Portable generators in rain?

[The Gritz Carlton]

Very Cheap Watt Generator discount: Dual 15 - 30 AMP RV adapter for Honda, Yamaha, & Kipor generator - convert two 15/20 AMP outlets to one RV 30 AMP outlet

[The Gritz Carlton]

I made up a sign I place next to my "generator tent"...


"TREE HUGGERS...STAY BACK 100 FEET"

[Chance]

No plans for a second generator — it’s a small camper van with small A/C. In fact, it uses so little power that if I had known at least a week earlier that I could buy AGM batteries at about 1/2 price, I would have rigged an inverter for the A/C just for the fun of trying it. I was going to start with 4 batteries and expand to 8 if needed, but I’m not home and can’t build racks to mount under floor. That’s what I really wanted but it will have to wait.


Anyway, I’m also concerned with theft of portable generators. In addition to longer run time, one reason I opted for cheaper Westinghouse is fear of theft. We went to a local Home Depot in Florida near where we are staying, and the few generators they had were on very top rack nearly 15-ft off the floor. We were told they were disappearing from inside the store. One HD store shows 5 Honda’s in stock but actually have none. That’s just sad.

[The Gritz Carlton]

Welcome to the ghetto!! Same thing going on here and everywhere. Can't imagine sacrificing your freedom just to walk in a store and try to walk out with something. If you were using this in a Walmart parking lot...theft would be a concern. We've never had issues in the environments where we use these. We've left them running while at the events, or just turned off and in place at the site. Campers, boaters and any other group of "like-minded" people have respect for others. You can always shut it off and place it inside while away.


Plus...a lot of the "big box" store thefts are employees that have figured out how to get them out the back door or they have friends come in and play like the bought it...carrying it out for them.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

Very Cheap Watt Generator discount: Dual 15 - 30 AMP RV adapter for Honda, Yamaha, & Kipor generator - convert two 15/20 AMP outlets to one RV 30 AMP outlet

Are these things for real?
I've got a couple of exterior dual 15 amp outlets, where I could plug in one of them!

[The Gritz Carlton]

Only if they are on separate breakers. Most generators have separate breakers for each individual plug.

[Bob Denman]

Damn...
I knew that there had to be a catch!
At least I learned something this morning!

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Are these things for real?
I've got a couple of exterior dual 15 amp outlets, where I could plug in one of them!

You don't get 30 amps out of it, only 15 or 20; whatever it's plugged into.

[Chance]

Not sure what advantage those adaptors offer with smaller 2200/1800 Watt generators.

At rated load they only put out 15 Amps, going to 18 Amps momentarily. If they have a 20-Amp plug, why not use a regular 20/30 Amp adaptor most of us already have? Are dual breakers the limiting factor when used individually?

[The Gritz Carlton]

Not sure there...my Champion has the 30A plug and the twin H's have the parallel kit with 30A plug. I use the single 15 to 30 at home but it has limited power. You can run the A/C easily with that at the game.

[The Gritz Carlton]

"You don't get 30 amps out of it, only 15 or 20; whatever it's plugged into."

If both outlets are on the same breaker, this is true. If each outlet has it's own 15 or 20A breaker you can draw 30A. It will split the heavier draw equally between them. As stated, with most generators, each single outlet has it's own breaker. This is exactly what the parallel kit does.

[Bob Denman]

I guess that I'm just back to getting an electrician to mount an outside 30 amp receptacle in a convenient spot...

[The Gritz Carlton]

I had one scheduled to do a 50A but decided to only do 30A. He will be here next week. Coach is under hard cover so only one A/C will ever be needed at home...BUT...I found this very interesting product I think I will purchase. It opens every option available as far as power goes.


https://www.rvupgradestore.com/Cheat...230-adtp30.htm

[Chance]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

[I]

....cut.... If each outlet has it's own 15 or 20A breaker you can draw 30A. .....cut....

I’ve never personally run across separate breakers in house wiring, which doesn’t mean it hasn’t been done; although I don’t know why it would be wired that way. Most houses don’t need that much power from a single receptacle location.

If there are separate breakers feeding a single house receptacle in order to use that adaptor, I’d double check to make sure they are on same phase. Unlike a 120-Volt generator, someone can mis-wire a house receptacle so that adaptor won’t work — would trip one or both breakers immediately.

[Bob Denman]

A "Cheater" Box?

Don't let your Lovely Bride find out!

[The Gritz Carlton]

I wouldn't use any of this crap at the house...we were originally talking only portable generators...which do have separate breakers for each plug. Every wacko suggestion I've made here refers to use on portables only. I will purchase the cheater system above. It gives you every option for whatever power source you may run into, anywhere. Especially the 15/20A combined with the 30A to get near 50A...again, providing the systems are on separate breakers. I think that's the Division Bell for all of this...separate breakers. I can use 15A from a Honda and 30A from the Champion and run both A/C's with nearly 50A's (in theory).

[Chance]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

I had one scheduled to do a 50A but decided to only do 30A. He will be here next week. Coach is under hard cover so only one A/C will ever be needed at home...BUT...I found this very interesting product I think I will purchase. It opens every option available as far as power goes.


https://www.rvupgradestore.com/Cheat...230-adtp30.htm

I’d have same concern with dual 30-Amp adaptor. If in phase, two 30-Amp can add up to 60 Amps which is more than 50-Amp cable is rated for. In practice it’s doubtful you’d be able to balance RV loads to max each that close to 30 Amps before one of the two breakers would trip. Chances are high the maximum combined current would stay below 50 Amps anyway, particularly if plugged into 30 + 20 combination that’s more common at a campground pedestal.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

I wouldn't use any of this crap at the house...we were originally talking only portable generators...which do have separate breakers for each plug. Every wacko suggestion I've made here refers to use on portables only. I will purchase the cheater system above. It gives you every option for whatever power source you may run into, anywhere. Especially the 15/20A combined with the 30A to get near 50A...again, providing the systems are on separate breakers. I think that's the Division Bell for all of this...separate breakers. I can use 15A from a Honda and 30A from the Champion and run both A/C's with nearly 50A's (in theory).

No. Unless you have two exact generators which are made to run in parallel you will run into multiple problems.

If the generators will instantly sync so the AC is in phase then the voltage/frequency droop on one generator will be different than the other generator causing uneven load sharing and reactive loads.

If the generators are out of sync when you connect them together you will have a direct short between 2 sources at different potential which can damage one or both generators.

AC generators are not like DC batteries.

Also: 30 A RV service plus 15/20A Duplex outlet does not equal 50 A RV service, only half of it at best.

[The Gritz Carlton]

You are 100% correct and I really appreciate your persistence!! I just got off the phone with a guy named Greg at Lebanon RV Center in TN...we talked for over an hour and he completely convinced me to give up all this crap about dual power anything and explained why all these "Y" adapters have caused more problems that good!! He said use a single source power supply, whether it be the house generator, a campground pedestal or a single portable generator (like brands in parallel accepted) or you will burn something up...maybe your coach!! Ted...you have earned your wings!!! Thanks!!

[Bob Denman]

http://www.thorforums.com/forums/att...1&d=1535733950