Charging Tallero/Sequence or Other B-Vans with Residential House power

Panfam5 · 09-06-2022, 05:33 PM

Looking for pointers from any who have used residential AC voltage to charge their coach batteries while visiting folks in lieu of running engine and 2nd alternator to charge batteries. Success? Issues? Pitfalls

DavidEM · 09-06-2022, 06:02 PM

You have a 30A shore power cord, right. Get a 30A to 15A adapter and as long as you don't run your A/C just plug the cord (or to an extension cord) through the adapter into an outlet on your friend's house and it will keep the batteries charged up through the converter. Make sure that the battery disconnect switch is on.

Amazon and Camping World sells these adapters. A Camco dog bone adapter is about $8.00 and a simpler adapter is about $5.00.

David

Panfam5 · 09-06-2022, 07:43 PM

Thanks David, appreciate pointer on not running AC. Since most folks don’t have 30AMP power sources, was thinking that could be a bit much. Also looking to use an electric blanket when it gets cold in lieu of running propane for heat at night. I’ll just be mindful to get something that doesn’t pull too many amps.

RonRM · 09-06-2022, 07:46 PM

Yes what DavidEM said...that gets it hooked up and it works perfectly.

However, if you plug in the RV with a 110v/15amp adapter, you have to go on the Combi thing and configure it a bit...you don't have too, but if you don't you run the risk of blowing the breaker where you plugged in the RV.

The Combi, will draw what it is set to, typically 30amps...your 110's are probably 15amp, maybe 20amp.

On the Combi display hit the middle button/right buttons (one clicks the number up the other down) - that will change the max draw on the inverter.

Normal operation, the number should read 30, as that's the max the RV is designed for.

To plug it into your house 110v AC (normal looking outlet), set it to 15 or less. I usually set it to 10. Don't forget to put it back to 30 after you unplug from the house.

The other thing that won't work, for me at least - plugging into a GFCI outlet. The GFCI will blow immediately if you plug in the RV - or at least the 3 GFCI's I tried.

I'm not ruling out a grounding loop or stray voltage coming from the RV, ie. bad RV wiring...but I suspect the GFCI doesn't like the neutral/ground isolation wiring technique used in the RV. Haven't studied the problem completely, but it's not my GFCI's, its the RV in my case.

Ron

**EA37TS** · 09-06-2022, 07:48 PM

On thing to watch is some rigs don’t like to be plugged into GFCI circuits since they are already GFCI protected. If you trip a breaker find a non GFCI circuit to plug into.

Lots of posts on the forum regarding this issue.

Panfam5 · 09-06-2022, 07:55 PM

Thanks Guys! You set me up for success on this one, Now I see the error of my ways. I have the adapter and plugged it in at home to test a while back and yep, the garage outlet tripped the breaker.

So going forward, I’ll make proper Combi adjustment, keep A/C and other appliances off, and won’t use GFCI outlets…plus remember to switch it back when I use it!

LawrenceofPA · 09-11-2022, 07:47 PM

I can run AC by using a short 12 gauge extension cord and plugging it into a 20 amp household circuit. Everything stays nice and cool, including the outlet and the extension cord.

Panfam5 · 09-11-2022, 09:59 PM

LawrenceofPA, did you have to change the unit to o ly draw 20 Amps instead of 30?

Chateau_Nomad · 09-11-2022, 10:40 PM

Typically solar keeps our batteries topped off, but the day before a trip I plug into a 20amp outlet in our shed. I can run the 2-way refrigerator off of electric to cool it down and save propane.

LawrenceofPA · 09-13-2022, 04:26 PM

The Tellaro doesn't need anything special except the correct "dog bone" adapter. I also use a short 12 gauge extension cord, because the dog bone places a lot of stress on the outlet. The residential outlet is protected by its own circuit breaker, so if you overload the outlet, it trips the breaker in the house. I never run anything except the AC and the fridge on a 20 Amp circuit. Note that a 12 gauge extension cord is labelled as 15A. That's because a 20 Amp plug looks different than a 15 amp plug, but the 12 gauge cord is good for 20 amps.

Scubawise · 09-13-2022, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidEM

You have a 30A shore power cord, right. Get a 30A to 15A adapter and as long as you don't run your A/C just plug the cord (or to an extension cord) through the adapter into an outlet on your friend's house and it will keep the batteries charged up through the converter. Make sure that the battery disconnect switch is on.

Amazon and Camping World sells these adapters. A Camco dog bone adapter is about $8.00 and a simpler adapter is about $5.00.

David

Hi folks be careful. Have had the inexpensive Amazon ones break..1 over heated and 1 got stuck inside a power cord. Service Center said got hot inside. 2 techs tried to get it out. Tractor supply has beefy inexpensive ones with a pull handle. Good luck

pmgia · 12-12-2022, 06:37 AM

Use a high quality extension cord only as long as needed if you use one, cheap ones can get too hot and burn. Good 3 min video about it.

https://youtu.be/2MHDDXmlL1w

Pete'sMH · 12-12-2022, 03:47 PM

I bought a 10 ga extension cord for this purpose. 12 is all you really need for 20A but, other than cost, there’s only upside to being one size bigger. Especially if it’s a long run. Also know that most residential outside outlets are GFCI protected and may cause problems with the GFCI circuits in the RV. Either the house or the RV might trip. If it’s the house one you can manually trip the one in the RV for the duration.

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