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05-24-2012, 09:44 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 158
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Generator Usage
We are new to the world of hybrids and generators. We have a new X20E and a new 2000 Honda generator. We will be dry camping this weekend and would like to use the generator at times.
Here is my question - Am assuming that once we put in the oil and gas, we power up the generator and then plug the camper plug into the generator. Is there something we are missing or is it that simply. We don't have to disconnect the battery or anything - right?
We are going to take the generator out of the box and look at it tonight then it is off for our first long weekend in the camper.
Thanks for all of your help. We just don't want to mess anything up.
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05-24-2012, 09:47 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 849
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The generator will charge the battery so you wouldn't disconnect it. You would need an adapter to connect the camPer to the generator though.
__________________
2013 Jayco Jay Flight 26RLS - 2013 1500 Ram Big Horn
2013 Jayco White Hawk 28DSBH - 2010 V8 Tundra
2012 Jayco X17Z SOLD!:Beerchug:
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05-24-2012, 04:03 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Central PA
Posts: 1,236
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You will need a 30 am to 15 amp adapter. The generator only has outlets like you have at home. I recommend adding "Stable" to the gasoline. Stable helps to stabilize the gas. To keep the gas from breaking down. Also the generator runs better with mid-grade gas. Enjoy your trip.
__________________
No I am NOT retired. I work full time.:D
Tracy from Central PA
2010 Jayco 17Z Ex-Port
2004 Ford Explorer V8 with the tow package
2010 Camping Stats
Nights Camping 132 - Nights Camping in My Z 102
2011 Camping Stats
Nights Camping 107
2012 Camping Stats
Nights camping 133 - Nights camping in my Z 128
2013 Camping Stats
Nights Camping 66 Nights
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05-24-2012, 04:48 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: King George
Posts: 2,761
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You have to careful about thinking you will be allowed to use your generator anytime you want to. It is really something to consider here on the East side of the US. Most camp grounds including the Natl Parks etc have generator restricted use time in place. Alot of places only allow the use of generators from 8AM-10AM in the mornings and then again 4:30PM to 7:30PM. This doesnt give you alot of time to use your air conditioners etc .
What alot of us do is make sure we have out RV trailers beefed-up on the battery side of things where we can operate all of the 12VDC appliances we would like to use off the batteries and 120VAC appliances off the Inverters. This is a not a simple thing to incorparate but is doable.
The idea here is run all the things you want use and be able to make it through the one day/night visit and then at 8AM the next morning be able to re-charge your batteries to a 90% charge state in the two-three ours aloowed to run the generators. Once you are charged back up to the 90% charge state you can do all of this all over again for the next day/night visit.
The only thing you lose doing this is the air conditioner and high wattage microwaves etc.
You have to do several changes to some of your equipment to able to do this like making sure you have a smart-mode converter/charger unit, change out the automotive lights for LED lights, run additional batteries and larger battery cables, plan what you can run and not run so that you wont completely drain your batteries below their 50% charge state.
The RV Trailer Shore Power Cable can then be connected to a 2KW Honda Generator using a RV30A-15A 18-inch long adaptor which will power up your RV trailer to be able to run the on-board smart-mode Converter/Charger unit to re-charge your batteries. This is the game plan and it works out pretty good. We can do almost everything we normally do at electric site hook-ups including watching HDTV, using electric blankets, all the lighting we need inside and outside, charge up cellphones and computers, still have some battery left over at day break the next morning.
More things to think about haha... The western part of US is more relaxed about the use of generators as there is more open space I guess..
Always check with your camp ground about their policies of the use of generators so that you get a surprise when you arrive and not be able to run them as long as you thought you might be able to.
We probably camp off the power grid at the National Parks more than we camp at regular hook-up sites here on the East side of the US.
__________________
Roy and Carolyn
I claim Horse Creek Country in Southern Ill - Momabear is from North Texas
We live in King George VA
RETIRED DOD DOAF DON CONTRACTOR Electronics Tech 42YRS
"We're burning daylight" - John Wayne
2008 STARCRAFT 14RT OFF-ROAD POPUP with PD9260C and three 85AH 12VDC batteries
2010 F150 FX4 5.4 GAS with 3.73 gears - Super Cab - Towing Package - 2KW Honda EU2000i Gen
K9PHT (since 1957) 146.52Mhz
"We always have a PLAN B"
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05-25-2012, 12:01 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Flower Mound, TX
Posts: 126
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Minor advice on the generator...anytime you can eliminate or reduce the load on the generator upon start-up and/or shut down, the better it is on your generator.
In simple terms, try not to have every single electrical item on in the camper when you start the generator and simply shove the plug into the generator.
I prefer to fire up the generator with the breaker off on the generator, or cord unplugged, let it warm up just a tad or at least let the rpm stabilize, and with minimal items on in the trailer, turn the breaker on/plug in the cord. Then bring on the load(s) gradually.
We had a generator get toasted on a race trailer when someone shut the generator off while it was under a load that was over 50% of the rated wattage. I don't have the technical description of why, but it cooked it.
I have now had probably 5-7 varieties of generators and using the steps above, have never had an issue. Simple to do to save a major expense and headache.
Greg
__________________
Greg D.
Flower Mound, TX
gdecker715@gmail.com
The old- 2001 Jayco Qwest
The new- 2018 Jayco Eagle 324BHTS
2018 F-150 Ecoboost
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05-25-2012, 04:28 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,526
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tlhdoc
You will need a 30 am to 15 amp adapter. The generator only has outlets like you have at home. I recommend adding "Stable" to the gasoline. Stable helps to stabilize the gas. To keep the gas from breaking down. Also the generator runs better with mid-grade gas. Enjoy your trip.
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Tracy, just FYI... I have a Honda EU2000i Companion model that includes a 30A receptacle as shown in this picture.
__________________
Mike, Sue, Sissy and Little Man
2015 Ford F350 Lariat FX4 6.7 CC DRW
2015 Eagle Premier 351RSTS
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05-25-2012, 09:00 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Saskatoon Sask Canada
Posts: 10,726
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New generator owner.. here are a few things you should know...
before you turn off the gen unplug the RV and let the gen run for a min or two sort of to "cool down"
NEVER let the gen run out of gas when powering the RV.. as it dies it will send spikes of power through the system that can damage your elect components..
__________________
Seann
2004 Chev Silverado Duramax optioned past the max. 2009 Jayco Eagle 308 RLS 900watts of solar, Lithium batteries (400amp hour), 2000 watt (4000 surge) whole house inverter.
145days /2023 2022/151 2021[/COLOR]
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