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02-23-2021, 06:13 AM
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#1
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 12
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Charging MH with portable generator
I have a 2018 34t Forza and tried to connect my Cummings Onan P4500i generator to my MH... I would not accept the load from the generator... A Surge Guard indicates the generator has an open ground... The generator has a floating neutral...
Any body know how I can make the generator and MH comparable???
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02-23-2021, 07:52 AM
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#2
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 44
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I bought a plug end and installed a jumper wire inside the plug that tied the ground and neutrals together. (Hot terminal stays unused) Then simply plug that into the Gen spare outlet. This was for my previous boat that I used a Honda 2000 gen. Same principle as an RV.
__________________
2001 Brave 29SE, 7.4L Workhorse P32
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02-23-2021, 06:51 PM
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#3
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 12
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Ok forgive me for being a little slow of electrics, but your fix rings very true to what I have attempted to comprehend in YouTube... Am I right from my reading that using a jumper wire from the ground to the neutral bar of pin is the same as your fix with the  lug end"... And after doing this my transfer switch will then transfer the load back to the neutral???
As I read, this procedure and your procedure bond the ground and then the transfer switch is happy happy... Right???
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02-23-2021, 07:00 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Spring Branch, TX
Posts: 7,818
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May I inquire why you want to charge your Forza from an external generator and not the genset built into you motorhome?
__________________
2017 Winnebago Adventurer 37F
2016 Lincoln MKX Toad
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02-23-2021, 07:23 PM
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#5
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 12
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I camp a lot in primitive camps ground most of the summer in Colorado and typical use a small quiet portable generator rather than a 6,000 watt behemoth located under the front seat...
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02-28-2021, 04:21 PM
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#6
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 18
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It’s a common problem and one I experienced on my Forza using a Honda EU2000. Look here: https://youtu.be/iFpm04iJdGw
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2019 Forza 34T
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03-01-2021, 04:25 PM
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#7
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 69
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I am Totally Confused!
My camper has a three plug
ground, neutral, hot
My cheap harbor freight generator has
ground, neutral, and hot,
Why on earth would I need and addition wire to connect the two together?
What would it do?
The two are already connected via,
ground, neutral and a hot.
For the record it works just fine.
What are you doing?
Is a wire broke?
Are you Jerry Rigging it?
__________________
2004 Itaska - Horizon
IKS40WD 350 Cummins
2012 Jeep Wrangler
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03-01-2021, 05:29 PM
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#8
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pobstlmo
I am Totally Confused!
My camper has a three plug
ground, neutral, hot
My cheap harbor freight generator has
ground, neutral, and hot,
Why on earth would I need and addition wire to connect the two together?
What would it do?
The two are already connected via,
ground, neutral and a hot.
For the record it works just fine.
What are you doing?
Is a wire broke?
Are you Jerry Rigging it?
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It's the difference between 50 amp service and 30 amp service.
50 amp plug has two hot legs, one neutral and one ground.
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03-01-2021, 09:00 PM
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#9
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 44
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pobstlmo
I am Totally Confused!
My camper has a three plug
ground, neutral, hot
My cheap harbor freight generator has
ground, neutral, and hot,
Why on earth would I need and addition wire to connect the two together?
What would it do?
The two are already connected via,
ground, neutral and a hot.
For the record it works just fine.
What are you doing?
Is a wire broke?
Are you Jerry Rigging it?
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Its an electrical safety code, not Jerry rigging. In simple terms, it provides an alternative path back to the breaker box.
__________________
2001 Brave 29SE, 7.4L Workhorse P32
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03-03-2021, 02:05 PM
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#10
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 12
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Thanks khocke, that worked great!!! I did it with the 20amp plug and my MH accepted the power!!! I am gonna buy a 30amp rv plug and to the same thing so I can go either way... Thanks again, I love these BLOG's... I really helps on the budget..
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03-09-2021, 09:57 PM
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#11
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1996 Itasca 29Q
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Victoria, BC
Posts: 182
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The transfer switch wants to see the neutral and ground at the same potential, just like in your home. The utility bonds the neutral to ground at the transformer and in some jurisdictions the neutral is bonded to ground in the panel.
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03-10-2021, 08:29 AM
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#12
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Pflugerville/Austin, Tx
Posts: 7,499
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobn1957
The transfer switch wants to see the neutral and ground at the same potential, just like in your home. The utility bonds the neutral to ground at the transformer and in some jurisdictions the neutral is bonded to ground in the panel.
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Agree. They call it multi-grounded neutral! (MGN)
Basic idea is that you want all grounds to have the same potential. So ground and neutral are both the same for electrical purposes.
The hazard to avoid is if they were not connected you could get a shock from the ground of one item when touching the ground of another.
If the ground and neutral of all equipment is bonded together, there is no difference in potential, so no shock.
__________________
Richard
Why no RV year, make and floorplan on MY signature as we suggest for others?
I currently DO NOT have one! 
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