What is the best way to hook up a portable generator to my camper? My 820 is generator ready but I did not purchase a genset to be "built-in". The generator I have just has two 110v outlets and a 220v outlet.
I'm not familiar with slide-ins, so forgive my partial ignorance, but it would seem to me that you have a shore power cord that you plug in when camping. Just plug this into one of the 110 outlets on the genset.
Do NOT plug it into the 22 outlet, you'll fry a whole bunch of stuff in the camper!
If you don't have a power cord, then the second idea would be to plug a car battery charger on the genset, and hook the battery charger to the onboard battery of the camper.
What I think you are really wanting to know is how to use the microwave or AC when no ac power is available, in which case do what I first said.
The only way to use a portable generator is to hookup your shore power cable to it while setting outside on the ground where it can get ventilation. Portable generators are not compatable to operating in a compartment. Not only will they overheat in the compartment, they give off deadly carbon monoxide gas and the exhaust must be properly vented away from the camper.
The '94 Lance 990 we previously owned was "Generator Ready". At the time, Lance was using an Onan MicroLite LP generator. I purchased one and it fit perfectly, all the predrilled mounting holes lined up, the intake and outlet ventilation holes were already there, the wiring was in place along with the propane line. All I had to do was mount the generator, purchase the flexible hose and connect it to the propane line, hookup the wiring, and install the exhaust system. It was easy to start from the vent hood controls, worked perfectly, and gave good service. The downside is that the built-in unit costs more than a portable unit and added about 135 lbs to the rear of the camper.
Bill
'01 Lance 1140 Camper, All the Goodies, TorkLift Tiedowns, Rancho 9000, Air Lift 5000, 2000 Dodge 3500, Cummins, 6 SPD., Q-Cab, PacBrake, Retired 8+ years
Posts: 356 | Location: Mount Pleasant, TX | Registered: February 05, 2000
OK, that answered my question. I should have clarified and said "Besides plugging in the shore power cord." I won't put it in the compartment until I buy one that was made to go in there. Thanks.
I too would like to know where to plug in a Honda eu1000, as I don't want the eventual thief to see it plugged in the shore power plug. This Honda doesn't need air circulating around, it is encased in a soundproofing shell, i can put it in an exterior compartment, with a tailpipe extension to keep fumes away, but where to connect It?
Gipsy
Posts: 59 | Location: London area England | Registered: December 28, 2001
I think you are wrong about putting the EU1000i in a closed compartment but let us know how it turns out. You could pull the shore power cord under the camper and feed it up into the gen compartment and plug it in or you could use an extention cord that would be a little smaller and route it from the gen around to the shore power compartment.
Posts: 320 | Location: Titusville,Florida | Registered: October 28, 2000
GIPSY, THE DOG, is right.If you are putting out 500 watts of electrical power you need to get ride of more than 500 watts of heat from the gen. set. If you enclose it, it will over heat and could result in a fire. Please do not do enclose a generator in an inclosed comparment. Jim
I understand your concerns, but of course I would see that the compartment would be vented by floor and side vents. My idea is to use the compartment that held the 2 gas cylinders. (I relocated larger ones in another part of the camper) (don't ask where) even the strongest chain cannot prevent theft, because i learnt that thiefs simply smash the plastic handle...and my cat only scares small birds... I thought of the roof too but can't picture myself going thru the escape hatch etc...
Posts: 59 | Location: London area England | Registered: December 28, 2001
Ok, i'll say where they are, In fact it is the previous owner, a German off road champ, who made a sealed compartment in part of a large closet used to hang clothes. However, it is vented thru the bottom. The only drawback is the backbraking task of inserting the two large gas cylinders thru the inside closet door. I am thinking of having an exterior door cut out for that purpose. The advantage is that I get twice the gas capacity, and i love to boondock.
Gipsy
Silverado&Bonair 10'5 slide-in
Posts: 59 | Location: London area England | Registered: December 28, 2001
