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A "cheater plug" in along with a Honda EU 2000i ????

wtfjr
Explorer
Explorer
Hi All
We have an electrical question as follows--

For our first time we plan to use a cheater plug at Sebastian State Park where all that is offered is 30 amp service. One arm of this cheater plug will plug into the 30 amp side of the shore power station & the other arm from this "cheater plug" will plug into the 15 amp side of the shore power station giving us up to 45 amp service into our power line. The only potential problem is that if the 15 amp side of the shore power station is GFI protected, this Cheater plug will not work, as the GFI breaker will trip to off.

Our question is, if this 15 amp plug in can not be used by us due to the GFI breaker, can we use our Honda Generator EU 2000i to plug into as an alternative to the 15 amp power & not negatively affect anything in the coaches electrical system ?

We feel the Honda will run more quietly & use less gas than our Onan 7.7

We'd really appreciate any comments or suggestions here. Thanks !!

PS; we are aware that with 30 amps you only run one a/c & nothing else like a microwave, coffee pot etc.

PSS; what is the difference between running the onboard Onan 7.7 & running the Honda instead ?
Bill in sunny Ormond by the Sea FL
2014 31'SA Allegro Open Road
20 REPLIES 20

NinerBikes
Explorer
Explorer
Sounds like a bad idea to me... running 2 phases on that neutral would be problematic, and wrecking a good generator, and or doing damage to the park pedestal make it a bad idea, all the way around.

There is no such thing as cheating with AC current. Certain rules are always in place.

the_bear_II
Explorer
Explorer
I'm guessing you need more than 30 amps because you want to run a bunch of stuff at the same time including your air conditioner(s) ?

The 30 amps will supply most needs including running one A/C but when you need to use a second heavy draw item like the microwave you may need to shut off the A/C.

What you are proposing may work but is it worth taking a chance on ruining a $1800 generator or damaging the RV electrical ?

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
Good question.. can't say I've seen that one asked before.

I don't think I'd try it as you may end up with a smoked generator. I did some searching and haven't yet found an answer.

I would also question using a generator in a park where there's pedestal power. Is that allowed?
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

BB_TX
Nomad
Nomad
I don't think I would try it. The 30 amp and the 15/20 amp outlets use a common hot line and a common neutral. Adding the generator into the mix introduces a separate hot that is not in sync with the pedastal hot and a neutral that is not common to the pedastal neutral. You would be tying the two neutrals together in the "cheater". I honestly can't say what the result would be, but I would be concerned about the result.

mlts22
Explorer
Explorer
Rephrasing, to make sure I got this:

You have a 50 amp connector. On one leg, you will have the 30 amp shore power. On the other leg, you want to run a Honda generator? Or, do you want both the 30 amp power and the Honda generator on the same legs.

I don't know if this can be done safely, because either the Honda would get yanked into phase with shore power, the generator gets killed by the backfeed, or you get 240 volts where 120 is expected.

MrWizard
Moderator
Moderator
Moved from technology corner
I can explain it to you.
But I Can Not understand it for you !

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