Generator advice

[grandpalee]

Have a Rockwood mini light 2504s. Got a generator to take along. We are 30amp. On the generator switch 120/240. What should you set it too to hook up trailer, the 120 or 240?, Pic attached. thanks

[5picker]

120V ONLY!

Wile I 'believe' the switch to change voltage only pertains to the twist lock connector and not the 30a R/V outlet, a 30a R/V outlet is ONLY 120v EVER!

[cavie]

That switch would not allow you to put 240 on the 30 amp 120 outlet.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by grandpalee

Have a Rockwood mini light 2504s. Got a generator to take along. We are 30amp. On the generator switch 120/240. What should you set it too to hook up trailer, the 120 or 240?, Pic attached. thanksAttachment 202080

I hope you don't plan on using that open-frame contractor-style generator, in a campground! [emoji32]
It will violate campground noise levels.

[B and B]

Second that. That generator will result in issues with many. Too Loud.

[grandpalee]

Just for emergency

[dannyabear]

Originally Posted by bikendan

I hope you don't plan on using that open-frame contractor-style generator, in a campground! [emoji32]
It will violate campground noise levels.

I have only been camping for 32 years now, and have never seen a sign as to how many db you are allowed to use. What do you think ALL used before inverter generators

[Paulie1138]

Because of all the complaints from open frame generators, many parks and campgrounds have added the DB restrictions.

[DieselDrax]

Originally Posted by dannyabear

I have only been camping for 32 years now, and have never seen a sign as to how many db you are allowed to use. What do you think ALL used before inverter generators

Ever camp in national parks?

Generators must conform to National Park Service regulations pertaining to audio disturbances, which states that "motorized equipment or machinery cannot exceed a noise level of 60 decibels measured on the A-weighted scale at 50 feet" (36 CFR 2.12). Generator use and battery charging by engine idling is prohibited in generator free areas.

The OP's generator specs show "Noise Level 68.0 dBA."

It's a moot point for the OP since it's just for emergency use for them, but these generators are too loud for campground use.

[grandpalee]

Originally Posted by Paulie1138

Because of all the complaints from open frame generators, many parks and campgrounds have added the DB restrictions.

Thanks for the info, I got it just for emergency, if we get stuck or broken down. Hopefully won't have to use it in the campground

[Paulie1138]

The generator must also have a USFS approved spark arrestor. Many open frame generators do not have them.

[Jay2504]

The 68db rating is at 23 feet I believe. Don’t know about 50 feet but it might be low enough. Still it would likely bother neighbors unless some combination of a quiet box and distance is used. Jay

[Flybob]

Remember noise levels are in DB which is a log scale so for sound every 6db is double the sound level.

[67L48]

Originally Posted by Flybob

Remember noise levels are in DB which is a log scale so for sound every 6db is double the sound level.

That can be a bit misleading, since many (if not most) people are thinking in terms of how loud something sounds to them. Perceived volume to the human ear is only partially related to the sound pressure and sound intensity.

It is correct that the decibel scale is logarithmic. So, that means that the sound intensity will double with every 3 db. Frequently, you'll find various posts that say, incorrectly, that the volume will double for every 3 db increase ... e.g., a 61 db generator will sound twice as loud as a 58 db generator.

That's just not true because that's not how the human ear works. It is true that a 61 db generator will have about double the sound intensity as a 58 db generator. But, that's different than perceived volume.

Similarly, the sound pressure will double with every 6 db. But, again, the perceived volume that is detected by the human ear/brain isn't a 1:1 match to sound pressure. Something that goes up by 6 db will have doubled the sound pressure, but it won't sound twice as loud to a person.

It turns out that 10 db is where sound doubles in the context of our human perception of volume. A 65 db generator will sound to us about twice as loud as a 55 db generator.

More info can be found here.

And here's a more succinct write up from here:

[Black-ripley]

Originally Posted by grandpalee

Have a Rockwood mini light 2504s. Got a generator to take along. We are 30amp. On the generator switch 120/240. What should you set it too to hook up trailer, the 120 or 240?, Pic attached. thanksAttachment 202080

If it were me I would use the 120v 30amp outlet marked RV ready.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by Black-ripley

If it were me I would use the 120v 30amp outlet marked RV ready.

Very observant and I agree.

[Black-ripley]

Originally Posted by Reverse_snowbird

Very observant and I agree.

I didn't mean to come off snarky, it just seemed to be logical if the manufacturer labeled an outlet for RV use that would be my starting point.

For me that would be a big selling point for that generator. The convenience to just use the RV's (factory shore power) 30amp cord without an adapter would be a big plus.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by Black-ripley

I didn't mean to come off snarky, it just seemed to be logical if the manufacturer labeled an outlet for RV use that would be my starting point.

Sorry. I guess I was too brief.

I didn't take your comment as 'snarky'. I meant what I said.... You caught the rv ready port on the generator and that would be the type of generator that one should purchase to power an rv.