Inverter Generator Questions

[bjaspud]

I wonder if an electrical expert can help me out with a couple of generator questions. I have a Coleman CG3500i inverter generator. It has two 120V - 15A single outlets. My question is...does this generator have two separate windings that can be combined into one output using a parallel chord?

The end goal is to be able to plug in my trailers' 30A chord directly into the generator rather using a 30A to 15A adapter.

I'm hoping that combining the two outlets will produce more amps at 120V than possible from a single outlet.

So ….will the this parallel chord take two 15A 120V outlets and combine them into 120V 30A output? (or will it make 240V)? https://www.westinghouseportablepowe.../#ReviewHeader

And, how can I check to see if my generator (see attachment) has two windings and two (combinable) outputs? The specs on the generator are vague about output per outlet info.

Thanks in advance.

[XenoRev]

Originally Posted by bjaspud

I wonder if an electrical expert can help me out with a couple of generator questions. I have a Coleman CG3500i inverter generator. It has two 120V - 15A single outlets. My question is...does this generator have two separate windings that can be combined into one output using a parallel chord?

The end goal is to be able to plug in my trailers' 30A chord directly into the generator rather using a 30A to 15A adapter.

I'm hoping that combining the two outlets will produce more amps at 120V than possible from a single outlet.

So ….will the this parallel chord take two 15A 120V outlets and combine them into 120V 30A output? (or will it make 240V)? https://www.westinghouseportablepowe.../#ReviewHeader

And, how can I check to see if my generator (see attachment) has two windings and two (combinable) outputs? The specs on the generator are vague about output per outlet info.

Thanks in advance.

I'm guessing that there are two separate 120v outlets, each with its own 15a breaker and no 4wire 30a plug?

[bjaspud]

Correct - two 15A outlets but no 30Amp plug.

[Mr Towed]

Ugh, I wrote out a whole reply and it got deleted. I don't think that adaptor cord will work. I'd be curious if you'll get 240 across the 2 hots.

[rsdata]

MY vote is NO
you have 2 - 15 amp 120VAC fused plugs... that cord is meant to hook 2 generators together per the info on the cord webpage... to give 1 - 120 VAC 30 amp circuit...

[Mr Towed]

Found a wiring diagram for this generator and based on that I believe both outlets are wired in parallel (not to be confused with paralleling 2 generators), not from different windings or different legs or anything, just two outlets both fed from the same 2 wires. Based on that, if you wanted to mod the generator you could probably pull the faceplate off and put in a 30 amp breaker and a 30 amp plug instead of the 2 15 amp plugs. You COULD make an adaptor like the one shown, but without the electronics and breakers that that appears to feature, but you would certainly want some kind of circuit protection, be it a fuse or breaker. If you did not have protection in the adaptor it's a little unclear if the power would be distributed evenly enough that it wouldn't trip one of the breakers (and the other one would quickly follow as it would now be taking the entire load. You need to understand what you are doing if you try to make this adaptor, or have someone who does.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/22...r_s_Manual.pdf

[bjaspud]

Wow - thanks for digging out a wiring diagram. That confirms that I only have a single winding. Much appreciated.

[formerFR]

why not just purchase a 15/15 to 30amp 'dogbone' adapter plug? Use both 15amp outlets to your 30amp Shore cord, for 30amps into the coach.