BAD?? using generator and honda eu2000 at the same time.

For my motorhome the onboard generator has precedence. If the generator is running and I plug into shore power nothing happens. The transfer switch stays connected to the generator. If I am plugged into shore power and then start the generator the transfer switch will connect to the generator once it comes up to speed. As mentioned, when connecting any power it's best to have everything turned off. If for some reason there is a failure that allows a connection between generator and shore power the worst that will happen is a breaker will trip.

I am assuming you use the Honda 2000 gen because it uses less fuel than your onboard gen?

If so, I would find it interesting to know how much you are saving.

Also, with the Honda, have you tried shutting off the "Eco" switch before using the microwave?

STBRetired wrote:
Transferring power sources with your TS while under load is a good way to burn up the contacts in the TS.

So what you do with light switch?
Unscrew the bulb before flipping?

Transferring power sources with your TS while under load is a good way to burn up the contacts in the TS. The way my TS is built, it is physically impossible to ever connect the 2 sources together, even if one set on contacts is welded shut. It would simply not transfer. Mine also has been configured to give shore power the priority. As long as there is shore power available, it will not transfer over to generator power even if the generator is running.

Transfer switch is intended to prevent your electrocuting a lineman sent out to fix a downed line because your generator makes that downed line hot, even though the power company shut it off. It is not intended or designed to auto switch between two hot leads based upon which source you prefer to use. If you had a manual transfer switch, you could do that, but auto transfer switch, nope.

As pointed out already, if you ever wind up with both generators hooked to the same power cord, or either generator hooked to the mains, you will wind up with a burnt up generator. You have to do whatever it takes to prevent that.

If when you fire up your on-board gen it is automatically powering your RV then you have a transfer switch. The transfer switch doesn't know or care if you have the shore cord plugged into a pedestal or a generator; it operates the same.
It's pretty much impossible for a transfer switch to ever fail in a way that would hook both inputs together. I would keep doing as you are. But if you want to be extra ultra safe then unhook your shore cord from any source before using your on-board generator. I never bothered doing that. I never had any issues.

I am not much of electrician, but over the years I learned that sticky TS will simply not switch the source, but there is no way single leg can be in 2 points at the same time.
Most of RV have default set that shore power overrides inverter and generator overrides shore power.
When I used motorhome, I had inverter/charger with TS that was switched under the power hundreds of time and never trigger a problem.
Lot of other members did the same and common amazement is that good TS can switch from shore power to inverter and TV inside will not even blink.
So IMHO turning off Honda, while overriding it with bigger unit is overkill, however there is no such thing as too much safety when you have time for it.

thanks mr. wizard. that is what i have been doing so i will continue to do so.

You have a built in generator, and do not have to move the shore cord to an internal outlet

You have a built in transfer switch

But I would not start the built in with Honda connected and running
If that TS ever gets "sticky contacts" you could FRY that Honda

Same for shore power, only the shore power wins and the built in genny losses

This topic comes up every summer
Because somebody does not want to shut off the A/C and generator for a few minutes while hooking up shore power in a campground

The whole purpose of the TS , is to avoid the foolproof manual method of moving the shore cord to an outlet connected to the generator

It is not designed to switch between (2) hot power input lines

enblethen wrote:
Is your rig equipped with a transfer switch?
If it is only one power source will operate. Which source will depend on transfer switch setup.

i was wondering if it is easy to find out whether i have a transfer switch? i assume it is automatic somehow?