Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Generator output: 50hZ or 60HZ (Read 579 times) previous topic - next topic

Generator output: 50hZ or 60HZ

I have the Onan Emerald III generator manuals: Operator's manual, Installation manual, Parts manual.
Strangely enough, I noticed two pages facing each other and one is labeled for 50HZ and the opposing page is labeled for 60Hz.
Being someone who puts tape over the wall outlets to keep the electricity from running out onto the floor, I don't see much discernible difference between the two pages.
SO-O-O, How do I tell if I wired my gen back the way it is supposed to be? 60Hz?
Will I "blow" something if wrong?
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Generator output: 50hZ or 60HZ

Reply #1 –

Buy a Kill A Watt meter, plug it in any outlet, read the Hz.  Simple!  8)

P3 P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor - Low Temperature Alarms -...

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Generator output: 50hZ or 60HZ

Reply #2 –
Quote from: nitehawk –
SO-O-O, How do I tell if I wired my gen back the way it is supposed to be? 60Hz?
Will I "blow" something if wrong?

Nitehawk,

On your generator the output taps (where you hook the wires from the coach to the generator) has nothing to do with  the Hz. RPM and inrush of load is what will effect the Hz. You should have a hot wire, your ground, and neut. Did you label where the wires came from?  If you hook the ground/neut. up to a power leg you will have a big problem.

Pamela & Mike



Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Generator output: 50hZ or 60HZ

Reply #3 –
In a generator HZ is figured by the speed the engine in running. In the US everything is 60 hz  Thus generators run either 3600 rpm or 1800 rpm
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Generator output: 50hZ or 60HZ

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Pamela & Mike –
Nitehawk,

On your generator the output taps (where you hook the wires from the coach to the generator) has nothing to do with  the Hz. RPM and inrush of load is what will effect the Hz. You should have a hot wire, your ground, and neut. Did you label where the wires came from?  If you hook the ground/neut. up to a power leg you will have a big problem.

Pamela & Mike

That is my quandary. Labels came off. So wired white to white, black to black, green to green.
Coming FROM generator are (2) black, (2) white, and (1) green wire. Coming into the junction box from the coach are (1) red, (1) black, (1) bare copper, and, grounded IN the box is (1) green wire.
I connected one black to house black, one black to red, and one green to bare house copper wire and green ground wire, and two white to one house white wire.



Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Generator output: 50hZ or 60HZ

Reply #5 –
The problem with reversing the hot and neutral at the generator is that the ground wires in your coach will be "HOT" and you will notice tingling sensations when touching things in your coach - not a good situation.
Wyatt
96 U320 40 WTFE, build 4943
84 Toyota Supra towd
2015 Jeep Wrangler towd
Victoria, BC, Canada

Re: Generator output: 50hZ or 60HZ

Reply #6 –
Sounds like you have it correct
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: Generator output: 50hZ or 60HZ

Reply #7 –
We were on a job and my guy told me he'd been shocked hooking up a hose to a galvanized system. I checked, yup, ouch! She was on a well system, turned out the pump had broken loose and shorted to the galvie. Fixed it, except, next day, she said, "my shower is not near as exhilarating as it used to be."  ^.^d
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'
 

Re: Generator output: 50hZ or 60HZ

Reply #8 –
The Onan generator installed in your motor home is usable at either 50 or 60 Hz.  The difference is at what speed the engine is running.  If the unit is installed in a US coach it will be an 1800 rpm, 60 hz generator.  If it is to operate at 50 hz, the engine will run at 1500 rpm.  The generator voltage regulators are volts per hertz units, so if you have 120 volt output, the generator is operating at 60 hz.  If you have 100 to 110 volt, it is probably operating at 50 hz.  Use a good quality digital voltmeter when checking the voltage.  It is almost certainly a 60 hz operating generator.
Current coach 1996 U320 40'
Previous coach, 1990 36' U280