. If I am on shore and start the genny it takes over. I can then unplug shore. If I replug the shore in, nothing happens until I disconnect the genny.
DrewE
Explorer III
Apr 05, 2016
If it's just a transfer switch (and not some more sophisticated electrical management system), the most common setup is for the generator to have priority over the shore power when both are energized. I suspect that, like many details of RV design, this is not universally true.
darsben
Explorer II
Apr 05, 2016
On m old class A the autotransfer switch would be pulled to the shore power side.
The genny would then shut down