Generator sizing issues?

wa8yxm wrote:

1)why is the fuse popping more often with an extension cord? how long can you run an extension cord and what size to prevent this?

The extension cord adds two things. Additional resistance, = more voltage drop this can cause the A/C to take just a fraction longer to start and trip goes the breaker. IT ALSO ADDS A VERY SMALL LOAD yes. a cord even with nothing plugged in presents a very tiny load to the generator.

2)do I need to up size my generator to prevent further overloads? or do I have another issue with the RV?

I think you are good. just need earplugs for that generator.. Since it's not trippign the breaker when you don't extend the cord you should be good.

One other thing are you using a 30 amp extension cord or a 16 Ga Outdoor "15 amp".. Upping to a 12 ga cord may help or better yet a 30 amp extension cord. I have one of those cause from time to time.. I need it.

OPs current HF gen is barely able to supply the RUNNING current of a 13.5K A/C unit, it is so on the edge of not working I have serious doubts that it would work in the heat of summer.. Let alone anything else in the RV running without totally rewiring the entire RV to 120/240 then splitting the entire RV loads between the two 120V feeds of the gen.

Has NOTHING to do with extension cords, voltage drop, resistance or the position of the sun, moon and stars but has everything to do with the gen simply not having quite enough wattage capacity on the ONE out of two 120V windings..

OR they could do a TOTAL rewire of the gen head in order to get full rated gen wattage on one 120V output.

Rewiring the HF gen without a proper wiring diagram is "sketchy" at best, at worst risking a totally fried gen head. Not for the faint of heart and if I remember correctly there was a RV.net member a few years back that attempted a rewire of the same HF gen with zero success.. Couldn't get the gen to produce more than a few volts after rewiring..

OR, seems to me the BETTER "idea" is toto scrap the current HF 240/120V gen and go get a gen which is ALREADY WIRED AS 120V ONLY as the OP HAS decided.

OP IS making a WISE decision in ditching the HF 240/120V gen and buying a factory prewired 120V ONLY gen..