Putting genny in fiver already prewired

[Rcnewell11]

Just checking to see if anybody knows about putting genny in prewired 36 rsqs pinnacle .does the front compartment need vented for all the heat it puts off during running or does door need changed out to be vented door.another question I have is the wires they bring up to compartment is one of heavy wires a 50 amp wire that I could use for portable Honda generator maybe .i think the smaller gauge wires are for start and stop switch built in fiver panel ??

[wingnut60]

If your trailer has the generator 'prep' option, there should be some way to vent the compartment already. Most compartments have an opening in the floor to allow for heat to escape, and the Onans discharge hot air downward. If you are going to use a portable gen in the compartment, be sure there is a vent--floor, door, somewhere--or leave the door open.
Joe

[Ray,IN]

As wingnut alluded, RV generators have a fan to exhaust hot air downward and pull fresh, cooler air in to cool the engine. The access door is usually solid, the installation instructions will be the final word. if you plan to mount a portable genset in a compartment, it will be another ball game altogether.

[huronwoods]

I have a Yamaha 3000i mounted in the front generator compartment of my Pinnacle 36RETS. The RV was ordered with generator prep. I removed the particle board floor, and mounted the Yamaha on the existing steel angle crossmembers, after removing the wheels from the bottom. The exhaust is piped downwards, and out under the side skirting. I use a 120 volt 10 inch fan, mounted above the exhaust end of the generator, to push the hot generator cooling air down and out the bottom. The fan is plugged into a 120 volt receptacle on the generator, and comes on when the generator starts.

The wiring provided as part of the generator prep package, is a 50 amp circuit wired from the transfer switch to a junction box on the left side of the compartment. I made up a short 30 amp cable with a twistlock plug to fit the generator, connected to the junction box. The smaller colored wires are for the remote start/stop functions, and they are connected in parallel with the generator key switch. I removed the small starting battery from the Yamaha, and use the RV house batteries to start the generator.

I had to rig ups a remote-operated choke, so the generator would start in cool weather. I used a surplus power door lock actuator wired to a pushbutton on the remote start panel.

I have been using this setup for almost two years, and it works well. I always open the compartment door when running the generator. The Yamaha runs quite cool, even on a hot day, running the rear 15,000 btu air conditioner. Noise level inside is low, and carbon monoxide is not a problem. I have an extra CO alarm with digital monitor in front bedroom, but would not run the generator while sleeping.

[wingnut60]

huronwoods has answered just about everything about a portable gen in a fiver, even to the fact they both have Jayco Pinnacles. Great post!
Joe

[Rob_Fla]

Interesting tread as we also have a Pinnacle that is generator prepped and have thought about installing a generator.

It is a low priority on our list as in the last year and 1/2 of fulltiming in our Pinnacle we have not needed a generator, we may in the future so we have talked about it but again it is low on our list of wants.

[Rcnewell11]

Thanks everybody on excellent post interesting on answering my questions

[bwallac]

I had a honda 6500is and got a carrier for the back hitch, only a few feet of cord to the plug, don, t have to worry about exhaust.