Something really weird

[SmokeyBear]

I just got home from dry camping for 9 nights at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca. I was with a group, and we had a "community" generator provided with junction boxes spread out for connections. The generator would be shut off sometime before 7 am and restarted sometime after 6 pm. As often as not, I was not with my rig when either of these events happened.

I started having weird things happen. First the refrigerator wouldn't work properly and would flash strange lights. Eventually all lights were flashing. I had to turn it off.

One day I returned, and nothing worked. The generator was not on so no AC. I flipped on the 12 volt, and nothing worked. Panic time. Finally, I resorted to starting the truck engine to recharge the house battery. After about 30 seconds (way too short for the battery to get charged), everything started to work OK. Really weird.

After trhat, I would repeat this every day. No problems.

On the 3 hour drive home, it struck me as to what the problem may be. Whenever they restarted the generator, a surge would come down the line. Since I was the last one on the line, it was affecting the electronics.

Moral: Before I do this again in two weeks, I will get a surge protector.

[JayLo]

I am just replying so I can subscribe to all the responses. And a reminder to be nice!

But let me be the first to say, “Sharing a generator?!?!?!” and “No surge protector?!?!?” And “ have we taught you nothing!?!?”

I say that with love.

[muckinfuss]

No surge protector. I'm of the mind that just the opposite was occurring, you were getting the voltage drop based on everyone else's draw becoming a giant resistor. An EMS device would contain the surge properties as well as protecting from voltage drops. Explore that idea in the event you find yourself in the same situation down the road....especially if you're the only one who experienced this issue. Your actual work around is voodoo and I can't explain why it worked.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by SmokeyBear

Moral: Before I do this again in two weeks, I will get a surge protector.

Or turn off your main breaker when the geny shuts down and back on after it's been up and running. That is why an auto transfer switch has a built in delay, it allows the geny to get up to full voltage and frequency.

[Midnightmoon]

I would really be careful on a shared generator. Especially, if it isn't an inverter generator.

[SmokeyBear]

Originally Posted by muckinfuss

An EMS device would contain the surge properties as well as protecting from voltage drops.

What is an EMS device? In my world, EMS = Emergency Medical Supply.

I have only been RVing on my own since June. This is my first experience with a shared generator. Nobody told me nothing.

All your recommendations were great, and you have all received a Thank You.

[JayLo]

Originally Posted by SmokeyBear

What is an EMS device? In my world, EMS = Emergency Medical Supply.

I have only been RVing on my own since June. This is my first experience with a shared generator. Nobody told me nothing.

All your recommendations were great, and you have all received a Thank You.

I mean, mine was really just yelling at you, but you’re welcome! Lol.

[muckinfuss]

Originally Posted by SmokeyBear

What is an EMS device? In my world, EMS = Emergency Medical Supply.

I have only been RVing on my own since June. This is my first experience with a shared generator. Nobody told me nothing.

All your recommendations were great, and you have all received a Thank You.

Yeah, I replied to the thank you that came as a PM. Go there.

[SmokeyBear]

muckinfuss's PM to me, in case others may want to know, also.

Electricity Management System. Several brands....most seem to go for the Hughes or Progressive Industries. With one of these you can spend a lot, or a lot less depending on how many bells and whistles you fall for. Essentially they protect your sensitive electronics (which is everything these days) from both ends of the electricity swings. The more expensive ones can 'improve' the voltage if off spec. as opposed to blocking the current flow from getting to the damage point. They come in two flavors, hardwired (a silly thing to do) and portable. Start here: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rv+ems+30...s_ts-doa-p_5_6

[robkelly]

We use the portable Progressive Industries EMS and I will never plug in without it. It's saved us from low voltage or reverse polarity several times.

[JFlightRisk]

We have an ancient Progressive Industries (the square black box model) that we've used for 10 years or more, and recently bought a Hughes Watch Dog to replace it when it gives up the ghost. I bet it'll be at an inconvenient time, like when your BBQ grill runs out of propane in the middle of cooking something! The TT doesn't get plugged in without it.

[pconroy]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

I would really be careful on a shared generator. Especially, if it isn't an inverter generator.

Smokey - I'm with Midnight...
There's no way I'd share a generator. If you think you need the AC of a genset, then I'd absolutely grab one for $400 off Amazon. I'd even do a small 2000 watt one before I'd ever share.


Just my half-cent.

[Yooper906]

Originally Posted by pconroy

Smokey - I'm with Midnight...
There's no way I'd share a generator. If you think you need the AC of a genset, then I'd absolutely grab one for $400 off Amazon. I'd even do a small 2000 watt one before I'd ever share.


Just my half-cent.

As would I. If your only source is a generator, I would do the same. Even with an EMS or surge protection. Camping spots that don't have power, we try to run off our solar and batteries. No, it always doesn't work out. A small quiet 2000 or 2500 watt inverter generator can make your stay much more enjoyable.

[SmokeyBear]

Like I said, I've only been doing this on my own since June. However, I had years of experience with others, always in their rigs (always trailers), but they would never spend the night anywhere that did not have full hookups. That's why I'm inexperienced at dry camping.

The shared generator was a large, commercial unit, not a small "camping" generator. I have no idea if it is an inverter generator. Are there other kinds?

The others hooked up to it had been using this type of arrangements for many weekends, many years. For the last 10 years I have been camping alongside them in a teardrop that required no hookup whatsoever. I never heard of anybody having problems with the shared generator.

Looking at my schedule for this year, there are still two more weekends coming up in which the only power available will be the commercial generator. If the schedule holds the same for next year, there can be maybe 10 weekends, for at least 30 nights, where that will be the case. Those of you who say never use a shared generator, have you ever faced a schedule like this? I'm guessing not.

I think Grumpy's advice is the best for me at this time. Shut off the main breaker.

JFlightRisk, what is a TT?

pconroy, what is a genset?

[pconroy]

Originally Posted by SmokeyBear

The shared generator was a large, commercial unit, not a small "camping" generator. I have no idea if it is an inverter generator. Are there other kinds?

pconroy, what is a genset?

Genset - generator. Yes, there are (at least) two kinds of generators. I'm no expert but they seem to differ in the "quality" of AC current generated.


Inverter generators, I think, make the AC current but then convert it to DC. Where an inverter comes right back and converts the DC back to AC. This makes the power cleaner. [ It may also make it a pure-sine-wave. I'm not sure. ]


Non-inverter generators just use an alternator to create AC power. It's not as clean.


Sensitive, modern electronics might not like a non-inverter generator. Inverter generators will cost more that their similar wattage, non-inverter counterparts. The strong suggestion is to pay the extra and get an inverter generator.

[pconroy]

Originally Posted by SmokeyBear

JFlightRisk, what is a TT?

Travel Trailer.

[SmokeyBear]

Well, I don't think my rig has sensitive, modern electronics. Quite the contrary. It's a 1997 model which makes it 25-year-old electronics. Very basic, I think.

[SloPoke]

Originally Posted by SmokeyBear

I just got home from dry camping for 9 nights at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca. I was with a group, and we had a "community" generator provided with junction boxes spread out for connections. The generator would be shut off sometime before 7 am and restarted sometime after 6 pm. As often as not, I was not with my rig when either of these events happened.

I started having weird things happen. First the refrigerator wouldn't work properly and would flash strange lights. Eventually all lights were flashing. I had to turn it off.

One day I returned, and nothing worked. The generator was not on so no AC. I flipped on the 12 volt, and nothing worked. Panic time. Finally, I resorted to starting the truck engine to recharge the house battery. After about 30 seconds (way too short for the battery to get charged), everything started to work OK. Really weird.

After trhat, I would repeat this every day. No problems.

On the 3 hour drive home, it struck me as to what the problem may be. Whenever they restarted the generator, a surge would come down the line. Since I was the last one on the line, it was affecting the electronics.

Moral: Before I do this again in two weeks, I will get a surge protector.

There are instructions posted all over these generators... We have been using them for a few years on an annual Music Festival... One important thing to follow - Disconnect the breakers when Starting and Shutting down the Generator. This may not have happened when you were not there...

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

I would really be careful on a shared generator. Especially, if it isn't an inverter generator.

As long as you trust your other campers who are in charge of the shared Generator, and they know the proper Start/Shut-down process... I am not concerned as I am usually the guy that takes care of it.

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Or turn off your main breaker when the geny shuts down and back on after it's been up and running. That is why an auto transfer switch has a built in delay, it allows the geny to get up to full voltage and frequency.

But- The transfer switch does nothing to protect the RV from power surges when the shut-down process is happening... a likely cause.

Originally Posted by pconroy

Smokey - I'm with Midnight...
There's no way I'd share a generator. If you think you need the AC of a genset, then I'd absolutely grab one for $400 off Amazon. I'd even do a small 2000 watt one before I'd ever share.
Just my half-cent.

We have had amazing results... They are quiet, have a huge capacity for many RV's and can run for days on end.

Originally Posted by SmokeyBear

Like I said, I've only been doing this on my own since June. However, I had years of experience with others, always in their rigs (always trailers), but they would never spend the night anywhere that did not have full hookups. That's why I'm inexperienced at dry camping.

The shared generator was a large, commercial unit, not a small "camping" generator. I have no idea if it is an inverter generator. Are there other kinds?

The others hooked up to it had been using this type of arrangements for many weekends, many years. For the last 10 years I have been camping alongside them in a teardrop that required no hookup whatsoever. I never heard of anybody having problems with the shared generator.

Looking at my schedule for this year, there are still two more weekends coming up in which the only power available will be the commercial generator. If the schedule holds the same for next year, there can be maybe 10 weekends, for at least 30 nights, where that will be the case. Those of you who say never use a shared generator, have you ever faced a schedule like this? I'm guessing not.

I think Grumpy's advice is the best for me at this time. Shut off the main breaker.

JFlightRisk, what is a TT?

pconroy, what is a genset?

If it looks like the pictures below... let us know!

[SmokeyBear]

Thanks Slopoke.

You did much better than I at explaining how a shared generator works. The one we had looked very much like the one in your photos.

BTW: Does Slopoke have anything to do with San Luis Obispo? It is commonly referred to as SLO.

[pconroy]

Originally Posted by SmokeyBear

Well, I don't think my rig has sensitive, modern electronics. Quite the contrary. It's a 1997 model which makes it 25-year-old electronics. Very basic, I think.

I hear you. But --It's not just the unit, it'll be what you plug into the outlets. Laptop... CPAP machine... Phone chargers...



Lot's of people have gotten by on good ol' regular generators. For years. I'm just saying that when I was in the market for a 3500 watt generator, I went for an Inverter Styled one.