Electrical Help

[Lurker1]

Over Thanksgiving, I'll be "boondocking" in a family driveway. I can plug in to their house power at 15 amps, but that will not be enough to power everything we need at certain times. Can I power up the genny to augment the 15 amps without unplugging, or do I need to disconnect from the house power before I fire up the generator?

Rig is a '07 Itaska Horizon 40' DP.

Thanks!

[pianotuna]

Hi,

Consider adding auxiliary shore power cords. I have the OEM 30, a 20 and a 15 amp.

I have installed a hybrid inverter/charger that allows me to "set" the input amperage. If I exceed the setting, it will temporarily draw the extra amps from the battery bank. Of course, I can't do it "forever" but it sure makes life easier.

[time2roll]

2oldman wrote:
no,yes.

??

Yes, you can start the generator anytime as the transfer switch will isolate the two power sources.

No, there is no reason to unplug.

[RayChez]

I just went out to verify what my coach is plugged into and what circuit breaker is behind that outlet where I plug the coach. It is a 20 amp circuit breaker and I can run everything just about except the air conditioner and probably the water heater. I never have the water heater on when not in use. One of the most important thing here is that you need to use a heavy duty electrical cord running from the outlet to the coach. My coach is a fifty amp coach, but I put a pigtail to go all the way down to 20 amp adapter.

I also can use my micro wave to warm up a cup of coffee with just the inverter when dry camping. 3000 watt inverter.

[hanko]

wolfe10 wrote:

hanko wrote:
I would get in the habbit of at least shedding what load you have on the system before starting the generator. It will take its toll on the contacts in the TS if it pulls in with a big load. you dont have to unplug, but make sure all high loads are shut off.

Actually, shed the loads before connecting to ANY source of power.

Goes for shore power and as you point out even more so for generators.

you allwys got to one up me dont you brett

[wa8yxm]

It is not a good idea to transfer loads HOT. but that said this applies mostly to Air Conditioners and Water Heaters (And space heaters) 3 things you should NOT be running on a 15 amp outlet at the house of friend or family.

If you are really concerned do this.
Shut off A/C if running, trip main breaker (turn off manually) start generator, wait for it, wait for it CLUNK of the transfer switch, reset main breaker.

To switch back, same procedure.. Only the transfer switch drop out will happen as soon as the Genny stops.

Resistive loads (water heater, RV Fridge) do not need a 'Cool down'
Electronic loads (Converter, Television, and all electronics) need less time than it will take you to get from the Generator Kill switch to the main breaker.

Compressor loads (Air conditioner, residential fridge) need 3 minutes.

[CA_Traveler]

Be aware that you may not have 15A in the driveway. A very common house circuit is a 20A CB with multiple 15A plugs. So there could be other draws on the circuit you're using. If they have a 20A dedicated plug (only one on a 20A CB) use it.

[bluwtr49]

There is no particular reason to disconnect shore power before starting the genny....outside of personal preference of course.

Let the transfer switch do it's thing and you can stay nice and comfy inside.

[RayChez]

ALPINE WOLFE? You are changing pretty fast. (smile)

[wolfe10]

hanko wrote:
I would get in the habbit of at least shedding what load you have on the system before starting the generator. It will take its toll on the contacts in the TS if it pulls in with a big load. you dont have to unplug, but make sure all high loads are shut off.

Actually, shed the loads before connecting to ANY source of power.

Goes for shore power and as you point out even more so for generators.

[hanko]

I would get in the habbit of at least shedding what load you have on the system before starting the generator. It will take its toll on the contacts in the TS if it pulls in with a big load. you dont have to unplug, but make sure all high loads are shut off.

[dan-nickie]

Lurker1 wrote:
Over Thanksgiving, I'll be "boondocking" in a family driveway. I can plug in to their house power at 15 amps, but that will not be enough to power everything we need at certain times. Maybe, depends on what you need. Can I power up the genny to augment the 15 amps without unplugging, or do I need to disconnect from the house power before I fire up the generator?No need to unplug, the ATS takes care of that.

Rig is a '07 Itaska Horizon 40' DP.

Thanks!

[RoyB]

Why don't you make a trial run in your driveway to see what you need to do...

What works best for us with our 30AMP Trailer is having a 10-gauge (10-3) extension cord and we use the RV30A-15A long "DOGBONE" type adapter. we can run just about everything in our trailer with the high current items like the A/C or Microwave only 'ON' one at a time - otherwise it will trip the house/garage breaker...


Your DP is probably a 50-AMP service which will work just fine plugging into a 15/20AMP service using the proper "dogbone' type adapters...

You will most likely have to plug your 50A Shore power Cable into a RV30A-50A adapter first then use the RV30A-15A adapter. NOTE the 30A-50A adapter has both 50AMP zones connected together in the adapter so both zones will be fed with the 15A/20A service. You will have to flip some breakers in your dual zone power distribution panel to make sure the 15A house/garage will operate enough without tripping the house/garage breaker.

Doing all of this at home before you go on your trip will really work out for you finding out what you can and cannot do...


Roy Ken

[Tom_N]

Yes, your transfer switch will automatically switch from shore to generator.

It is actually beneficial to operate like this as it exercises your transfer switch.

[RayChez]

The transfer switch is suppose to take care of such a situation, but I always unplug from shore power. No need on taking a chance something might not work as planned.

But I am plugged in to a 20 amp plug at home when the coach is not being used and I can use everything in the coach except the air conditioners/heat pumps. Other then that I can use the frig, micro wave, furnace, lights, TV with no problems. I also keep the invertor on. So I do not understand what you want to use that requires that much amps, unless you want to use the air conditioner/heat pumps. Then that is a NO NO.