rondeb
Pacific Northwest
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alid wrote:If you have an Onan genny you can get a Cummins Onan Energy Command. It plugs right into a later model genny and will automatically start and stop the generator depending on power need and can monitor the outside park power. Onan Energy Command
We do have an Onan genny. When we get home, I think this would be an excellent mod to have installed.
Thank you for the information
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whiteeye42
Rock Springs Wyoming
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you did the right thing by unplugging your trailer form the campground plug because you never know someone might be working on the power line down the street and you start your generator and back feed power down the line and kill someone not good so if you don't know if you have a auto transfer switch just unplug to be safe.
Me,Wife two boys ages 23 and 20 also two dogs
2008 Dodge Ram Quad Cab 4x4 DRW 6.7 cummins
2008 Jayco Eagle 341 RLQS 37' with B&W turnover ball & companion hitch
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tatest
Oklahoma Green Country
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Mine can't. I have to unplug from the post, plug into the genset.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B
2001 Ranger Edge
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watache55
Deland, Fl.
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RV2GO wrote..."Some may disagree, but I do not like to shift from one to the other without shedding a heavy load such as an air conditioner."
X2....Heavy amperage loads are hard on the contacts inside the ATS. They'll live a long and satisfying life (to you) if you keep loads to a minimum or none at all when shifting from one power source to the next.
"Hey look, it's a Harney!"
Doug & Patti
1999 Harney - 300 CAT
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mowermech
Billings, MT
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I have two very different RVs parked here at the present time...
The Tioga Class C motorhome (30 amp service) has to have the power cord plugged in for the generator to power the coach. When the power cord is unplugged from the coach socket, and plugged in to shore power, the generator can not power anything.
The Monaco fifth wheel (50 amp service) has an automatic transfer switch. when the cord is plugged in to shore power, it automatically switches from the generator to the shore power. If the shore power fails, the generator can be started and it will pick up the load. Yes, I have done it. No, it did not back feed the shore power line.
Keep in mind that when feeding an AC line from two sources, the power sources MUST be parallelled to keep the AC phasing correct. Severe damage may result if the sources are not parallelled. Many generators do NOT have this capability. Perhaps this is not what the OP had in mind, but I thought it should be mentioned just in case.
CM1, USN (RET)
'94 Dodge 3500 4X2 CTD, 5 speed, 4.10 LS diff., Jacobs Rambrake, 275,000 Miles
'95 Tioga 29H Ford-based Class C
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Pokey2
Bel Marin Keys, CA
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tatest wrote:Mine can't. I have to unplug from the post, plug into the genset.
Same with mine.
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rondeb
Pacific Northwest
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I think I will continue to unplug the shore power if I have to start up the generator until I can determine just what kind of system I have. I do not know if my AC and generator are in parallel or not, but I do understand what this means and why it might be important. I do not know if I have a system that will switch back and forth or not either.
I will take it out to the Onan dealer in our area when I get home and let them answer these and tell me what I have.
Thank you everyone for your advice and information. Lots of things to think about.
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Dutch_12078
Great Sacandaga Lake, NY
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rondeb wrote:I think I will continue to unplug the shore power if I have to start up the generator until I can determine just what kind of system I have. I do not know if my AC and generator are in parallel or not, but I do understand what this means and why it might be important. I do not know if I have a system that will switch back and forth or not either.
I will take it out to the Onan dealer in our area when I get home and let them answer these and tell me what I have.
Thank you everyone for your advice and information. Lots of things to think about.
The generator and shorepower cord are definitely not in parallel unless a previous owner did something incredibly stupid. If you don't have to plug the shorepower cord into an onboard generator outlet to use generator power, then you have an automatic transfer switch. Dumping heavy loads before switching power sources is always a good idea either way.
Dutch
1995 Coachmen Catalina 322QBXL
F53 chassis, 460 V8, TST TPMS
Quadra Bigfoot EZE Levelers
2002 Toyota RAV4 AWD/Remco pump
ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/Blue Ox baseplate
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jwmII
out west
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Year,Make and Model of motorhome along with the same info on the gen. would probably really help those trying to help you do a better job.
jwmII
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rondeb
Pacific Northwest
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1998 Coachman Catalina Sport Class C 240WB On board generator installed from the factory. Let me know if this helps
We turn the generator on with a rocker switch inside the coach. I do not have to plug the RV into the Generator to make it work.
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