BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
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Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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Converting RV generator to Home use
I have a Yamaha 6600DE generator I had thought about using to hook up to our electrical panel for power. Currently I have it on wheels and it is a
great generator for use around the house during construction and projects - it has never let me down. I also have a 7.5 KW Kohler RV generator I could
pull out and hook up to the house and leave the Yamaha free for moving around and outside projects.
I was curious if any Nomads had installed an RV generator for home use and would be willing to share their experiences / advice / ideas?
Thanks...
[Edited on 12-14-2009 by BajaGringo]
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geomike
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 10-3-2009
Location: Very near to the middle of nowhere.
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Mood: feeling an irresistable pull towards Baja...
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Hey Gringo!
This might fit the bill for your application. its kind of spendy though.
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/gen-tran-transfer-...
Hope it helps
Mike
You are entitled to your own opinions...not your own facts.
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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That is a great plan except that is a lot of noise and fuel consumption when a Honda 1000 or 2000 would do the trick and then simply plug in to the
MoHo when more watts are needed.
I am running a Honda 2000 to power two homes and a large garage including an LG 3.5 amp Refridgerator. Under the load it is supplying it uses one
gallon in 9 hours. I have a bulk fuel tank set up on it which holds 6 additional gallons. I designed a generator room in the garage with an exhaust
pipe the goes 6' over the two story roof for fumes.
With the use of compact fluerescent bulbs I can turn on every light in both house plus the garage while the fridge is on, oh, plus fans too.
If I wasn't running the fridge I would use the Honda 1000, nearly double the economy.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6742
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
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Many people in Punta Chivato have switched to the quiet 2000 gen sets because of fuel costs of the larger generators. The 2000 will run all night
while running a larger AC unit with a small external tank. Pretty much as BajaWarrior says. BajaWarrior, could you post a photo of your generator
room? I'm hoping to have AC for next summer and although my 3000 is pretty quiet I'd like to do better. I'll also trade the Honda 3000 for a 2000 if
anyone needs a bit more umph.
Also many here have converted to propane.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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My experience with generators for my off-grid Baja home has been somewhat varied. Hope some of the following helps to fill your request.
1971-1987 Onan diesel 8KW 
Great unit. Quiet, fuel efficient, remote start. Handled a million light bulbs, a very popular waffle maker, micro-wave, tvs, clothes dryer...plus
hair dryers, curling iron, clothes iron, gadgets. Hint: always screen female visitors luggage for anything with an electrical
cord. 
1988-2000 Generac 4KW RV model.
That Generac worked great....Then I made a mistake in buying a...
2000 10KW Coleman Home Power Station. 
I hauled this monster down from San Diego when the Baja Road was a pothole-minefield. After this bad choice, I now avoid anything
Coleman/Costco/Etc. with a Briggs&Stratton engine. The unit's engine overheated the first day in operation. The factory said t was not
designed to operate in high air temps. Guess Baja's 70-75 degree January temps were just too much for the poor thing. I
quickly returned it before the San Deigo supplier went out of business.
Then I bought a good one from Northern Tool Supply. Acme Tool, among other suppliers, also handles them.
2000-2009 Honda EX 5.5KW  
Best of the best This super-quiet genset has performed very economically and with no problems..(except for my operator errors.)
Runs literally everything electrical in the house, which is considerable. It can also be used as a RV genset, which I have done many times by simply
hoisting it into the pickup box where it sits safely under the 5th Wheel forward overhang. Mucho power for those blended margaritas at remote Baja
campsites.
My problem is that I have added so many solar panels and batteries to my power system that I no longer use the generator at all. I do start it now
and then so I can stand next to it and marvel at it's quiet operation. Very fuel efficient with a cooling radiator. I believe this model is the most
used on remote movie sets where size and noise levels are considerations.
It also has attachable wheels and handle to make it mobile for those home projects you mentioned.
Added to the above main gensets over the years, I have always had on hand a couple of portable Honda or Yamaha 2000's. Can be hooked
parallel for many uses. Also my tiny Honda 1000 is very handy to have anywhere..I use it boat camping, desert trips, you name it.
All Baja home owners & campers swear by them.
Good luck with whatever you decide to use.
And don't try too much do-it-yourself electrical work. Can be costly and dangerous. I used Martin Miranda of Mulege and his work equalled that of
some of my US electric contractors.
[Edited on 12-14-2009 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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BigWooo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 579
Registered: 1-2-2007
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I'm no expert by any means but...
I think you can just connect the hot and neutral from your generator to the main breaker's hot and neutral input lugs, then branch off from the
individual breakers to your outlets and lights. I believe a transfer switch is only for homes that are connected to city power. It keeps the
generator from back feeding power into the grid. Since you don't have power, it's probably unnecessary
You will need to provide a good ground though. Inside the main breaker there will be a neutral buss bar and a ground buss bar. The neutral buss will
have white wires that go to your individual circuits connected to it. The ground buss will have all the (sometimes green) or bare copper ground wires
to all your individual circuits connected to it. Now of course this is Mexico and the wires could be any color, mine were all black, with some stereo
wire thrown in 
The wires leaving the bottom or side (depending on how they're mounted) of the individual breakers (should be black) are the hot wires that branch
off to the individual circuits.
The two busses (neutral and ground) must be bonded together in the main breaker panel. Most breaker boxes have a screw you tighten that bonds the two
busses together. If not, jumper them together with a piece of #6 wire. Neutral and Ground must only be tied together at one place
From where the ground and neutral busses are tied together you will then run a (at least #6) wire to a 4' copper ground rod. Use a bonding clamp to
secure the wire to the ground rod. You should also ground the frame of the generator to the ground rod with #6 wire. If the generator is located some
distance from the house, it should have the frame tied to it's own ground rod, then the two ground rods should be tied together (bonded) with a run of
#6 wire.
Check the generator specs and make sure the ground and neutral are not tied together in the generator somewhere. If they are, figure out how to
separate them.
The wire from the generator to the panel should probably be something more substantial than just #12 romex. Your power use and distance of the
generator from the panel will determine wire size, but you should use at least #6 wire or larger to be safe (especially with the sound system of yours
 )
I'm pretty sure this is the safest way to hook up a generator. Someone please jump in if this is wrong!
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
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Location: La Chorera
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Thanks to all for the replies.
I have installed a grounding rod to the panel ground buss. My generator has a ground connection - can I connect that directly to the panel ground buss
or must it be wired to the ground bar? Seems to me it shouldn't matter.
They (CFE) have been out to survey in the last month and the latest gossip is that we should be seeing the grid reaching us before the end of 2010.
That is why I am not too inclined to go out and spend a lot on another generator / solar panels. This is Mexico however and that can all change - I
will keep an open mind to other options.
I have a friend who soundproofed his generator at his cabin in Sequoia and it did a very good job of keeping it quiet. He is coming down in January
and I am going to put him to work to help my system out.
And Wooo is correct - 2-3000 watts just won't cut it in the BajaGringo house once the sound gets turned on...
[Edited on 12-14-2009 by BajaGringo]
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BigWooo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 579
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I have no idea why, but everything I've read says to hook the generator frame ground up to the ground bar and not back to the main panel. May be for
lightning protection as the generator is outside and could take a hit independent of the building.
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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One thing I have found is that the Onan generators are much easier and cheaper to work on than the Hondas. The Hondas have more complex circuitry and
some very expensive modules inside them.
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Russ
Many people in Punta Chivato have switched to the quiet 2000 gen sets because of fuel costs of the larger generators. The 2000 will run all night
while running a larger AC unit with a small external tank. Pretty much as BajaWarrior says. BajaWarrior, could you post a photo of your generator
room? I'm hoping to have AC for next summer and although my 3000 is pretty quiet I'd like to do better. I'll also trade the Honda 3000 for a 2000 if
anyone needs a bit more umph.
Also many here have converted to propane. |
Hi Russ,
I'm in San Diego but heading South this Friday Dec. 18th and returning home on Wednesday the 23rd. I've been meaning to take some photos of the room
and will share them when I get back.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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BajaNuts
Super Nomad
Posts: 1085
Registered: 5-11-2008
Location: eastern WA, the DRY side
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Mood: no worry, no hurry....it's all good!
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'Gringo-
Geomike has the best and safest way to hook up a generator to your house panel. A transfer gear or at least some kind of lock-out device is critical
if you ever get hooked up to CFE.
Regardless of the CFE, (notice I didn't say IRREGARDLESS!  ) the next best thing
to full on transfer gear is a power inlet receptacle. This receptacle is permanently installed, usually near the panel or where the generator will be
located.
It's a small weatherproof box that is permanently connected to breakers, neutral and ground in your panel. Here's a pic-
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/produc...
This or a transfer gear are the safest to use as they are permanently installed to the panel and the receptacle prongs are recessed and are connected
to the generator by a cord of whatever length is needed. (remember, the longer the cord, the more voltage drop, the less watts available for curling
irons....or BLENDERS! Short Cord=More Power))
If you look at your Yamaha generator, the single plug on the right is probably the "power out". You would plug in a (big honkin' specifically for
generators) extension cord into that power out and then plug the other end into the power inlet. This same power inlet receptacle could be used in
conjunction with the transfer gear if you had that designed and installed at rough in. (I'm guessing NOT).
Usually the transger gear is used to separate certain circuits that will work with the generator. In the absence of the transfer gear, it is up to
the homeowner to monitor their power usage and not overload the generator.
And remember that when a generator backfeeds into a panel it need 2 breakers, for A-phase and B-phase. If you look at the power inlet, the transfer
gear from GeoMike and the power out on the Yamaha, they all have 4 terminals- hot hot neutral ground.
If you use a system with a proper cord and power inlet receptacle, you don't need to ground the generator to the panel, as that is accomplished with
the 4-wire cord....assuming the power inlet is properly wired into the panel to a 2-pole (whatever)amp breaker, neutral and ground.
It's probably too late to work a full on transfer gear into your system, but you should be able to at least get a power inlet box installed. Not sure
where your panel is in the house, but perhaps you could punch out the back of the panel and mount the box on the outside of the house. ???
CutlerHammer makes a generator panel cover which allows a generator to be permanently wired to the bottom left 2 breakers and it has a lock out lever
so you cannot use generator power unless the main breaker is turned off. WAY COOL! Super easy, probably won't help BajaGringo ......
hope this helps~let me know if you have specific questions we might be abl to help with.
ps- we have installed MANY back-up power systems using transfer gears and power inlets. All the way up to a 36kW, Ford V6 propane powered back up
generator with automatic start in case of power outage, programmed monthly maintenance running, capable of 150 amps continuous load, and this is for a
house! Actually, the generator only took care of half the house as it had 2 panels, a 400amp service......
NOT for the average homeowner, for sure! But the power inlet /transfer gear systems are really user friendly as long as the homeowners have a little
common sense, or at least a generator lockout system!!!
[Edited on 12-15-2009 by BajaNuts]
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fishbuck
Banned
Posts: 5318
Registered: 8-31-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGringo
Thanks to all for the replies.
I have installed a grounding rod to the panel ground buss. My generator has a ground connection - can I connect that directly to the panel ground buss
or must it be wired to the ground bar? Seems to me it shouldn't matter.
They (CFE) have been out to survey in the last month and the latest gossip is that we should be seeing the grid reaching us before the end of 2010.
That is why I am not too inclined to go out and spend a lot on another generator / solar panels. This is Mexico however and that can all change - I
will keep an open mind to other options.
I have a friend who soundproofed his generator at his cabin in Sequoia and it did a very good job of keeping it quiet. He is coming down in January
and I am going to put him to work to help my system out.
And Wooo is correct - 2-3000 watts just won't cut it in the BajaGringo house once the sound gets turned on...
[Edited on 12-14-2009 by BajaGringo] |
Do you think they will run power out to my place. It already goes to the cell phone towers and I think that's only about 2 miles from us.
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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fishbuck
Banned
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Registered: 8-31-2006
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Hey BG.
Ya a good solar system is like 15-20Gs US.
1 of the guys at Pedregal has a nice big generator and a solar system too. It's very cool!
I think there is a guy in town that can set it up.
But see if you can get the power run out there. That's way easier.
I'm hoping by the time I build my Casita de Pesca that the wires will get there.
But just incase not.
Does anyone know how to wire an RV generator to a really cool beach house?!!!
[Edited on 12-15-2009 by fishbuck]
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
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Location: La Chorera
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Nuts - I did wire in 8gauge access to the panel back to where the generator will be located and from where the power (when it comes) will eventually
feed the panel. So I guess I still do have some options?
Fish - the route they are going to bring the poles will still be a few miles from Pedregal. I would suggest that all the homeowners over there get
organized as we have for the past 18 months and push to make it happen. I would ask Rafael to go to bat on your behalf as well.
It sounds like you could just create a generator/RV plug access to the house from your RV as Nuts described...
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