Y adapters...
This is probably an idiotic question, but I am thinking ahead to next year.I would like to buy a small generator, and am wondering if a Y adapter to go between 2 15A outlets on the gen and my 30A shor...
Forum Discussion
Bad idea.
It will not do what you think it will.
And it might cause major damage.
I have a 1600 watt (1800 surge) inverter generator that I use for camping. It does only 120 volts, and if you do the math, that's exactly 15 amps. And it has two 15 A outlets. but they are on the same windings, and are only capable of giving me 15 amps total, no matter how I wire them together.
You can't get 30 A from a "small generator" that offers only two 15 A outlets. If the genny does only 120 volts, you will get no increase in power wiring them together. if those are actually opposite sides of a 240 volt genny and if you connect them that way, you'll either get 240 volts or a direct short that will blow the breakers if you are lucky, or more likely burn out the generator before the breaker has time to pop.
If you want 30 A from a generator, you have to buy a generator that offers a 30 A outlet. 30 A at 120 volts is 3600 watts, meaning you have to buy a generator that big if it only does 120 volts, or one that is 7200 watts if it does 240 volts.
Given that trailers wired for a 30 A hookup will only draw 30 A for surge on AC start up, and then only if the microwave and all the lights are on at the same time, you can get buy famously with a smaller generator. For instance, I have a 5500 watt (6850 surge) generator that I wouldn't hesitate to use, as that's close enough.
It will not do what you think it will.
And it might cause major damage.
I have a 1600 watt (1800 surge) inverter generator that I use for camping. It does only 120 volts, and if you do the math, that's exactly 15 amps. And it has two 15 A outlets. but they are on the same windings, and are only capable of giving me 15 amps total, no matter how I wire them together.
You can't get 30 A from a "small generator" that offers only two 15 A outlets. If the genny does only 120 volts, you will get no increase in power wiring them together. if those are actually opposite sides of a 240 volt genny and if you connect them that way, you'll either get 240 volts or a direct short that will blow the breakers if you are lucky, or more likely burn out the generator before the breaker has time to pop.
If you want 30 A from a generator, you have to buy a generator that offers a 30 A outlet. 30 A at 120 volts is 3600 watts, meaning you have to buy a generator that big if it only does 120 volts, or one that is 7200 watts if it does 240 volts.
Given that trailers wired for a 30 A hookup will only draw 30 A for surge on AC start up, and then only if the microwave and all the lights are on at the same time, you can get buy famously with a smaller generator. For instance, I have a 5500 watt (6850 surge) generator that I wouldn't hesitate to use, as that's close enough.
