30 A cable splitter, or something?

[Free_Range_Huma]

Now that it's getting hotter, there are some days I need the A/C running, which means unplugging from the 15 A outlet I'm on (in a garage), and crawling on my hands and knees to plug into the generator, whose compartment is under a slide.

I know NOTHING about this, but is there a way to keep plugged into both the generator and a pedestal, so I just have to turn on the generator when needed?

I'd be happy even if it required me to unplug from the pedestal first, just as long as the crawling-on-the-ground part wasn't required.

[pianotuna]

The nice thing about a 2nd cord is that from time to time it may be useful to extend the hard wired cord.

I prefer not to use transfer switches.

[Free_Range_Huma]

Chris Bryant wrote:
Leaving a short cord plugged in to the generator would mean you wouldn't have to crawl under the slideout to switch- it would be a standard cord. Just unplug from the garage and plug in to the generator cord.

Oh... DUH! Got it. Whut an idjit.
Sorry accsys and MrWizard. Sometimes I have difficulty visualizing things. :?

[time2roll]

Before I crawled under a second time I would have the appropriate wire and transfer switch ready to connect. No way would I be crawling under the slide to plug in more than a couple times. That or the generator would be removed.

[Chris_Bryant]

Leaving a short cord plugged in to the generator would mean you wouldn't have to crawl under the slideout to switch- it would be a standard cord. Just unplug from the garage and plug in to the generator cord.

[Free_Range_Huma]

I only have one (1)hard-wired 30 A cord.
Just ONE, for those of you who are warning against disaster. 🙂

From this conversation, my only option is to install a transfer switch, because for an extension cord to do what I'm looking for, it would have to be a female to dual male, one I could leave plugged into the genset and the other to the 15 A outlet in the garage.

Before starting the generator up, I'd go outside and unplug from the outlet, of course.

But this is all fantasy anyway.

Crawling under the slide it will have to be, I guess!

[accsys]

MrWizard wrote:
An 30 amp RV cord ext cord
Plug the ext into the RV generator socket
Bring the female end out where you can reach it
Bring the RV cord out
Now you can plug and unplug without crawling under slide out

Yep, just like I said yesterday afternoon about the fifth post! :B

[MrWizard]

Dutch is right
An 30 amp RV cord ext cord
Plug the ext into the RV generator socket
Bring the female end out where you can reach it
Bring the RV cord out
Now you can plug and unplug without crawling under slide out

[Dutch_12078]

The low cost answer would be to pick up a 30 amp extension cord (Walmart RV dept has them) and run it from the generator outlet to a convenient point to plug in the shore power cord, requiring only one crawl under the slide. The more expensive but more convenient answer would be to add the ATS.

[Dtank]

Free Range Human wrote:

D.E.Bishop wrote:
I believe that what FRH is saying is his land line cable must be unplugged

She.
We aren't all male 😉

And yes, apparently I need, and do not have, an ATS.
The previous owners installed a few extras I'm slowly finding, but I can't find any evidence that this was one of them, unfortunately.

FRH - here's what I think the previous owners did.

Background:
All RV's have a power cord (30 or 50 amp) to connect to a campground pedestal.

Some will also have an "on-board" generator - either from the factory, or added later by the owner.

The factory generator option would normally have an Automatic Transfer Switch.

However - if the owner added a generator later, he/she may not have wanted to spend the extra $$ for the ATS.

Soooooo - to switch from one to the other - the power cord (normally connected to the pedestal) needed to be physically plugged into an outlet at/on the generator.

Warning!!
From a safety standpoint, when the above is done - there should only be *ONE* power cord with a male plug at the end.
It can go to the pedestal (shore power, female receptacle) --OR--
to the generator (female receptacle).
NO WAY to connect to both at the same time!!

From one of your posts - it seems that the previous owner/s may have had a *second* power cord wired in somewhere? (maybe at the RV's electrical panel?) - NO BUENO!!..:R

*If* there are *two* cords (with male ends) "wired in" somewhere - you have a design for disaster!

*If* there is only *one* cord with a male end - that you must disconnect from the pedestal (or power source) and crawl under the rig to re-connect to the generator - that's good..:C

You are physically (didn't want to say "manually", LOL!) doing what an automatic transfer switch does.

What you could do -as a previous poster suggested- is have someone make up a short 30amp extension for the generator outlet so ( you wouldn't have to crawl under to make the connection.

It still would (must) remain - *ONE* power cord (male plug), connected to a power source (with a female receptacle).

Then you would do what Mr. Wiz indicated: disconnect from the pedestal (or shore power) and re-connect to the generator (without crawling under).

.

[Free_Range_Huma]

D.E.Bishop wrote:
I believe that what FRH is saying is his land line cable must be unplugged

She.
We aren't all male 😉

And yes, apparently I need, and do not have, an ATS.
The previous owners installed a few extras I'm slowly finding, but I can't find any evidence that this was one of them, unfortunately.

[D_E_Bishop]

I believe that what FRH is saying is his land line cable must be unplugged from the pedestrian and plugged into an outlet that is hard wired to the output of the generator. He doesn't have a ATS. A transfer switch is the way to go, but they are expensive.

I'd upgrade the RV circuit with a new outlet, disconnect switch and new wires from the panel.

[MrWizard]

i always advise unpluging shore power before starting generator
physically disconnecting, means no loads will be switched, no arcing on the transfer relay contacts, and no problems, should the contacts stick and not switch correctly

i always unplug shore power before using the onboard Onan generator

If i use a portable, (uses less fuel) then the shore cord is plugged into the portable

[Free_Range_Huma]

I just checked the basic manual and all it says is that to use the generator for 120 V, to plug the cord into the generator outlet in the electrical bay. Sigh.

[Free_Range_Huma]

MrWizard wrote:
easy test, un plug the shore cord and start the generator
you either have power OR you don't
you can't hurt any thing IF the shore cord is unplugged

You are certainly right, and I will try that tomorrow. Two questions:

(1) Why, then, is there a plug inside the electrical bay?
(2) If it works with the cord unplugged from shore power, is it safe to start the generator with the shore power plugged in?