What Time delay switch/relay/breaker for portable genset?

[Bend]

Seems most after-market portable or semi-portable gensets will not start with a load plugged-in/applied. For those that have their RV plugged into a portable genset and use a remote start, what time delay device is being used to let the genset start and stabilize before the electric load is applied?

[Hank_MI]

What size gen? They make outdoor remote control power outlets. Like for controlling outside Christmas lights.

Hit the remote to start the gen, wait a minute, hit the remote to turn on the power outlet. Assuming your coffee pot is already plugged in and turned on, it starts brewing. You don't even have to get out of bed until the coffee is ready.

Of course there's still that bonded neutral/ground issue. An 8' copper glad ground rod should take care of that. Sorry, don't know any way to drive that sucker in the ground remotely.

[MrWizard]

What's wrong with opening the cabinet door
And turning off the main breaker inside the RV, before pushing the remote start button, start generator
Let generator run 30~60 seconds
Then turn main breakers back on

[Bend]

Another very good answer for Yam's and Honda's though spendy:

http://www.pinellaspowerproducts.com/products/23/4-function-wireless-remote-control-kits#cat_25

Thanks for the tip SWD.

[time2roll]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Muse for a moment why I do not use a coffeemaker with a clock timer...

Because you don't know if you will be up by 10:30 or even noon.... zzzzzzzz

OP, If the generator has a neutral/ground bond you can let your Progressive Industries EMS provide the delay.

[Bend]

Might as well do a remote on the delay. Cheaper and with an infinite number of delay "settings:"

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Westek-Outdoor-Wireless-Remote-Receiver-Kit-RFK306LC/202562992

Might not be inexpensive enough for you, Mex.

[jrnymn7]

Perhaps this will work?

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/CAP-HLC-2e-HID-Lighting-Controller-15-Min-Delay-On-Timer-Hot-Start-Light-Off-...

[oldbeek]

DrewE wrote:
A Progressive Industries EMS (or similar) has a time delay before connecting external power to the RV, besides providing other highly useful protections from bad power or miswired pedestals.

X-2 but the 2 minute delay can get irritating if you just want to heat something quick.

[DrewE]

Bend wrote:

DrewE wrote:
A Progressive Industries EMS (or similar) has a time delay before connecting external power to the RV, besides providing other highly useful protections from bad power or miswired pedestals.

Great suggestion!

Just read the spec's on an EMS-HW30C 30 Amp Hardwired EMS with Remote Display:

http://www.bestconverter.com/EMS-HW30C-30-Amp-Hardwired-EMS-with-Remote-Display_p_511.html#.VKWL7Pw5CRs

I wonder if a portable genset would/could throw an open neutral or open ground indication? Seems it might be possible.

Very commonly a portable generator will cause it to complain of this, as most do not bond neutral and ground (I think for code reasons—certainly one would not want them bonded at the generator with a standard residential backup generator installation, where ground and neutral are bonded at the main panel).

The solution is quite simple, luckily: wire up a special cable or cheater plug that ties ground to neutral at the generator. If you want to be really really righteous according to code, you can also drive a ground rod in and connect that to the (now bonded) ground and neutral, but that's not quite so much of a concern for a small localized system as for a larger power distribution system.

The cheater plug in its simplest form is just a standard 15A plug where the neutral and ground are connected together, with no cord attached, and preferably marked as to its purpose. The cheater is plugged into one of the 20A output sockets on the generator, and the RV into the other one. Voila, instant bonding, and a happy EMS.

[Bend]

DrewE wrote:
A Progressive Industries EMS (or similar) has a time delay before connecting external power to the RV, besides providing other highly useful protections from bad power or miswired pedestals.

Great suggestion!

Just read the spec's on an EMS-HW30C 30 Amp Hardwired EMS with Remote Display:

http://www.bestconverter.com/EMS-HW30C-30-Amp-Hardwired-EMS-with-Remote-Display_p_511.html#.VKWL7Pw5CRs

I wonder if a portable genset would/could throw an open neutral or open ground indication? Seems it might be possible.

BFL13:

Staying in bed does not necessarily mean sleeping. And, what is this "allowed generator hours" thing? It does not apply to REAL boondocking.

[Chris_Bryant]

DrewE wrote:
A Progressive Industries EMS (or similar) has a time delay before connecting external power to the RV, besides providing other highly useful protections from bad power or miswired pedestals.

That sounds like the easiest choice, other than just buying a transfer switch and installing connectors on it.

[BFL13]

You are supposed to Rise and Shine long before allowed generator hours start. Fall in outside your Rv for Morning PT, then have breakfast. Sleeping in!!! You can sleep when you're dead.

The gen remote start is so you don't have to go out in the rain, but the gen isn't supposed to be out in the rain, so the whole thing is bogus.

You're welcome.

[Happy_Prospecto]

Have your wife get up a make the coffee, let them do what they do best.

[DrewE]

A Progressive Industries EMS (or similar) has a time delay before connecting external power to the RV, besides providing other highly useful protections from bad power or miswired pedestals.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Bend wrote:

BFL13 wrote:
Can't you use the main breaker on your 120 panel?

It’s a lounge chair/couch potato problem or not wanting to get out of bed too soon.

If one were motivated enough to flip a breaker twice, why not go out and manually start the genset and manage the shore power cord?

8>)

Thanks Mex, I'll look into it.

Any others?

Oh, Happy New Year all.

DANG!

YOU GOT ME PEGGED!

I'M SOOOO LAZY I'M SHOPPING FOR WIRELESS AC REMOTES. WAKE UP, PRESS BUTTON, COFFEEMAKER STARTS BREWING. Muse for a moment why I do not use a coffeemaker with a clock timer...