Many RV's have the ability to start the generator, even if plugged in, because of a smart (isolator?) box,

I have seen this box at the college I attende, for the diesel powered emergency power for the IT room... I cant see this box on dad's motohome. But, his must be more complex anyway, since it isolates the coach battery once the engine is shut off, (used to start and operate the engine for driving), plus connects when driving to help charge batteries, he also has solar power enough to run 1 of the 2 AC units on the roof, or he can light the generator, all without going outside to do anything...

Well,
I got my generator fixed &running, nowdays (it is mounted Kohler 2500 camp model)... But for some reason, someone thought that if I decide to run the generator, that I would run outside, pull the shore power cable out of a seperate storage box, and run it into a box where the generator's 120v output would be... and flip a breaker?

Excuse me? Why?

Second, why cant I hard wire this output of the gen, to the same terminal that the plugin is wired to (yeah I might want the isolator, but only to keep dummys from running the generator when the cord is plugged in) But I am such a tight wad, I would never ever do this, why waste more money (propane)?

I only use gen when I woud NOT have a plug in (boondocking) I dont get it I guess.

Any more 120v AC technical people out there, help me with this?

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From Kansas: 29ft '95 5th, converted to toybox in rear, by Hilo. Pics soon, Some Here.

When you pay a hundred thousand and up for a motor home you get these nice auto things. How ever I believe that a lot of 5th wheel trailers have auto switch over also.
No reason that you can't hard wire the generator into the breaker box where the shore 110 comes, but as you say don't run the generator when it is plugged into shore power, there is a possible phase miss match and it would probably damage the generator.

I thought about this some more, since the generator is in, there is a breaker seperating it from the plug for the shore cord, I could us that as the isolator, right? I mean if I know I am going to boondock and run gen, flip breaker if not using the gen dont flip breaker. I leave breaker off and havent had more than a test run for the generator.

What you think?
I thought of a selinoid just like FORD uses for starters, that I could have a remote switch for. that would make the 12volts supplied to the generator's starter, not work... but I think and wonder (& my luck) something would feedback from shore power into generator, if anyone forgot to flip the breaker off and plugged in to shore power?

I will have to do research, I just havent had the time, work is killing me lately. 5 hours sleep aint helping.

I hope to play with video this weekend too...

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From Kansas: 29ft '95 5th, converted to toybox in rear, by Hilo. Pics soon, Some Here.

If you bypass the breaker for the generator then there won't be any 110 breaker for the trailer, not a good idea in my opinion.
A 110 relay could be wired in to auto switch over, the coil of the relay would be activated by the generator.
Easiest thing would be to get a schematic form a trailer that has auto switch over.

Just to be clear, I would run the wires from the breaker switch to the point where the shore power plugs into, instead of the recepticle they put there to plug the cord into... not bypassing it.

I'm still trying to work this out, and I post this as I was thinking about it, so you (all) can add comments, in case I didnt think of something... that is why I started this thread in the 1st place.

Hoping to research some today, I hope it is called an isolator, when I google it.

Well, it is called "Power Transfer Switch" looks like I am buying it, 65 plus shipping to be safe, I think will be a good investment.

thanks all

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From Kansas: 29ft '95 5th, converted to toybox in rear, by Hilo. Pics soon, Some Here.

Where did you find one for that price? Is it auto or manual?

Yes it is auto switching.

dang wish I had seen you question last week, lol. here's the MFG Parallax Power Supply :: HOME :: The Next Generation of RV Power!

I google shopped (cant buy right now, money is tight this paycheck, and I wont need it right away). I thought I bookmarked where I was going to buy it... Ill find it and modify this post soon.

Oh and anyway, amazon and many places selling RV stuff, when I did a google search for it. search terms parallax ats301

Hope that helps

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From Kansas: 29ft '95 5th, converted to toybox in rear, by Hilo. Pics soon, Some Here.

Thanks, found it. I am thinking of replacing my Honda 2000 generator, with a higher rated one, so this gives me something more to think about.

Pop, you going to mount your generator? Mine is mounted to frame, but in NOT wired in to the camper at all. They only put the outlet from generator power, in side a compartment with breaker and 30amp service recepticale (like you have at camping areas), with the idea is you put cord into that when using generator.

My propane powerd gen, is the Kohler Camp Power (listed for tenting more or less, 2500w on proopane). It was fitted to a box, like well, a generator box from when I put these boxes for campers at Eldorado Campers many moons back.

Anyway, I bought the remote start while getting the generator repaired this winter. So my whole thing was, I wanted to be able to go "Hmmm, I guess since it is raining like HE (double toothpicks), I think Ill start the generator to watch tv" (push the button on remote start, and assuming I had opened the propane bottles like I would for the stove and water heater) lol. not long ago, I was running the generator with the new remote start/stop, when I there thinking "Crap@!" I have to run out in the heavy wind/rain and do the cord trick below:

But no, I have to go out unlock the shore cord box, pull the cord out, unlock the next box to the rear, which is the on the other side of the generator (on same side of camper), and fish the cable into that box door, then into the plugin. It takes 5 minutes, and I was SOAKED!!!!

Plus, I cant travel like this, well i guess I could with a couple hooks with velcro to make sure it doesnt pop out. Plus when boating weekends (instead of boondock style - cycle camping) I have shore power I plug into, which means rerouting the cord again.

It is just is a pain, even at home I barely have access to that side when parked to get ready for a trip, due to neighbor's property line / fence and all.





That is why I am going to convert this thing, I mean I

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From Kansas: 29ft '95 5th, converted to toybox in rear, by Hilo. Pics soon, Some Here.

Don't know yet if I will mount it, a lot depends on if I get another generator. If i get the Lifan 2600, it is to high to mount under the trailer in the skirting, only place left is the rear bumper, which I don't like much, but lifting things over 50 lbs. is starting to get out of the question. Putting the 46 lb. Honda 2000 in and out of the SUV is almost to much. The reason that I am looking for a better way with the generator.