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BRIANnAngel's avatar
BRIANnAngel
Explorer
Jul 31, 2016

Generator or 110?

We just purchased a 2006 Keystone Raptor with a Onan 5500 generator. We got home and plugged it in like we have done with our other RVs. We had the 110 plugged in and started the generator and then here's where it all went wrong...we turned on the AC and a horrible sizzling noise came from the wall where there is a little metal box in one of the underneath storage areas. It did fry a fuse as well in the breaker box. QUESTION:Are we supposed to turn one or the other off when running the AC? I know we are going to have to have it looked at because it will not work any longer...sad face...
Thanks
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Jul 31, 2016
    Ok, I'll sucker for this. Why would you start the generator?
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Jul 31, 2016
    Your Automatic Transfer Switch should prevent you from drawing power from the generator and shore power at the same time.

    However, I always unplug from shore power before starting the generator.

    Have your unit checked by an electrician or someone knowledgeable in electrical systems.
    Something is definitely wrong.
  • 2chiefsRus's avatar
    2chiefsRus
    Explorer
    Jul 31, 2016
    maybe I'm reading your post wrong. Did you have the 110 cord plugged into your sticks and bricks house or into the generator. If you had it plugged into the sticks and bricks, WHY did you start the generator?
  • naturist's avatar
    naturist
    Nomad
    Aug 01, 2016
    You are not ever supposed to run the generator while plugged into shore power. There is supposed to be either a transfer switch (manual or automatic) OR you have to unplug the rig and plug it into the generator to prevent both sources from powering the rig at the same time.

    I do not know why you would start a generator while on shore power. but if that generator applied power to the lines while on shore power, you almost certainly destroyed the generator. I also do not know why the rig would allow you to do that, unless it was wired incorrectly.
  • BRIANnAngel's avatar
    BRIANnAngel
    Explorer
    Aug 01, 2016
    2oldman wrote:
    Ok, I'll sucker for this. Why would you start the generator?

    Well we have not had a RV that had an on board generator before and quiet honestly...we didn't know you couldn't have both on. Now we know....
  • BRIANnAngel's avatar
    BRIANnAngel
    Explorer
    Aug 01, 2016
    gbopp wrote:
    Your Automatic Transfer Switch should prevent you from drawing power from the generator and shore power at the same time.

    However, I always unplug from shore power before starting the generator.

    Have your unit checked by an electrician or someone knowledgeable in electrical systems.
    Something is definitely wrong.

    Thank you very much for answering and not making me feel like a dumb ***. I now know what we did was wrong but for future uses ( once we get it fixed) we will know.
  • 2chiefsRus's avatar
    2chiefsRus
    Explorer
    Aug 01, 2016
    BRIANnAngel wrote:
    2oldman wrote:
    Ok, I'll sucker for this. Why would you start the generator?

    Well we have not had a RV that had an on board generator before and quiet honestly...we didn't know you couldn't have both on. Now we know....


    so I'm assuming you were just firing up the generator to see if it would run? Or were you trying to get more power because there was a power problem with the shore power?
  • BRIANnAngel's avatar
    BRIANnAngel
    Explorer
    Aug 01, 2016
    2chiefsRus wrote:
    maybe I'm reading your post wrong. Did you have the 110 cord plugged into your sticks and bricks house or into the generator. If you had it plugged into the sticks and bricks, WHY did you start the generator?

    Because we didn't know they both couldn't be on at the same time. Rookie mistake that will cost us. We now know....

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