RV Generator Question

mk-ultra · Post by **mk-ultra** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:26 pm

We've rented a Winnebago V-31S motorhome this year.

The rental company's page says it has a 4Kw generator.

The Winnebago web site says the same -- but also lists a 300W AC inverter.

Question:

Is the AC inverter only in use when drawing AC without the generator running? I'm kinda guessing that's the case. It wouldn't make sense to rectify the generator's output to DC, then run it back through an inverter to only supply 300W of AC.

We're planning on drawing about 1200W max with our lights, sno-cone machine and music going at the same time... so this is definitely a concern.

Anyone know if we need to worry about that 300W inverter limit... or will we be able to pull more AC with the gen running? The specs show a 45A circuit breaker on the AC side... ~5200W.

And, yes, we'll be polite about where we set-up camp and make sure to let potential neighbors know we'll be running a generator before they lay camp next to us.

Thankfully, it's got one of the Honda EU gens on it. You can barely hear those things.

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:39 pm

You're confusing me with AC and A/C. Are you always using AC to mean alternating current and A/C to mean the air conditioner?

> You can barely hear those things.
Hmph. They may be 'quieter' than others, but they're still loud.

mk-ultra · Post by **mk-ultra** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:44 pm

In this case A/C and AC are the same (meaning alternating current). I wasn't consistent with my abbreviation of it. Fixed the OP, thanks.

Token · Post by **Token** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:48 pm

You will figure it all out when you get the RV.

It will be fine.

EspressoDude · Post by **EspressoDude** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:55 pm

Each RV is similar but different.

The 300w inverter is probably powered by "house" 12volt battery bank as opposed to the "vehicle" battery. The inverter probably powers a dedicated outlet, that would not otherwise be powered by the a.c. generator.

The a.c. generator powers either (1) a 50amp receptacle in one of the storage bins where the "shore power" cable is stored; or (2) a automatic transfer switch.

If choice (1) then the shore power cable plugged into the 50amp outlet powers the house breaker panel; otherwise the shore power cable would be plugged into RV Park outlet.

If choice (2) plugging the shore power cable into a RV Park outlet "automatically" transfers to shore power.

The power available from the generator via "house" outlets is limited by individual circuit breakers, likely 15amp. There are likely 2 or 3 of these circuits

The largest generator load is likely a 20 or 30 amp circuit in the breaker panel hard wired to the air conditioner.

Even though the generator has a 45amp breaker, it is still only 4000watt, not 5200watt. Breakers are typically sized at 125% of rated load

edit to add: Many RV's have 3kw generators, and the 50amp outlet would be 30amp

mk-ultra · Post by **mk-ultra** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:01 pm

EspressoDude wrote:Each RV is similar but different.

The 300w inverter is probably powered by "house" 12volt battery bank as opposed to the "vehicle" battery. The inverter probably powers a dedicated outlet, that would not otherwise be powered by the a.c. generator.

The a.c. generator powers either (1) a 50amp receptacle in one of the storage bins where the "shore power" cable is stored; or (2) a automatic transfer switch.

If choice (1) then the shore power cable plugged into the 50amp outlet powers the house breaker panel; otherwise the shore power cable would be plugged into RV Park outlet.

If choice (2) plugging the shore power cable into a RV Park outlet "automatically" transfers to shore power.

The power available from the generator via "house" outlets is limited by individual circuit breakers, likely 15amp. There are likely 2 or 3 of these circuits

The largest generator load is likely a 20 or 30 amp circuit in the breaker panel hard wired to the air conditioner.

Even though the generator has a 45amp breaker, it is still only 4000watt, not 5200watt. Breakers are typically sized at 125% of rated load

edit to add: Many RV's have 3kw generators, and the 50amp outlet would be 30amp

Thanks. Methinks that answers my question. I understand that breakers are rated above max load -- was just stating it had a 45A breaker to illustrate that it didn't seem to make sense to have a 45A breaker if you could only pull 300W AC from an inverter (as opposed to the 4Kw available from the gen).

Muchas gracias.