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Best way to power a house with the Onan? [message #175708] Thu, 05 July 2012 21:43 Go to next message
carguy is currently offline  carguy   United States
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I recently used my Onan to provide power to our house when we lost electric power.

I got the job done by powering the coach and plugging an extension cord into the central vac outlet but I had the nagging feeling that there is probably a better way to do this.

What's the best technique to do this? So I'll know for next time.


Bill Brown - '77 Buckeye Cruiser
Coshocton OH
carguybill@sbcglobal.net
Re: Best way to power a house with the Onan? [message #175712 is a reply to message #175708] Thu, 05 July 2012 22:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GeorgeRud is currently offline  GeorgeRud   United States
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I had to use the coach's generator last year when we lost power for a few days following some severe storms, and it did a great job of saving the contents of our fridge, freezer, and basement by keeping the sump pump going. I had made up an extension cord with a male 50 amp plug on one end, and two 120 volt receptacles on the other mounted into a square electrical box. You do have to be sure to connect the green ground to a water pipe or other ground, and use the white neutral for both circuits. Then the output of the generator's two circuits are used to power the extension cord's output. I used some 12 gauge 4 wire cord, and that allowed me to power two 120 volt circuits for the house. It simply plugs into the receptacle at the power cabinet on the side of the coach, and runs into the house where I plugged additional extension cords into this cord to run them where I needed them.

I plan to install a disconnect into our fuse box so I can simply plug the coach's output into the house circuits if needed in the future. The parts needed are readily available from Northern Tool or other suppliers. I was going to install an emergency generator at home, but this seems to work just fine for the length of times that I've needed it in the past. You just have to be sure that you have it done properly as you don't want to have your generator back feeding into the disabled power grid. Don't want to injure a lineman that's trying to restore power to your neighborhood!


George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Best way to power a house with the Onan? [message #175713 is a reply to message #175712] Thu, 05 July 2012 22:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mickeysss is currently offline  mickeysss   United States
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If you turn the main off to the whole house. then plug a male plug into the onan or any plug in the gmc and then plug the other end

which has been also made into a male plug, as long as your main is off you will have power in the whole house.

But be sure to unplug the house male before you put the main back on.

One good size cord with two male plugs one on each end Plugged into to any plug in the gmc and any plug in the house.

keep the main off, or you will burn the house down. This is how we do it in the hills when the power goes off from fires.

keep the system low as possible in flow of power. Fridge, tv, lights. works good. we have a big honda to do it.

same as you are saying but just extension cord with male plugs on each end with house main turn off. really off from the out side main switch.






On Jul 5, 2012, at 8:18 PM, George Rudawsky wrote:

>
>
> I had to use the coach's generator last year when we lost power for a few days following some severe storms, and it did a great job of saving the contents of our fridge, freezer, and basement by keeping the sump pump going. I had made up an extension cord with a male 50 amp plug on one end, and two 120 volt receptacles on the other mounted into a square electrical box. You do have to be sure to connect the green ground to a water pipe or other ground, and use the white neutral for both circuits. Then the output of the generator's two circuits are used to power the extension cord's output. I used some 12 gauge 4 wire cord, and that allowed me to power two 120 volt circuits for the house. It simply plugs into the receptacle at the power cabinet on the side of the coach, and runs into the house where I plugged additional extension cords into this cord to run them where I needed them.
>
> I plan to install a disconnect into our fuse box so I can simply plug the coach's output into the house circuits if needed in the future. The parts needed are readily available from Northern Tool or other suppliers. I was going to install an emergency generator at home, but this seems to work just fine for the length of times that I've needed it in the past. You just have to be sure that you have it done properly as you don't want to have your generator back feeding into the disabled power grid. Don't want to injure a lineman that's trying to restore power to your neighborhood!
> --
> George Rudawsky
> Chicago, IL
> 75 Palm Beach
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Re: Best way to power a house with the Onan? [message #175723 is a reply to message #175712] Fri, 06 July 2012 04:39 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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GeorgeRud wrote on Thu, 05 July 2012 22:18

I had to use the coach's generator last year when we lost power for a few days following some severe storms, and it did a great job of saving the contents of our fridge, freezer, and basement by keeping the sump pump going. I had made up an extension cord with a male 50 amp plug on one end, and two 120 volt receptacles on the other mounted into a square electrical box. You do have to be sure to connect the green ground to a water pipe or other ground, and use the white neutral for both circuits. Then the output of the generator's two circuits are used to power the extension cord's output. I used some 12 gauge 4 wire cord, and that allowed me to power two 120 volt circuits for the house. It simply plugs into the receptacle at the power cabinet on the side of the coach, and runs into the house where I plugged additional extension cords into this cord to run them where I needed them.

I plan to install a disconnect into our fuse box so I can simply plug the coach's output into the house circuits if needed in the future. The parts needed are readily available from Northern Tool or other suppliers. I was going to install an emergency generator at home, but this seems to work just fine for the length of times that I've needed it in the past. You just have to be sure that you have it done properly as you don't want to have your generator back feeding into the disabled power grid. Don't want to injure a lineman that's trying to restore power to your neighborhood!


That will work. Just keep in mind that nothing 240 volts will work. I only have my well, Air compressor, and AC running 220. Make sure the main Circuit breaker is off because your generator will back feed and try to power the entire neighborhood. That will never work and you will bog down the generator.


Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: [GMCnet] Best way to power a house with the Onan? [message #175727 is a reply to message #175708] Fri, 06 July 2012 06:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jhbridges is currently offline  jhbridges   United States
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Location: Braselton ga
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You want the legal way, or the 'getby' way?
Legally, you add a three way switch to the service coming into your house.  This switch must be accessible to the power company, and it is an'air gap' switch.  Your electrician knows and can install it (and should.  This is a 'code' concern)  The reason for this is to precluide any possibility of backfeeding the commercial line coming to your house.  Have the electrician install a 40 amp cable long enough to run from the switch to where you park your coach, and when you want Onan power, plug the cable into the outlet in the coach just like you do when you're dry camping.  Spin 'er up, switch the switch to generator,  and you have power to the house.  Shed off enough stuff to keep from overloading the Onan.
To get by, you need a breakout box on the end of a cable long enough to reach from the coach to the house.  The breakout should have quad outlets on each of the 120 feeds.  Now, sim[ply plug what needs it into these using extension cords.
Since my personal methodology is neither kosher or particularly safe, it isn't included here.  It is situation specific.
 
--johnny
5500Watt Yamaha
4500Watt Kohler
3600Watt Generac
2500Watt Onan
6KW Onan

From: Bill Brown <carguybill@sbcglobal.net>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Thursday, July 5, 2012 10:43 PM
Subject: [GMCnet] Best way to power a house with the Onan?



I recently used my Onan to provide power to our house when we lost electric power.

I got the job done by powering the coach and plugging an extension cord into the central vac outlet but I had the nagging feeling that there is probably a better way to do this.

What's the best technique to do this?  So I'll know for next time.
--
Bill Brown - '77 Buckeye Cruiser
Coshocton OH
carguybill@sbcglobal.net
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons. Braselton, Ga. I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
Re: [GMCnet] Best way to power a house with the Onan? [message #175741 is a reply to message #175727] Fri, 06 July 2012 09:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mike miller   United States
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Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
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I suspect Mickey's method and johnny's "neither kosher or particularly safe" method are about the same. It can be VERY dangerous. If you do not understand it DO NOT DO IT. In fact, if ANYONE around your house does not understand it, you shouldn't have the equipment around. (A elecrical cord with two males on it is just waiting to kill someone. besides the back-feeding of power issue, think of what happens if it is plugged in to some powered out let, over acidentlly disconnected from the "load" end.)

The best way is a real transfer switch.

Second best would be running extention cords and not appling power to the house wiring at all.


That said:

_IF_ I was to set up the equipment to be prepared to do this "rather not smart" thing...

-- I would get a clamp on Breaker Lockout something like this: <http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/BRADY-Breaker-Lockout-6T783>

-- I would get one that matched my main breaker. I would also look for a lock, with only ONE key.

-- Making the male to male cord only about a foot long, I would connect the _ONLY_ key directly to the cord.

-- From the generator or coach, I would run a heavy "normal" extention cord to near a convenent plug.

-- Carrying the "short dangerous cord" to the house panel, I would lock out the main breaker with the Breaker lockout and lock... using the only key that is attached to the cord.

-- Carrying the short cord with the attached key, to the convenent plug, I would connect the extention cord to the house wiring. making sure that the cord can not be pulled apart by accident.

-- Then start the generator and double check where the power is going....

----

Not that I have thought about doing something this stupid.


Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo' http://m000035.blogspot.com
Re: [GMCnet] Best way to power a house with the Onan? [message #175745 is a reply to message #175727] Fri, 06 July 2012 09:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
hertfordnc is currently offline  hertfordnc   United States
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I believe the un-kosher & un-safe method to which Johnny is referring might involve a dryer cord.

totally at your own risk.

- turn off the main
- turn off ALL 240 volt breakers
- connect one leg of you generator output to TWO legs of a dryer cord.
- plug the male end in to the dryer outlet and you should have 120 volts to the whole house.

Here in hurricane country this is not uncommon. Check Lowes after a storm and you'll notice a shortage of dryer cords.

I used my coaches generator (Onan CCK 5K) last year for several days but it was loust having extension cords all over the place. This year I may do something different if we have another big blow.

Can not overstate the risk if you screw up.




Dave & Ellen Silva Hertford, NC 76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021 It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.
Re: Best way to power a house with the Onan? [message #175747 is a reply to message #175708] Fri, 06 July 2012 09:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
hertfordnc is currently offline  hertfordnc   United States
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I hate it when somebody else says exactly the same thing as me at exactly the same time, only better. Smile


Dave & Ellen Silva Hertford, NC 76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021 It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.
Re: Best way to power a house with the Onan? [message #175750 is a reply to message #175747] Fri, 06 July 2012 10:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
LarryInSanDiego is currently offline  LarryInSanDiego   United States
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My coach has the 4K Onan and I picked up a 6K Onan, both power drawers, so I'm trying to figure out which one to keep in the coach (single AC, so it makes sense to keep the 4K in there).

That makes the remaining Onan the one I want to mount in the wall of the garage and hook up to a transfer switch (the only goof proof method IMO). So far, I'm kicking around the idea of cutting a hole in the garage wall so the Onan will be at the same height as it would be installed in the coach. This would make swapping gensets a whole lot easier should the need arise. Perhaps use some sort of portable outboard motor fuel tank for gas supply.

Which makes me wonder: natural gas conversion - or not cost effective? Yes, I want to do this on the cheap.

Edit add: So, googling "transfer switch" comes up with several models from Reliance, in the $99 - $139 range, so which one would be sufficient for my use? I have 100A service with two hots (120 and 240 in the box).

I'm no longer in my former let's-see-how-far-I-can-push-the-envelope years, so the double male deal is not for me. Also, I've been reading about "hot skin" being a very bad thing in any RV (I'm still in the process of trying to wrap my brain around how and exactly what that is), so I want to be sure that doesn't happen either.


Larry Engelbrecht San Diego, CA '73 26' ex-Glacier TZE063V100319 03/07/73

[Updated on: Fri, 06 July 2012 11:08]

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Re: [GMCnet] Best way to power a house with the Onan? [message #175753 is a reply to message #175741] Fri, 06 July 2012 10:23 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jhbridges is currently offline  jhbridges   United States
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Location: Braselton ga
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Senior Member
Actually, I have a sub panel in the garage    with a dual 30 amp breaker which allows 220V feed.  Main breaker off, in the house, then out to the garage, fire up the genset, genset breaker on. 
I haven't made up a 'foolkiller' since I was in college and we needed to parallel circuits for some nefarious thing or other we were doing.
 
And again, I echo, have your electrician install a three way switch with an air gap.  If you had a problem and did not have such a setup, you'd be in deep yogurt with your inshoance carrier if not others.
 
--johnny

From: Mike Miller <m000035@gmail.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Friday, July 6, 2012 10:05 AM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Best way to power a house with the Onan?




I suspect Mickey's method and johnny's "neither kosher or particularly safe" method are about the same.  It can be VERY dangerous.  If you do not understand it DO NOT DO IT.  In fact, if ANYONE around your house does not understand it, you shouldn't have the equipment around.  (A elecrical cord with two males on it is just waiting to kill someone. besides the back-feeding of power issue, think of what happens if it is plugged in to some powered out let, over acidentlly disconnected from the "load" end.)

The best way is a real transfer switch.

Second best would be running extention cords and not appling power to the house wiring at all.


That said:

_IF_ I was to set up the equipment to be prepared to do this "rather not smart" thing...

-- I would get a clamp on Breaker Lockout something like this: <http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/BRADY-Breaker-Lockout-6T783>

-- I would get one that matched my main breaker.  I would also look for a lock, with only ONE key.

-- Making the male to male cord only about a foot long, I would connect the _ONLY_ key directly to the cord.

-- From the generator or coach, I would run a heavy "normal" extention cord to near a convenent plug.

-- Carrying the "short dangerous cord" to the house panel, I would lock out the main breaker with the Breaker lockout and lock... using the only key that is attached to the cord.

-- Carrying the short cord with the attached key, to the convenent plug, I would connect the extention cord to the house wiring.  making sure that the cord can not be pulled apart by accident.

-- Then start the generator and double check where the power is going....

----

Not that I have thought about doing something this stupid. 
--
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#1)'73 26' exPainted D. -- (#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons. Braselton, Ga. I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
Re: Best way to power a house with the Onan? [message #175768 is a reply to message #175708] Fri, 06 July 2012 12:06 Go to previous messageGo to next message
midlf is currently offline  midlf   United States
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Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
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carguy wrote on Thu, 05 July 2012 21:43

I recently used my Onan to provide power to our house when we lost electric power.

I got the job done by powering the coach and plugging an extension cord into the central vac outlet but I had the nagging feeling that there is probably a better way to do this.

What's the best technique to do this? So I'll know for next time.


If you don't want to get into all the previously mentioned electrical stuff with attendant hazards for some of it, just find two outlets in the coach that are on different circuit breakers. Then run two extension cords, preferably 12 gauge, to those two outlets. Not necessary neat, but safe and easy to understand.


Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
Re: Best way to power a house with the Onan? [message #175772 is a reply to message #175708] Fri, 06 July 2012 12:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mike Teets is currently offline  Mike Teets   United States
Messages: 299
Registered: January 2004
Location: Dublin, OH
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Senior Member
Go to Amazon and search for "reliance controls". They have a nice selection of transfer switches and receptacles. Spend $2-300 and save a life by doing it to code. I have a receptacle attached to an older manual transfer switch.

Mike, GMCing since 2002
77 Palm Beach, 260, 403
Dublin, OH
http://teamteets.com/gmc/
Re: [GMCnet] Best way to power a house with the Onan? [message #175779 is a reply to message #175768] Fri, 06 July 2012 12:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kosier is currently offline  Kosier   United States
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Registered: February 2008
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Senior Member
Steve,

I believe you'll find that all the outlets in the coach are on one circuit,
the breaker labeled "outlets".

Gary Kosier

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Southworth
Sent: Friday, July 06, 2012 1:06 PM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Best way to power a house with the Onan?



carguy wrote on Thu, 05 July 2012 21:43
> I recently used my Onan to provide power to our house when we lost
> electric power.
>
> I got the job done by powering the coach and plugging an extension cord
> into the central vac outlet but I had the nagging feeling that there is
> probably a better way to do this.
>
> What's the best technique to do this? So I'll know for next time.


If you don't want to get into all the previously mentioned electrical stuff
with attendant hazards for some of it, just find two outlets in the coach
that are on different circuit breakers. Then run two extension cords,
preferably 12 gauge, to those two outlets. Not necessary neat, but safe and
easy to understand.
--
Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
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Re: [GMCnet] Best way to power a house with the Onan? [message #175781 is a reply to message #175741] Fri, 06 July 2012 13:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mickeysss is currently offline  mickeysss   United States
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Registered: January 2012
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Senior Member
like i stated this is an emergency only method if you mess up with the outer switch and inner box switch on it will burn down the house. but out here

while you wait for your house to burn down you may as well have ice to watch it with a good strong drink.

the ranch is way out in the country that we do this if the main feed goes off, and no other house is around for close to a mile.

do not have the kids play with the cord. for sure. But this works and it is fast if you have no other way to do it.

it saves your iron lung, frozen food and ice for the beer. keep the main off at the post and the main fuse box both.

we have two mains one on the feed out side from the pole main, and one in the box in the house main, put both off before

and pull fuses for that in which you do not use, as well as larger motors that you do not use.

The main thing it was used for my friends family and i was for the water pump for the fire as well as he bought a fire truck as well

to put foam on his house with a foam truck that was bought in an auction from the fire department, really good price. We needed the pump to work

to fill the truck. the firemen were there when we did it, so codes are not always pushed at you if your house is about to burn down.

he was on cnn the last fire being that he had his own truck at home.







On Jul 6, 2012, at 7:05 AM, Mike Miller wrote:

>
>
>
> I suspect Mickey's method and johnny's "neither kosher or particularly safe" method are about the same. It can be VERY dangerous. If you do not understand it DO NOT DO IT. In fact, if ANYONE around your house does not understand it, you shouldn't have the equipment around. (A elecrical cord with two males on it is just waiting to kill someone. besides the back-feeding of power issue, think of what happens if it is plugged in to some powered out let, over acidentlly disconnected from the "load" end.)
>
> The best way is a real transfer switch.
>
> Second best would be running extention cords and not appling power to the house wiring at all.
>
>
> That said:
>
> _IF_ I was to set up the equipment to be prepared to do this "rather not smart" thing...
>
> -- I would get a clamp on Breaker Lockout something like this: <http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/BRADY-Breaker-Lockout-6T783>
>
> -- I would get one that matched my main breaker. I would also look for a lock, with only ONE key.
>
> -- Making the male to male cord only about a foot long, I would connect the _ONLY_ key directly to the cord.
>
> -- From the generator or coach, I would run a heavy "normal" extention cord to near a convenent plug.
>
> -- Carrying the "short dangerous cord" to the house panel, I would lock out the main breaker with the Breaker lockout and lock... using the only key that is attached to the cord.
>
> -- Carrying the short cord with the attached key, to the convenent plug, I would connect the extention cord to the house wiring. making sure that the cord can not be pulled apart by accident.
>
> -- Then start the generator and double check where the power is going....
>
> ----
>
> Not that I have thought about doing something this stupid.
> --
> Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
> (#1)'73 26' exPainted D. -- (#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
> http://m000035.blogspot.com
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

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Re: [GMCnet] Best way to power a house with the Onan? [message #175782 is a reply to message #175747] Fri, 06 July 2012 13:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mickeysss is currently offline  mickeysss   United States
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me too!


On Jul 6, 2012, at 7:30 AM, dave silva wrote:

>
>
> I hate it when somebody else says exactly the same thing as me at exactly the same time, only better. :)
>
> --
> Dave & Ellen Silva
>
> 1972 Revcon Olds 455, toro drive train. All Stock
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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Re: [GMCnet] Best way to power a house with the Onan? [message #175789 is a reply to message #175708] Fri, 06 July 2012 14:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Richard Denney is currently offline  Richard Denney   United States
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Senior Member
On Thu, Jul 5, 2012 at 10:43 PM, Bill Brown <carguybill@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>
> I recently used my Onan to provide power to our house when we lost electric power.
>
> I got the job done by powering the coach and plugging an extension cord into the central vac outlet but I had the nagging feeling that there is probably a better way to do this.
>
> What's the best technique to do this? So I'll know for next time.

There are a couple of ways to do a transfer switch in a house. The
expensive way is to do it upstream of your main panel, which is called
a "whole-house" transfer switch. That's the one that has to be
accessible by power companies.

But you can also install a transfer switch as a sub-panel, controlling
only a few important circuits. That's the way I have done it. Here's
the transfer switch I used, as Grainger shows it (I bought mine at
Lowe's for less than half of what Grainger is showing here):

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/SQUARE-D-Generator-Panel-4YZ69?Pid=search

I mounted that below my main panel, and relocated the circuits that
power my refrigerator, water well pump, furnace air handler (the heat
comes from propane), and our computer system (so we can keep working
while on the generator).

(The well pump is 240VAC, so I can't use the generator in the coach as
source power. Keeping the toilets flushed was Redheaded Requirement
No. 1. We bought a cheapie job-site generator for emergency use, and
last weekend we put a good 75 hours on it.)

This transfer switch has two 60-amp breakers with a mechanical
interlock that forces both breakers to be off while switching from one
source to the other. It is fed from two sources, the main panel or the
generator. I have it wired to 60-amp breakers in the main panel. The
generator source comes from Reliance PB-50 power input enclosure like
this one:

http://reliancecontrols.com/ProductDetail.aspx?PB50

The plug that inserts into that enclosure is female, and that avoids
the potential risk of having a live male plug.

I made up a cable that connects that plug to the plug used by the
generator, using the most flexible wire I could find so that I can
coil it up and move it around as necessary.

The main problem with not using a transfer switch is that a big
mistake--easy to make in the dark--could energize the electrical lines
being worked on by the power company and kill someone. Yes, it's
possible to use a cable with male plugs on both ends, but the risk of
a mistake is not all that low and the consequences of a mistake could
be horrible. We've had power outages, but I've never been tempted to
try to feed the house with the coach (though I did run extension cords
to the coach on a couple of occasions.) I installed the transfer
switch after our first lengthy outage, and we've needed to use our
emergency generator four or five times since then.

Rick "who can provide instructions to the Redhead on using this
arrangement by telephone, without fear of a dangerous Big Mistake"
Denney

--
'73 230 "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
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Re: [GMCnet] Best way to power a house with the Onan? [message #175801 is a reply to message #175779] Fri, 06 July 2012 17:06 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
Senior Member
carguy wrote on Thu, 05 July 2012 21:43

I recently used my Onan to provide power to our house when we lost electric power.

I got the job done by powering the coach and plugging an extension cord into the central vac outlet but I had the nagging feeling that there is probably a better way to do this.

What's the best technique to do this? So I'll know for next time.

Steve replied

If you don't want to get into all the previously mentioned electrical stuff with attendant hazards for some of it, just find two outlets in the coach that are on different circuit breakers. Then run two extension cords, preferably 12 gauge, to those two outlets. Not necessary neat, but safe and easy to understand.
--
Steve Southworth

Kosier wrote on Fri, 06 July 2012 13:48

Steve,

I believe you'll find that all the outlets in the coach are on one circuit, the breaker labeled "outlets".

Gary Kosier

Gary,

My '73 23' came with the receptacles on two separate circuits. I suspect that most later were that way - too.

Steve,
You are as close as needed. If you can run 4 ea 12 awg cords from two (or maybe 3) separate circuits, you will have access to about all that the 6kW Onan can give you.

Bill,
You had a real good answer. I believe that the vacuum equipped coaches had the vacuum on a dedicated circuit. If nothing made any smoke and you did what you needed to do, you scored. As Rob would say - Good on you - mate.
What you might do, in the case you have to do this again (hope not), is find out which receptacles are on which circuits so you know how to split the load on the coach's breakers.

Matt (a jury rigger in many fields)


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: [GMCnet] Best way to power a house with the Onan? [message #175821 is a reply to message #175779] Fri, 06 July 2012 21:09 Go to previous message
midlf is currently offline  midlf   United States
Messages: 2212
Registered: July 2007
Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
Karma: 1
Senior Member
Kosier wrote on Fri, 06 July 2012 12:48

Steve,

I believe you'll find that all the outlets in the coach are on one circuit,
the breaker labeled "outlets".

Gary Kosier




Hmmm - I have more outlets than the wiring diagram indicates. I suspect I've been PO'd, but in an OK way, I hope. (PO was a ham and the coach has a few extra outlets and antennas.)


Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
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