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Topic: Plug in portable generator (Read 326 times) previous topic - next topic

Plug in portable generator

Now here is one. As I have posted how noisy my '89 Onan Emerald Gen III is, how about doing something like this?
In my dump compartment, fastened to the ceiling is my charger/inverter. It is plugged into a 120V outlet on the ceiling of the compartment.
Is there any reason why I couldn't use the 120V outlet on my portable inverter generator by unplugging from the coach 120V outlet? This should feed all 12V batteries and 12V system, with the exception of the chassis, shouldn't it?
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: Plug in portable generator

Reply #1 –
While I was waiting to fix my generator when the power head smoked, I used one of the portable inverter generators 3000 watt model to do one of our 2 week vacations. This was before I added solar. It worked fine as long as A/C wasn't needed.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Plug in portable generator

Reply #2 –
I have a 2000 watt honda generator I bought for the last coach as a backup and last winter I had overheating problem with
the generator, losing water and finished the last couple of days using the honda generator. It kept the batteries charged.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Plug in portable generator

Reply #3 –
Quote from: nitehawk –
Now here is one. As I have posted how noisy my '89 Onan Emerald Gen III is, how about doing something like this?
In my dump compartment, fastened to the ceiling is my charger/inverter. It is plugged into a 120V outlet on the ceiling of the compartment.
Is there any reason why I couldn't use the 120V outlet on my portable inverter generator by unplugging from the coach 120V outlet? This should feed all 12V batteries and 12V system, with the exception of the chassis, shouldn't it?

Simple answer is YES.  Same as using an adapter to plug your shore power cord into the generator with all breakers except charger/inverter OFF and no load on any inverter supplied 120 VAC appliances.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020