|
02-18-2021, 06:15 PM
|
#1
|
Established Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Galveston
Posts: 10
M.O.C. #25162
|
Gas Generator in Parallel
Yesterday I asked about the Onan 5500. I don't want propane. How do you tell if X amount of parallel gas generators will work? For instance, I am looking at the Generac iq3500 that can be hooked together. How do you go from the 50 amp in the back of the rig to the generators in parallel if they only have 30 amp connections? Sorry for basic questions, but, have to start somewhere and usually this is a quick place to find info :-)
|
|
|
02-18-2021, 06:44 PM
|
#2
|
Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Portland
Posts: 68
M.O.C. #28145
|
you will have a 50 amp to 30 amp reducer that will then plug into the 30 amp generator receiptical. If looking at a 3500 watt generator you really only need 1 to power 1 ac and everything else. You might have to cycle the AC off to get the microwave on, and vice versa. Everything else should run fine. If you have two ac's, then run one for a little while then the other for a little while to cool both sides.
__________________
2021 Montana 3854BR with 2014 Ram 3500 SRW Limited CC LB, 2021 Malibu 23 LSV, 2019 Can AM XRS turbo, 2017 Yamaha YXZ 1000R
|
|
|
02-19-2021, 04:29 AM
|
#3
|
Seasoned Camper
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Rudyard
Posts: 74
M.O.C. #21800
|
They make a parallel kit that plugs into both generators then goes into a box that has a 50 amp outlet. I used to have 2 Predators with a Firman parallel kit, that worked fine. It had both the 30 amp and 50 amp outlets with breakers. Run one generator to power one air conditioner, or both generators if you need to run both.
__________________
2015 Montana 3711 FL Legacy
2015 Ford F450 Platinum
|
|
|
02-19-2021, 05:51 AM
|
#4
|
Established Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Galveston
Posts: 10
M.O.C. #25162
|
Awesome!
Will pivot that way...thanks again!!!
|
|
|
02-19-2021, 02:32 PM
|
#5
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Anderson
Posts: 2,790
M.O.C. #22835
|
You do it like this:
There is a connection port where 3 wires are connected on each generator. You will need to get the adapter cable that is designed for the generator you have. The adaptor cable comes together into a 50 amp plug. You simply plug the camper into the 50 amp plug. Done.
__________________
History is not about the past, it's an explanation of the present.
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Silverado Duramax, 6.6L Dually
|
|
|
02-19-2021, 02:57 PM
|
#6
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Nampa
Posts: 114
M.O.C. #21247
|
What size Onan generator are those?
|
|
|
02-19-2021, 04:39 PM
|
#7
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Anderson
Posts: 2,790
M.O.C. #22835
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by socoinc
What size Onan generator are those?
|
This one, click here P4500i
__________________
History is not about the past, it's an explanation of the present.
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Silverado Duramax, 6.6L Dually
|
|
|
02-19-2021, 07:12 PM
|
#8
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Granger TX
Posts: 2,599
M.O.C. #21044
|
I have a champion 2800w inverter generator I bought several years ago. It does not have ports to hook it up in parallel with another to get 50 amps...so I was looking at newer generators that are parallel capable. What is the minimum watt rating for two identical generators to be hooked up and produce 50 amps?
__________________
MikenDebbie Aggie ‘77 in the sticks near Austin TX
2019 Chevy 3500 High Country DRW
2018 Montana 3921FB
Aussie Gus + Texas Heeler Jimmy
|
|
|
02-19-2021, 07:25 PM
|
#9
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,671
M.O.C. #2283
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikendebbie
I have a champion 2800w inverter generator I bought several years ago. It does not have ports to hook it up in parallel with another to get 50 amps...so I was looking at newer generators that are parallel capable. What is the minimum watt rating for two identical generators to be hooked up and produce 50 amps?
|
That would be 6000 watts. But be careful all generators are rated for start up not running watts. For instance a 2000 watt generator only has 1600 running watts that is 13.3 amps.
Lynwood
|
|
|
02-20-2021, 07:18 AM
|
#10
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Anderson
Posts: 2,790
M.O.C. #22835
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikendebbie
...What is the minimum watt rating for two identical generators to be hooked up and produce 50 amps?
|
For the P4500i, Hooked together, I have no clue. Individually, the stat sheet says:
Gasoline Peak Watts 4500
Gasoline Running Watts 3700
Peak Amps at 120V 37.5 amps
Running Amps at 120V 30.8 amps
I have run both of mine together and ran everything in my camper all at once and the generators (in parallel) performed just fine. I had both AC's running, microwave, residential refrigerator, 2 televisions, electric fire place, and electric on the water heater. Nothing missed a beat. All the house lights were on, all the outside lights were on. I let it all run for about 30 minutes, fireplace fighting the air conditioners.... and then finally powered down the fire place. I let everything else run, all lights, microwave, everything for a good hour. Generators did great.
No clue what minimum and maximum are combined, all I know is, they worked for what I needed.
I also tried one generator only (30 amp), and it performed identical to hooking up to 30 amp service. Power management is a must. When I turned on both AC's at the same time, the generator continued to run, but the power tripped. I had to push the reset button to get the electric flowing again. I found it interesting the built in breaker tripped at the generator, but the generator continued running.
At 50% load, these generators are suppose to run 15 hours on 1 tank of gas (3.4 gallon).
Hope this helps.
__________________
History is not about the past, it's an explanation of the present.
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Silverado Duramax, 6.6L Dually
|
|
|
02-24-2021, 01:29 PM
|
#11
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Qualicum Beach
Posts: 665
M.O.C. #26399
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mlh
That would be 6000 watts. But be careful all generators are rated for start up not running watts. For instance a 2000 watt generator only has 1600 running watts that is 13.3 amps.
Lynwood
|
Remember, there are two legs, so a total of 12,000W or two of those at 6,000W each. However, I have a 40' Monty and seldom use more than a few hundred watts depending on time of year. We will spend next winter on a 30A service but we do have an extra 20A available from solar/Lithium. When my wife wants to use the dryer, I dial down the leg 1 amps to 13 while she uses 12. If leg 1 needs more like a microwave or toaster, the inverter kicks in and provides up to an additional 20A.
__________________
2018 Keystone Montana 3811MS
2017 Ford F450 diesel dually
600AH Battle Born Lithium Batteries, 1,080 watts solar
3,000 watt hybrid inverter with 120A charger
|
|
|
02-25-2021, 11:36 AM
|
#12
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Keller
Posts: 525
M.O.C. #26851
|
It really helps to have Soft Start on your air conditioners as it greatly reduces the power needed to start your AC. You can run them off 30 amp power.
|
|
|
02-25-2021, 12:20 PM
|
#13
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Qualicum Beach
Posts: 665
M.O.C. #26399
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikelff
It really helps to have Soft Start on your air conditioners as it greatly reduces the power needed to start your AC. You can run them off 30 amp power.
|
I think you meant 15A, many RV's are only 30A and many parks are only 30A and can run 2 AC's if one is a 15 and the other a 13.5.
__________________
2018 Keystone Montana 3811MS
2017 Ford F450 diesel dually
600AH Battle Born Lithium Batteries, 1,080 watts solar
3,000 watt hybrid inverter with 120A charger
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|