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06-14-2018, 11:01 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Mid Atlantic Campers Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 23
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Leave gen plugged in?
is it ok to leave generator plugged in while driving?
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06-14-2018, 11:09 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Chetwynd, BC
Posts: 293
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Need more info, what's your unit? Generator on board, in back of truck or?? Under what circumstances would you want/ need to be plugged in?
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Brentw
3500 Duramax dually
Fuzion 325 Toy Hauler with a GL1800 Goldwing
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06-15-2018, 05:37 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: midwest
Posts: 962
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It’s ok to leave it plugged in, running and even running the ac while driving.
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2016 Fleetwood Flair 26e gas Crossover
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06-15-2018, 05:37 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,698
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Our generator has an outlet in the bay for the power cord. You plug the cord into that when you want power from the generator and plug it into the CG power post when on external power. We always leave it plugged into the generator outlet when not at a campsite whether we are running the generator or not.
It is a very simple setup with little to go wrong. We do turn off the roof air conditioner before starting the generator so that it can start and come up to speed before it has a big load placed on it.
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TeamFoxy ~ Traveling North America
2016 Newmar Canyon Star 3710
2017 Chevy Equinox in tow.
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06-15-2018, 07:03 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 2,748
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Teamfoxy
Our generator has an outlet in the bay for the power cord. You plug the cord into that when you want power from the generator and plug it into the CG power post when on external power. We always leave it plugged into the generator outlet when not at a campsite whether we are running the generator or not.
It is a very simple setup with little to go wrong. We do turn off the roof air conditioner before starting the generator so that it can start and come up to speed before it has a big load placed on it.
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We have the same system. Absolutely simple and reliable. I don't know what the attraction is for Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS), seems like all I read about is failures and fires. I'll take my manual cord system anytime.
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Burns & Diane
2005 Winnebago Aspect 26A/2012 Subaru Impreza toad
Illinois! - Where the politicians make the license plates......
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06-15-2018, 10:26 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Capistrano Beach, California
Posts: 4,465
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As others have said, yes, it's perfectly fine to leave it plugged in.
I had an Itasca with the same set up and always plugged it in when traveling. In fact, the genset would not start unless it detected a load at the receptacle--meaning the plug had to be inserted. Most, if not all, ATS prioritize the generator connection and switch only when shore power is detected which means units with an ATS are "plugged in" to the generator while driving, just like you.
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Larry, Eileen, and Finley
2004 Alpine 36FDDS
Third motor home, first Alpine, no need for another.
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06-16-2018, 09:28 AM
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#7
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,578
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As others have said, it's fine to leave it plugged in and most folks run the genny while traveling in order to run the A/C's.
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Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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06-16-2018, 09:35 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Kind of a hassle to go out in the rain to connect the plug if you forget to do it. And yes I did it way back in '97 when we bought our new Type C MH. Since then we've had nothing but automatic transfer switches and have never had one go out or start a fire.
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2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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06-25-2018, 07:22 AM
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#9
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Junior Member
Mid Atlantic Campers Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 23
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I don't know what GC power post means. My power plug "bay" is also where the plug outlet is. I started having trouble with my refrigerator after leaving it plugged in while traveling and am wondering just what leaving it plugged in actually does while traveling...is it charging? or not? Thanks.
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06-25-2018, 07:50 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: High up in Arizona
Posts: 2,050
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsbonzell
I don't know what GC power post means. My power plug "bay" is also where the plug outlet is. I started having trouble with my refrigerator after leaving it plugged in while traveling and am wondering just what leaving it plugged in actually does while traveling...is it charging? or not? Thanks.
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I am not sure what you have but if generator is running and plugged in it should be charging batteries in most cases. Should also be running the refrigerator on electric if gen set is running. Perhaps some pics or more information would be helpful. CG power post is the pedestal you plug into at campgrounds if hook ups are supplied.
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2019 Allegro Bus 37AP towing a Jeep JK Rubicon Wrangler
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06-25-2018, 08:46 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,317
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_D
Kind of a hassle to go out in the rain to connect the plug if you forget to do it. And yes I did it way back in '97 when we bought our new Type C MH. Since then we've had nothing but automatic transfer switches and have never had one go out or start a fire.
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I recall you needed to prop your ATS closed with a stick, on your MH.
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06-25-2018, 08:51 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,317
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsbonzell
I don't know what GC power post means. My power plug "bay" is also where the plug outlet is. I started having trouble with my refrigerator after leaving it plugged in while traveling and am wondering just what leaving it plugged in actually does while traveling...is it charging? or not? Thanks.
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With the cord plugged in, going down the road, if the generator is NOT running, it isn't doing anything. If running, it will charge your batteries and run the fridge.
Your chassis system will also charge your house batteries, while going down the road, even with the generator off.
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06-25-2018, 01:30 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Pelham (Birmingham) AL
Posts: 400
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Quote:
Originally Posted by baraff
We have the same system. Absolutely simple and reliable. I don't know what the attraction is for Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS), seems like all I read about is failures and fires. I'll take my manual cord system anytime.
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Lots of reasons. What if you are away from camp and have to leave a pet in your RV? And power goes off. No good option if you are using a manual system, otherwise the ATS will swap you from shore to generator after starting the generator and your pet(s) won't know anything happened other than hearing a slight rumble from the genset. Or it is in the middle of the night, a storm blows up and knocks power out. You can either sit up and say "Hmm.. must have lost shore power, heard the genset crank up" or else get up, go out into the storm and do it manually. They are reliable, know several that use them in their home for emergency power when they live in the boondocks where power drops regularly.
__________________
Bob Hyatt
2018 Tiffin Allegro 32SA
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06-25-2018, 02:21 PM
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#14
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Junior Member
Mid Atlantic Campers Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 23
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That’s what I wanted to know. Somehow I transposed the CG to GC and figured b4 asking it meant campground hookup. Thanks for responding.
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