Community Forums

DonGott · 11-02-2010, 09:03 PM

I have a 12.5kw onan in my bus and I have this idea to try and find a way to install a recepticle on the generator and a recepticle at my home breaker box so, that I can send power to my home in case of a power outtage.
Has anyone ever done this?

Thanks
Don

RickO · 11-02-2010, 09:16 PM

I sure haven't but I've heard it referenced several times in the past so I'm sure you'll get some input soon.

Rick

RVhauler · 11-02-2010, 09:32 PM

yes it will work but GREAT CARE has to be taken to insure all commerical power is disconnected . There is a device which installs onto the house electrical meter and allows you to plug in your generator at the meter. In Virginia they are advertized by the local power company and they are supposed to transfer from commerical to Generator/etc. Of course you would most likely have to manual start generator. Believe that cost installed by power company runs around $1000

94-Newmar · 11-03-2010, 03:11 AM

I use a Honda 5500 that sits in my garage as a "whole house" generator in times of power failure, although not automated. I didn't want to go thru the expense of a transfer switch and auto-start generator. My detached garage has 50 amp service from the house. In the garage I have a seperate disconnect. Using my welder outlet I made a double male plug (VERY DANGEROUS) to connect my generator to the welder outlet. In times of power failure I first switch off the main in the panel from the electric company to the house. Then I can safely fire up the generator, plug it into the welder outlet and essentially power the whole house. At 5500 watts Im not going to run my central air, but it will run the furnace, lights, sump pump, refrig/freezer and other small, limited items.

You could wire up a 50 amp connector in your RV's electrical panel right at the transfer switch - would be easy to do, but I'd suggest against it and instead get a nice 5500-7500 watt portable generator. In case of an accidental bonding of the city's grid to your RV generator I think it would be cheaper to replace the smaller portable generator than the 12.5kw in your RV

85Eagle · 11-03-2010, 08:13 AM

This is a very dangerous thing to do unless you have a qualified electrician do this. What 94-NEWMAR described is an accident waiting to happen. Here in Louisville this past winter we had an ice storm and someone plugged a generator into the house system and a lineman from Florida was killed.

Tincup · 11-03-2010, 08:26 AM

Yes it is easily done, but make sure you have a transfer switch installed. A friend did this in CT without a transfer switch, similar to 94-Newmar's comment, then he told a passing line crew from the power company. They said remove it or they would pull the meter.

Use a transfer switch.

jcthorne · 11-03-2010, 08:31 AM

What 94-Newmar suggests is very dangerous and could get someone killed. It is also a violation of electric code.

DO NOT build or use a suicide cord to do this.

You do not have to have an automatic transfer switch and auto start. Manual tranfer swithes are available for a couple hundred that work just fine, and are safe when installed properly.

Yes you can use your RV gen set as backup power for your house. Have done so myself for years before installing a fully automated home backup gen set large enough for the central AC.

It CAN be done safely and within code.

BryanL · 11-03-2010, 11:21 AM

ditto on the need for a properly qualified electrician installing a transfer switch. You may also need a permit in your area and this should not be avoided, either.

Whenever you make any sort of connection to the electrical grid like this, you have significant risks not only to anyone near your house but also to anyone else on the grid. Some of these risks are not so obvious or simple, either.

If you can't unplug your house electrical devices and plug them into your RV but still want a household emergency electrical supply, do it right and don't take short cuts, please.

DonGott · 11-04-2010, 06:35 PM

Okay, let me start over. Maybe I should have asked this in a different way. Has anyone added a 50amp recepticle to their coach or directly onto the side of the bus generator?
Yes, my plans are to use my bus generator (if I have too) in case of emergency to supply power to my home. I store my bus in a barn next to the house and the panel is 10ft from my bus wall. My thoughts are to install a 50amp female recepticle on the bus and also install a 50amp female recepticle at the barn panel, which also feeds the house. I have an extra lenght of 50 amp extension cord, one end already has the male plug. I was gonna install a 50 amp male plug on the other end also. As long as the disconnect at the main feed meter panel is in the off position (disconnected from the grid) there should not be any issues. Right ??? No different than a backup auto start home generator that is used for emergency power outagges. The only difference is that I'm manually disconnecting from the grid instead of it being an automatic transfer switch. Has anyone done this? Thanks again.... Don

KIX · 11-04-2010, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonGott

Okay, let me start over. Maybe I should have asked this in a different way. Has anyone added a 50amp recepticle to their coach or directly onto the side of the bus generator?
Yes, my plans are to use my bus generator (if I have too) in case of emergency to supply power to my home. I store my bus in a barn next to the house and the panel is 10ft from my bus wall. My thoughts are to install a 50amp female recepticle on the bus and also install a 50amp female recepticle at the barn panel, which also feeds the house. I have an extra lenght of 50 amp extension cord, one end already has the male plug. I was gonna install a 50 amp male plug on the other end also. As long as the disconnect at the main feed meter panel is in the off position (disconnected from the grid) there should not be any issues. Right ??? No different than a backup auto start home generator that is used for emergency power outagges. The only difference is that I'm manually disconnecting from the grid instead of it being an automatic transfer switch. Has anyone done this? Thanks again.... Don

Don, Reread 94-Newmar's post. he's already answered your question. And, you can use an inexpensive manual transfer switch......I think.

Logthumper · 11-04-2010, 07:35 PM

Take a look in my pics below. Then look in "Makeing it ours". Pics of what I added to the motorhome gen set and the transfer switch in the house are in there. This is what you are talking about.

Nonno · 11-04-2010, 07:54 PM

Logthumper,

When the generator is connected to and providing power to your house is it still providing power to the MH or is the MH bypassed during this time?

Logthumper · 11-04-2010, 07:58 PM

Power is fed to both Motorhome and House. Just be sure you know how much power you are requesting if using power in both locations.

DonGott · 11-04-2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIX

Don, Reread 94-Newmar's post. he's already answered your question. And, you can use an inexpensive manual transfer switch......I think.

I was really looking for someones response like Logthumpers that had actually done this at the generator. Great photo's Logthumper........man you've really been busy ........great ideas. Thanks guys !!!!