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Topic: 220v PT10 Generator  (Read 1171 times) previous topic - next topic

220v PT10 Generator

Has anyone done the 220V change on their 10K generator? Any issues/problems with it? How long have you had it done?

According to Power Tech mine can be changed over. The main reason is we are Fulltime and the 110v dryer is just not cutting it even when plugged in.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: 220v PT10 Generator

Reply #1 –
Morning Bruce,
My coach had a stacked washer/dryer (220v) when I bought it.
Wife would do a load of wash before I unhooked. An hour before we arrived at the next destination I would start the generator, turn on the front air and start the dryer. Worked great.
John Duld
1995 U320C SE 40'

Re: 220v PT10 Generator

Reply #2 –
Has anyone tried the 120v to 220v converters for the washer/dryer?
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.

Re: 220v PT10 Generator

Reply #3 –
I don't think there is any cost to change from 120v to 240v. Think it's just a wiring change at the voltage regulator but I wouldn't do anything until I had clear instructions from Power Tech.
Have your generator S/N in hand when you call them.
John Duld
1995 U320C SE 40'

Re: 220v PT10 Generator

Reply #4 –
Bruce,  If you modified your Generator to 220v and installed a 220v dryer, wouldn't you have problems if you ever go into a campground and used their standard RV 50 amp service?

Is there a workaround?
1998 U320 40'
2005 GMC Yukon
MC# 17609

Re: 220v PT10 Generator

Reply #5 –
Quote from: stevec22 –
Bruce,  If you modified your Generator to 220v and installed a 220v dryer, wouldn't you have problems if you ever go into a campground and used their standard RV 50 amp service?

Is there a workaround?

Should be no problem.  You would just use a duplex breaker in the main 120 VAC breaker box that has a breaker on L1 and one on L2.

Same as in a stick and brick house.
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

Re: 220v PT10 Generator

Reply #6 –
As Brett said, a properly wired 220V outlet is 2 120v legs on different phases. Same as your house
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: 220v PT10 Generator

Reply #7 –
My previous coach had a 220 volt generator.  It duplicated the 50 amp plugin as having 2 opposing legs of 120 volts.
The only downside I feel in having a 220 volt coach is when on 30 amp or less with only 1 leg of 120 volts.  Then if you have any 220 volt appliances they won't work.  Possibly a 220 volt dryer may work but much slower.
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
no longer 1999 36' U320 build #5522
2013 Rzr 570 & 2018 Ranger XP1000
2006 Lexus GX470
2011 Tahoe LT 4x4
Previous 1998 45' 2 slide Newell, 1993 39' Newell

Re: 220v PT10 Generator

Reply #8 –
Quote from: bbeane –
As Brett said, a properly wired 220V outlet is 2 120v legs on different phases. Same as your house

I thought there was something different in the way an RV 50 amp outlet and a normal 220v outlet are wired. 

I will take y'all word for it that it will work, cause I am not an electrician
1998 U320 40'
2005 GMC Yukon
MC# 17609

Re: 220v PT10 Generator

Reply #9 –
Quote from: stevec22 –
I thought there was something different in the way an RV 50 amp outlet and a normal 220v outlet are wired. 


NOPE, 100% the same.  Two hots (L1 and L2), neutral and ground.
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

Re: 220v PT10 Generator

Reply #10 –
Quote from: stevec22 –
I thought there was something different in the way an RV 50 amp outlet and a normal 220v outlet are wired. 


That one's the same, it's the 30 amp one that can get you in trouble.  Most residential electricians are more familiar with the old 240V 30 amp setup than the 120V 30 amp RV connection.

RV Electric
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: 220v PT10 Generator

Reply #11 –
When plugged into a 30 amp pedestal and using a dogbone adapter, both the L1 and L2 legs are connected together and supplied with 120 volts. So, any 240 volt appliances will not be harmed, but will see 0 volts across L1 and L2 and not be usable.

Peter and Tammy Fleming
1991 U300 GV 40 - Sold, owned for 4 years
Downsized to Roadtrek Popular 210 class B

Re: 220v PT10 Generator

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Michelle –
That one's the same, it's the 30 amp one that can get you in trouble.  Most residential electricians are more familiar with the old 240V 30 amp setup than the 120V 30 amp RV connection.

RV Electric

They will take  the 30 Amp 120 volt  and miss wire it to 240 volts.  When you plug your coach into that plug you will be lucky in having to replace all of your electrical items with new
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: 220v PT10 Generator

Reply #13 –
Quote from: turbojack –
They will take  the 30 Amp 120 volt  and miss wire it to 240 volts.  When you plug your coach into that plug you will be lucky in having to replace all of your electrical items with new

Exactly (and with no ground)
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: 220v PT10 Generator

Reply #14 –
Quote from: prfleming –
When plugged into a 30 amp pedestal and using a dogbone adapter, both the L1 and L2 legs are connected together and supplied with 120 volts. So, any 240 volt appliances will not be harmed, but will see 0 volts across L1 and L2 and not be usable.

Just to help clarify, you can think of the 30 amp hot leg of the park receptacle being split to L1 and L2 of a 30 to 50 dogbone.  So instead of 2 50 amp legs of power, you are sharing a 30 amp leg between both mains in your coach. 

But the question being asked in this topic is related to 50 amp service, not 30 amp.  The question is if one wires the generator to provide true 240 V output so you can run a 240V household clothes dryer, does that mess anything up when you later plug into an RV park's 50 amp.  It doesn't.

Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: 220v PT10 Generator

Reply #15 –
The thing that is the fly in the ointment on this project will be the voltage regulator.  The OEM voltage regulator only works on the single leg output. When you separate the leg into 2 to get 220 your the voltage regulator will be still be looking at 1 leg not both. This means you will need to keep the 2 legs balanced by watching what load you have on each leg. You may be able to change voltage regulators to make it work like it does now.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

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

Re: 220v PT10 Generator

Reply #16 –
I'll need to get In touch with Powertech to see what gives.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: 220v PT10 Generator

Reply #17 –
240-volt generators have a disadvantage in that their individual legs should not be greatly out of balance at any one when it comes to amp-loads. Shore power is highly balanced at generating stations.

120-volt generators do not need to be leg balanced as both legs are combined inside generator and both legs equally share loads, but neutral wire and transfer switch point can be overloaded

Re: 220v PT10 Generator

Reply #18 –
Quote from: Lon and Cheryl –
Has anyone tried the 120v to 220v converters for the washer/dryer?

How about this option?
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.