Electrical Problem when plugging into a generator

[nbeer14]

We dry camp a lot and this weekend for the first time we tried plugging our 2008 Rockwood Roo into a friends generator to charge up our battery. It kept tripping the generator so no power was going to the trailer from generator, but when we plugged our trailer in at home when we got back we had no issues. Everything was running off electricity just fine. Don't know much about this stuff so not sure if it was a problem with the generator or a problem with our trailer?? Thanks

[ScottBrownstein]

How big was the generator. When you say it tripped you mean its circuit breaker? You don't perhaps have a gas/electric water heater that is turned on.

[JohnVtx]

Pulling too many amps for the rated power of the generator.

[NMWildcat]

The generator will protect itself by tripping its breaker when there is more demand than it can supply. What size generator? Anything electrical turned on in your RV? Were you and your friend both plugged into it at the same time? Were your batteries dead? Lots of reasons for too much demand.

[bikendan]

It would help if you posted the brand and model of generator.

[nbeer14]

The generator is a Honda, not sure how big it is, but it runs their big 5th wheel no problem. We had our water heater on and fridge on, but both were on gas. The battery was 1/3 as per the panel and we tried plugging it in with out theirs plugged in.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by nbeer14

The generator is a Honda, not sure how big it is, but it runs their big 5th wheel no problem. We had our water heater on and fridge on, but both were on gas. The battery was 1/3 as per the panel and we tried plugging it in with out theirs plugged in.

Well, if it runs their fifth wheel we know it's not the generator. So something was causing too much draw in your rig. Anything on auto that would switch to electric when available? What outlet on the generator did you use? Did you have to use an adapter to the generator plug? Maybe the outlet was a 13.3 amp?

[markb422]

was it tripping the breaker or the gfci.

[Ree]

Here are some tips for everyone. Plug a good volt meter into your output plug on your running generator. Output depends on enough RPM to make that voltage. Voltage to low? Bump up the RPM. Remember, you want 120 volts on a 110 outlet with no load. 240 volts on a 220 volt outlet.

I checked a generator for a guy during a hurricane. He was having low voltage problems. His output was 90 volts. We upped the RPM to get 120 volts and he was a happy backyard camper.

Also, some RV's and some generators need a separate ground. It is a good idea to find the ground lug on the generator frame and hook it to a good ground on the RV frame.