1cowboy
Oklahoma
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Should I unplug from shore power when using generator when shore power goes out? Have heard conflicting opinions. Thanks.
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JFG
TN
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If shore power goes out, I would OR just turn the shore power circuit breaker to off. When power is restored, turn gen set off and turn breaker back on.
Fred
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Earthroamer82
Virginia Beach, VA
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Yeah I would definitly disconnect or trip the breaker. I'm not sure on the technicalities of it or really why either but it just seems like the safe thing to do.
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dbbls
Missouri
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If you have a transfer switch, and it is working properly, you do not need to disconnect. Power will come from either the generator or shore power, not both. Impossible for it to.
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liveneasy
U.S./Mexico
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It would depend on your setup. RV's with generators will have either an automatic transfer switch or some arrangement where you must plug the coaches electrical supply into either the generator or shore power pedestal. This prevents powering the RV from both sources at once.
Typically RV's with auto transfer switches are setup for generator priority. Which means whenever the generator is running the transfer switch will sense and use the generator as the power source for the RV. So it doesn't matter if your plugged into shore power or not... the transfer switch will remain in the generator position until the generator is shut down or the generator breaker switch is shut off.
As always... you need to check to see how your transfer switch is wired. I have heard of RV's where the transfer switch was setup for shore power priority, but in most cases it was due to mis-wiring at the factory.
It's a simple thing to check. Plug your RV into shore power, then fire up the generator. After it's been running a few min. shut off the shore power breaker. If you loose A/C power to the RV your transfer switch is set for shore power priority... if you don't then it's generator priority.
So after that explanation... the answer to your question would be; If you have an automatic transfer switch that's set to generator priority, there is no reason to unplug or shut off the shore power breaker in the event of a loss of shore power.
Even if your transfer switch was set for shore power priority, once the shore power was restored, the transfer switch would disconnect the generator power before it automatically transfered over to shore power.
* This post was
edited 02/20/11 12:08pm by liveneasy *
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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If your shore power goes out, you DO NOT want to have a generator running and connected to the shore power.
Utility company workers working on the outage could be killed or seriously injured if you are energizing a 'down' line they are working on.
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garry1p
Oklahoma
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I assume you have a transfer switch since you can't be plugged into SP and a portable generator at the same time.
The transfer switch is a "break before make" that means it will completely disconnect from one source before connecting to another.
Default is to shore power so unless the generator is running it is always connected to the SP side. Once the generator is fired up the transfer switch will disconnect from SP and after a slight delay (20 seconds or so)connect to the generator. This is done automatically with no intervention on your part.
To answer your question it makes no difference the transfer switch will only connect to one at a time never both.
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timwood
Oxford, Michigan
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SoCalDesertRider wrote:If your shore power goes out, you DO NOT want to have a generator running and connected to the shore power.
Utility company workers working on the outage could be killed or seriously injured if you are energizing a 'down' line they are working on.
Sorry, but it doesn't work that way on an RV with a transfer switch...it completely disconnects the shorepower when on generator power an vice versa.
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mowermech
Billings, MT
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As stated, you will either have to plug the power cord into the generator outlet, or the Automatic Transfer Switch will change the power source for you.
Of all the RVs I have owned, not one would allow the generator to send power out the shore power cord and into the power pedestal.
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Pokey2
Bel Marin Keys, CA
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On mine, I am either plugged into shore power or the generator. So, no problem.
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