Running Elec w/ Generator

[Adamsvr]

Originally Posted by Dave&Ginny

You might have a problem with your transfer switch. When I start mine while plugged in, there's about a 1 minute of the generator running before it automatically switches over to the generator power. You can see and feel it when it switches. If you have a surge protector, it might not be hooked up right. I recall a thread sometime last year where some on here were talking about problems associated with that.

You are probably right. I chauk it up to the learning curve Redwood was undergoing building these early model Redwoods. Rather than frittering about it, we just unplug from shore power before starting the gen. Also alleviates any surge issues when power is restored.

[Blue Dogs]

Originally Posted by Adamsvr

You are probably right. I chauk it up to the learning curve Redwood was undergoing building these early model Redwoods. Rather than frittering about it, we just unplug from shore power before starting the gen. Also alleviates any surge issues when power is restored.

You shouldn't need to unplug from shore power to start your generator. The change over switch should take care of it. You can hear the switch when the genset kicks in, you also hear it when you plug into shore power. If you are loosing a breaker there is some sort of problem IMO. On my MH I would switch from a 20Amp shore power to gen all the time and never an issue.

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by Adamsvr

Another thing to remember is to unplug from shore power before starting the gen. Will save the 20 Amp breaker on the Kolher 5500 from tripping.

Do you really have a Kolher gen? I've never seen those in a 5er, just motorhomes.

[Adamsvr]

Originally Posted by atom ant

Do you really have a Kolher gen? I've never seen those in a 5er, just motorhomes.

Sorry, meant Onan 5500. But Kohler does make generators.

[atom ant]

Ya I used to have one in my motorhome, which is probably why it caught my eye.