Portable generator question

[labill]

I have a 35' Dutchman toy hauler. It is 30amp but I intend to upgrade it to 50amp. I have a large generator on my Avion and miss that convience when traveling with the toy hauler. The Avion is now setup to use as a guest house so the generator is important.

The unit has one A/C and nothing out of the ordinary. The water heater could be used with propane.

I am looking to buy a portable that I will carry in the pickup bed. I understand that starting power is important and would assume that would be the deciding factor.
So my questions are:
1. How large to run everything and
2. Can the regular power cord be used to plug in to the generator?

Anything I missed let me know.

Thanks,
Bill

[Rockerga]

Hello,
The Generator needs to be an inverter style so as not to ruin all of your RV electrical/Electronics. Basically, a computer-controlled generator to ensure a constant and accurate flow rate of AC to your RV. Those big-box stores cheap "Contractor power" generators will FRY your RV's power center box and possibly a few appliances as well. Way more dollars in the long run and IT WILL HAPPEN!

Secondly, figure out your wattage needs approximately to size the generator properly. I personally bought a Robins-Subaru 4300ise (Discontinued) and it powered a 30 amp RV with plenty of power to spare running anything and everything including the 15k AC. It even doubled down and powered two 30 amp RV's but I am not sure (Do not remember) if either were also running the AC at that instance.

These are more or less made for the RV industry so they are also Q U I E T!

Here is a helpful link to get you started: https://healthyhandyman.com/best-inv...r-rvs-camping/

I hope that helped a little.

[Rockerga]

OH, almost forgot: A 30 amp generator will have a 30 amp TWIST-LOCK plug, so if you have a 30 Amp RV male to plug into it, you will need a "generator dongle" (Dog Bone) adapter. This adapter will be a standard straight female plug 30 Amp end to a 30 Amp male twist-lock end to plug into your generator...

[labill]

Understand. I do have the bone but have never used it. Was given to me so I just held on to it.

Our local Pawnshop has a couple nice generators in very good condition. An ACDelco, 6500 surge and 6000 running with dual start and a Gentron PRO2 10,000W peak with dual start. Both are gas only.

Trying to decide which one. ACDelco a few hundread cheaper but both better then a new one.

Thanks for your help.
Bill

[persistent]

Originally Posted by labill

...
I am looking to buy a portable that I will carry in the pickup bed. I understand that starting power is important and would assume that would be the deciding factor.
So my questions are:
1. How large to run everything and
2. Can the regular power cord be used to plug in to the generator?

Anything I missed let me know.

Thanks,
Bill

120 v X 30 a = 3600 watts

240 v X 50 a = 12000 watts


The following are approximate. Read label on appliance for actual values.

Air conditioner - 1500 watts
Micro wave - 1500 watts
water heater - 1500 watts
space heater - 1500 watts
TT 50 amp converter/charger working at full capacity - 600 watts

[franktafl]

You will need to make sure that with a generator that you have TWO 110v legs NOT 220. Even the 50 amp RV uses this setup.

[labill]

Most of the ones I have seen have 1-220 4 prongs and 1-110 3 prongs plus the normal 110 receptacles.

The two units I am looking at have this setup.

This will not work?

[franktafl]

110 single phase 30 amp will run your RV. The 220 will not.... well, maybe for a moment or two.

[Ovalvw]

Our triton is 50 amp came with onan 5.5 works great I have a spare portable home generator predator 3500 that I used just because. I ran one AC and all was good I did not use micro it’s a amp killer with everything else on. for fun we hooked up my friends 2 in tandem Honda 2200s that also worked well no issues All our best from fla

[Rockerga]

Who is the moderator for this section of the forum?
I am brand new and so my very first post was here on this question so it was censored until a Moderator had judged it
My next post that was an afterthought was posted BUT NOT MY ORIGINAL DETAILED RESPONSE for this gentleman!

Hello?????

[labill]

I emailed Gentron and asked them about this used unit. There response was within a day and they sent me a manual. That makes for confidence in a company.

Leaning towards this unit because of the power.

Want to thank everyone for the help and advice. That's what makes this a great forum.

Thanks,
Bill

[Ovalvw]

Youtube shows some pretty good real world uses and quarks of what you may be looking at hope this helps All our best FLA