Community Forums

cdrsmr · 02-08-2005, 03:11 AM

I have a generator with a 4 prong, 30amp plug outlet and I need an adapter to go to the 3 prong plug from the rv. Does anyone know where I can get one of these?

I saw one at the hardware store that had 3 or 4 plugs on the end of it but not a 30amp rv connection. It was also a little pricey. Any help will be great!

cdrsmr · 02-08-2005, 03:11 AM

I have a generator with a 4 prong, 30amp plug outlet and I need an adapter to go to the 3 prong plug from the rv. Does anyone know where I can get one of these?

I saw one at the hardware store that had 3 or 4 plugs on the end of it but not a 30amp rv connection. It was also a little pricey. Any help will be great!

Bushman512003 · 02-08-2005, 03:57 AM

Hi I got mine at a home depote or a lowes under $10.00 Look at the Gen.the plug will have amps.that will tell you the plug you need,make up a cheeter then,buy a dog bone at a trailer place 30amp.female install the mail end plug in check with volt meter on and gen.running before plugging trailer in John

TXiceman · 02-08-2005, 08:42 AM

Watch out, that 4 pin plug on the generator may be 240 volts, not 110 volts.

Jumbo Jet · 02-08-2005, 12:39 PM

With the 4 pin plug, and if it is 240 Volts, you could still wire up a 120 Volt adapter for your RV. Just use one of the 'hot' wires and the two ground wires.

Typical 240 Volt AC color coding is - black & red for the hot wires, white for neutral ground, and green for safety or chassis ground.

cdrsmr · 02-09-2005, 03:13 AM

The outlet on the generator is 30amp, 120 volt. The 4 pin plug is a twist plug and I thought I saw someone who made an adapter extension, about a foot long, to take the 4 pin to the 3 prong for the rv. Thanks to all for the help so far. I'll look at Home Depot and see what they have.

Slim Pickin's · 02-09-2005, 05:29 AM

I bought mine from the RV dealer where i bought my TT.It is an adapter without a cord.Pretty expensive though,i think it was $40.00-$50.00

Sunny · 02-09-2005, 04:15 PM

cdrsmr
What make and model is you generator.

Tom

cdrsmr · 02-10-2005, 03:53 AM

Sunny
The gen is a Briggs and Straton with 5350 operating watts and 7250 surge, I think. Don't know the model number so I'll have to check on that when I get to the house on Sunday. It has a 30amp, 120, 4 prong plug and 3 regular 120 outlets. Got it at Home Depot. Would rather have a Honda but that money thing is a little tight right now!

Sandman · 02-10-2005, 06:49 AM

My question is why did the generator manufacturer install a four prong twist lock for a three wire connection??

I have a 4200 watt Generic and it has a 20a duplex, a 240v 4 prong twistlock & a 120v 30a with a three prong twistlock.. Like the guys above, I bought my twistlocks from Home Depot or Lowes and a 30a pig tail from the RV dealer.. the 4prong is wired to a stove pigtail (with safety switch) to back feed the house..

aa6vh · 02-10-2005, 10:22 AM

I just checked the Briggs and Stratton web site. All of their generators that had the 4 prong twist lock connector show that outlet as 240v.

In other words, do not assume that outlet is 120 only!

Dave

John Harrelson · 02-10-2005, 11:56 PM

I believe that the reason it has a "twist lock" connection is because the generator is a "Contractors" model..

John

aa6vh · 02-11-2005, 10:07 AM

You are probably right about the twist lock plug for a "Contractor" generator. However, there are standard twist lock plug for 120v service (3 wire).

The industry standard for 240v four wire plugs is well defined. Two hot leads, one neutral, and one ground. The two hot leads are 120v and out of phase with each other, and when connected yield 240v. The neutral wire is only used when tying to just one of the hot leads, to yield 120v. And ground is ground.

It would make no sense that Briggs and Stratton would go against industry standards and put a 240v plug on a 120v circuit.

Dave

cdrsmr · 02-23-2005, 01:30 PM

Ok guys. here's what I made myself with a litle help from the hardware guys. Need to know if this will work before I plug my fiver into it.

I have a 4 prong, 30amp, 125/250V plug to go into the generator. I have a piece of Nomex 10/3 with ground, 30Amp with 4 wires, connected to the 4 prong plug. I have connected all 4 wires as follows. Red connected to X, White connected to W, black connected to Y, and the ground (no insulation cover) connected to the G.

On the other end I have the standard 30amp RV plug. I have the white connected to the white, the ground (no insulator) connected to the green, and the red connected to the last place. I have not connected the black at all to the 30amp RV plug. So on the 30Amp RV plug, the red and white are connected to the 2 "prong" positions and the ground is connected to the "round" position if you are looking at the front of the plug.

Does this sound correct? I know next to nothing about electricity but this seems to be the way the guy at the hardware store said to do it. Will this work?

Sorry for the long explanation and thanks in advance for all y'alls help!