One or two generators?

[Rmack1]

I have two Yamaha EF2000iS generators, and they work together through the connecting cable.

My question is; is it always necessary or desirable to have both generators running? I know I need them both for the AC, but what If I'm just watching HD satellite TV? I'm thinking it would be a good idea to have two running if I use the microwave, and I would probably turn off the AC before using it, but I'm not sure.

I'm thinking that if the AC or microwave isn't being used, it might be more economical to just have one going, and alternate between the two.

Anyone know?

[Broccoli1]

The only problem with using the Power Dome is that it takes 12 hours to charge on DC and 36 hours on AC.

Otherwise just plug directly into it- using the 120v receptacles.

[Rmack1]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

The wire to the cigarette lighter is probably not very beefy. If it is #10 then it can carry enough to do about 300 watts demand from the inverter. If it is #14 or #16 the inverter will be starving and will squeal at you.

Since you have the "power dome" get a dual cigarette lighter adapter. Plug one of the outlets into the inverter, and use the other with a "male to male" cigarette lighter cord to the 12 volt outlet in the RV.

There are other solutions as well.

OK, so you are saying I should plug the inverter into one of the Power Dome's 12v receptacles, and, using a power cord with a male 12v plug on each end, plug one into the other Power Dome receptacle, and the other into the RV 12v supply.

What would this do? I assume that power could flow into the power dome this way from the RV. It's not suppose to charge this way, I don't think, as it has a recharging port that the 12v charger plugs into, as well as one with a 110 house plug.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

The wire to the cigarette lighter is probably not very beefy. If it is #10 then it can carry enough to do about 300 watts demand from the inverter. If it is #14 or #16 the inverter will be starving and will squeal at you.

Since you have the "power dome" get a dual cigarette lighter adapter. Plug one of the outlets into the inverter, and use the other with a "male to male" cigarette lighter cord to the 12 volt outlet in the RV.

There are other solutions as well.

Rmack1 wrote:
Would this make any difference? could I get away with plugging the inverter in by the TV? I only want to be able to watch a couple hours of TV at night.

I could also plug one of my four necessary components for watching TV into my 'Power Dome' emergency power supply with the inverter turned on. This should increase the time I could run off of my two 12 volt trailer batteries.

[Rmack1]

Happy Prospector wrote:

Rmack1 wrote:
I have two Yamaha EF2000iS generators, and they work together through the connecting cable.

My question is; is it always necessary or desirable to have both generators running? I know I need them both for the AC, but what If I'm just watching HD satellite TV?
Anyone know?

How about installing a small inverter for the TV and Satellite Box? I'm sure your RV'ing neighbors would sure appreciate having a quite night instead of listening to your generators drone on and on and on......

I've done a little more research, and this looks like what I need to do.

Being basically lazy, and not very well versed in electrical subjects in general, what I would like to do is buy a small inverter, say a 400 watt one, that has a 12v cigarette lighter-type plug and use the 12v receptacle near my TV. The problem is; that is three quarters of the way down my 22' trailer away from the front hitch where the batteries are.

I could plug the inverter into another 12v receptacle nearer the front, and use a short extension cord, but that would still be, say, a third of the way back from the batteries.

Would this make any difference? could I get away with plugging the inverter in by the TV? I only want to be able to watch a couple hours of TV at night.

I could also plug one of my four necessary components for watching TV into my 'Power Dome' emergency power supply with the inverter turned on. This should increase the time I could run off of my two 12 volt trailer batteries.

[Happy_Prospecto]

Rmack1 wrote:
I have two Yamaha EF2000iS generators, and they work together through the connecting cable.

My question is; is it always necessary or desirable to have both generators running? I know I need them both for the AC, but what If I'm just watching HD satellite TV?
Anyone know?

How about installing a small inverter for the TV and Satellite Box? I'm sure your RV'ing neighbors would sure appreciate having a quite night instead of listening to your generators drone on and on and on......

[Rmack1]

lane hog wrote:

Rmack1 wrote:

You lost me.

I think I follow that the gen's receptacles have a circuit breaker in line, and the cable that connects the two gens to the RV power cable doesn't, right? At least I'm guessing what 'banana cables' are.

My Yamahas have a black adapter thingie that plugs into both gens, and gives me a place to plug in my 30 amp cable. It doesn't have any fuses as far as I know. Don't see where they could be.

I've been using that even if only one gen is running.

The Yamaha may have a different setup from the Honda.

On the Honda, there are two 120V outputs -- the receptacles which are protected by a breaker, and the 4mm banana plug outputs, which are not protected.

The commercial kits for running in parallel of the banana plugs have a breaker on the 30A circuit, and the instructions for a home built should also include inclusion of a breaker.

Yeah, that's what's disturbing me. My parallel gear doesn't have a breaker or a fuse.

[lane_hog]

Rmack1 wrote:

You lost me.

I think I follow that the gen's receptacles have a circuit breaker in line, and the cable that connects the two gens to the RV power cable doesn't, right? At least I'm guessing what 'banana cables' are.

My Yamahas have a black adapter thingie that plugs into both gens, and gives me a place to plug in my 30 amp cable. It doesn't have any fuses as far as I know. Don't see where they could be.

I've been using that even if only one gen is running.

The Yamaha may have a different setup from the Honda.

On the Honda, there are two 120V outputs -- the receptacles which are protected by a breaker, and the 4mm banana plug outputs, which are not protected.

The commercial kits for running in parallel of the banana plugs have a breaker on the 30A circuit, and the instructions for a home built should also include inclusion of a breaker.

The frequency sensing capability works on both outputs. When firing up Gen2, if it senses power from Gen1 across the bus before Gen2's inverter comes online, Gen2 will match the frequency already present (and be a slave to Gen1).

If you power down Gen1, at some point Gen2 figures it out and becomes the master. IF Gen1 is restarted later, the same sensing process works in reverse; when Gen1 senses power from Gen2, it becomes a slave to Gen2.

At least that's my understanding from the last eight years of owning my twins...

If you do have a plug going off the receptacles, be sure that the polarity is correct.

[Rmack1]

wa8yxm wrote:
Is it necessary to have both generators running... NO. if all you are doing is watching TV and charging batteries,, NO. if you need an Air Conditioner, then yes (or microwave or water heater or any other big ticket load)

You might wish to drop the parallel cables from the running genny though.

Why would it be desirable to remove the parallel cables if I have only one generator running? I haven't been doing that. I hope it hasn't damaged anything.

[Rmack1]

lane hog wrote:
I've had one of my two Hondas EU2000i's run out of gas while paired together, and it didn't cause a problem for the other or interrupt the feed to the trailer. When they need to re synch, they do just fine.

Just be aware that you're a bit limited when going thru the receptacles, since those run via the gen's breakers, whereas the banana plugs skip the breaker (which is why safety requires one on the 30a plug circuit).

You lost me.

I think I follow that the gen's receptacles have a circuit breaker in line, and the cable that connects the two gens to the RV power cable doesn't, right? At least I'm guessing what 'banana cables' are.

My Yamahas have a black adapter thingie that plugs into both gens, and gives me a place to plug in my 30 amp cable. It doesn't have any fuses as far as I know. Don't see where they could be.

I've been using that even if only one gen is running.

[lane_hog]

I've had one of my two Hondas EU2000i's run out of gas while paired together, and it didn't cause a problem for the other or interrupt the feed to the trailer. When they need to re synch, they do just fine.

Just be aware that you're a bit limited when going thru the receptacles, since those run via the gen's breakers, whereas the banana plugs skip the breaker (which is why safety requires one on the 30a plug circuit).

[Rmack1]

Is there any reason why I can't keep my connector cable that lets my generators work together hooked up if I'm only running one generator?

I have an adapter to plug my 30 amp power cable right into the generator's receptacle, but it would be convenient If I didn't have to monkey with it each time I switched which generator I had running.

[full_mosey]

Shadow Catcher wrote:
Our TV/DVD draws 23W and I use a 300W Morningstar Suresine inverter (true sine wave). This is fed by a 150 amp hour AGM battery which is fed by a 185W solar panel. I have a generator which we have yet to use.

This is a sweet setup. This inverter can be set up to stay on standby and will draw less that 1AH/day while waiting for you to plug in an AC device.

I have one running like that. It is fanless, so it is totally silent. In contrast, a cheaper Modified Sine/square wave(MSW) inverter will usually have a fan, plus it will not run some electronic devices because the power is not the came as you get from a utility. The primary reason we have the Morningstar is to run an AC heating pad. Some people report that an MSW inverter will burn up the heat controller.

HTH;
John

[pianotuna]

Hi Ray,

Yes, it will work "backwards".

[Rmack1]

wa8yxm wrote:

Rmack1 wrote:
This 'emergency power supply' thing has jumper cables, but they are suppose to be used for charging up batteries. Will it work backwards?

Generally the jumper cables connect DIRECTLY to the battery inside the box.. (Though I've seen some with a switch or a breaker).. So yes, they will work backwards.. The only 'Danger' is that your converter is capable of way way way too fast charging of that AGM battery.. Odds are the AGM battery inside the box is at most 25-30 amp hours. and though LIFELINE says you can hit theirs with 3 times their AH rating (75 to 90 amps for the sizes I mentioned.. IF THEY ARE THAT LARGE) my converter is 80 amps. and that 3x only applies to LIFELINE, other makes its more like 1/3 amp hour rating.

SO have the AGM fully charged when you first parallel it with the house batteries.. That way the house batteries will suck up the excess amps when charging.

I have so many misunderstood words that I don't know where to begin