Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 10, 2025 ...

Starting generator with shore power plugged in

October 25, 2022, 04:03:03 pm

I currently have no load on my shore power plug in except for some parasitic power draw. I am planning to start the generator to "exercise" it and when it is started I will start the Aqua hot as well to run it up to temp. Should I be disconnecting the shore power prior to starting the generator or does it matter?  For info sakes, I do not know which has priority
Peter

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Re: Starting generator with shore power plugged in

Reply #1 – October 25, 2022, 04:13:26 pm

My generator has priority.  I always disconnect shore power before starting the generator, just to be safe.

Without a power connection to shore power, there is no load on the transfer switch when it opens or the generator one closes...as the inverter has the load.  Less wear on the contacts.

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Re: Starting generator with shore power plugged in

Reply #2 – October 25, 2022, 04:23:20 pm

Yes, IF generator has priority (certainly could have been changed by a previous owner/mechanic in the last 24 years) you can leave shore power plugged in.

Always safer to unplug, then no chance of any problem. This falls into the "best practices" VS "what SHOULD work" category.

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Re: Starting generator with shore power plugged in

Reply #3 – October 25, 2022, 04:45:19 pm

My generator has priority which I'm glad as I have forgotten to unplug the coach a few times
when starting the generator. As is stated it's always best to unplug.

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Re: Starting generator with shore power plugged in

Reply #4 – October 25, 2022, 08:45:03 pm

I just flip the breakers off on the generator.

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Re: Starting generator with shore power plugged in

Reply #5 – October 26, 2022, 08:31:32 pm

Peter,

Mine is one which has shore power with priority over generator.  This set-up was a real nuisance on one occasion and totally irrelevant at all other times.  I would prefer to have the generator with priority but switching it is so low on my list of things to do that it likely will never happen. 

Richard

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