Forum Discussion

onemountainman's avatar
onemountainman
Explorer
Apr 25, 2016

Generator Polarity

Hello, I'm new to the forum, so please forgive me if I mess it up.

I bought a 2015 Jayco 23RLSW. Also, for dry camping I purchased a Briggs & Stratton 5000w / 6250w peak generator. When I hook up the generator everything works great.

My sister said, wow a lot of power but that thing is Loud As Hell. So, I thought for light duty, I would also get something smaller to run the tv at night. So, I bought the Powerhouse 2100 PRi. Starts fine, although I can't get the remote start to work yet, still working on that. But when I connect the trailer, the polarity is reversed.

Not really sure, what I need to do to reverse the polarity.

Thanks!
  • SCVJeff's avatar
    SCVJeff
    Explorer
    Apr 25, 2016
    Just for TV you might be able to get by on battery alone. For QUIET generator, and Honda EU1000 or 2000 is as quiet as it can get.

    Polarity ?
  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    Apr 25, 2016
    what says reverse polarity
    one of those little tester plugs ?
    i got one , it says open ground, every time i run the portable generator

    those things, are not for testing generator power
    which does not have an earth ground bonded to the neutral wire
    AC does not have a real polarity, just an assumed polarity to make sure bonded neutral is always in the same slot, always on the white wire,

    if everything works, just run it
    if your power management system panel inside the RV says reverse
    then use the bonding plug described above
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Apr 25, 2016
    corvettekent wrote:
    Why not just use an inverter to watch TV with?
    X2.

    Nobody likes being around someone who has to run a generator (and not a particularly quiet one) to watch tv.
    onemountainman wrote:
    for dry camping I purchased a Briggs & Stratton 5000w / 6250w peak generator.
    Wish you'd asked us first. That's not suitable for camping.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Apr 25, 2016
    Inverter genset do not have a tie between the neutral and ground internally. You need to assemble a dummy plug with a jumper between the neutral (white screw) and the ground (Green screw). Use a good quality 15 amp male cord body with a jumper of copper wire somewhere around 16 or 14 gauge.
  • stevewise's avatar
    stevewise
    Explorer
    Apr 25, 2016
    How do you know the polarity is reversed? Please give more information maybe some photos

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