I've been looking for this video (although didn't realize it ...) for a couple days. Power outage, hooked gas furnace 120 plug up to the extension cord from the generator, --- but alas, it wouldn't run. Spent all day trying to figure it out. Turned into a great learning experience about grounded, bonded, floating neutral generators. This was the final piece I needed to solve the problem. Thanks. Great video!
Thanks so much for this. A couple of other videos that didn’t show them and being used, only how to build them. So I wasn’t sure what the next steps were after making the plug. You showed me that all I needed to do was insert the plug and the other outlets would work whereas the other videos didn’t. Again thank you so much.
Thank you thank you thank you for this video. I bought a generator just before a month-long trip & got this ground-fault error; called generator's support line & they had no idea - they're mailing me a replacement ground-pin that won't arrive 'till after I leave. I watched your video, cut up an old power-strip, and solved the problem in 5 minutes costing me 0 dollars. My EMS is wired in, so it wouldn't've been an easy work-around.
Thank you so very much. I didn't realize these generators have this issue. I plugged in my safety plug and had the same faults.. Open Ground and Reverse Polarity. I was too afraid to plug in my camper. After researching I found this video. What an easy fix. Thank you Sir.
Just traded our fifth wheel for a motor home and we are preparing for our maiden voyage and need the Honda portable generators on this trip. I tried them out and I got nothing. Panicked, I started searching the internet and ran across your video. Long story short, I went to the big box hardware store, spent $15.91 for the parts to build two bonded plugs the way you describe above and THEY WORK PERFECTLY! Thank you from a very relieved RV owner!
Thanks so much for the point about the 30-amp plug. My generator only has the one 15-amp outlet and i wasn't sure if the bonding would work using the different amp outlet. No other site was mentioning this, so you finally solved my problem with the furnace not running which has been a relief after several days power outage.
Thanks for this video. I was having the same issue and couldnt figure out what was going on. Made a plug and tethered it to the generator so i wont loose it. All is good now. Thanks again.
I just bought an electric car, a Nissan Leaf. I figured it would be a piece of cake to level one charge it with my solar panels and my 2000 watt pure sine inverter. Nope. I was stumped, thinking the charger was bad. Plugged it into the wall and it worked fine. Some searching I found out that the charger checks for a ground. I ran a ground from the inverter to a grounding rod outside and that didn't fix the problem. Then I found out about these plugs. I was concerned about doing this. BUT you took a store bought one apart showing me that it was indeed just what a few people were saying was how to make these. I've made one and will try it out tomorrow. 😀 Thanks!
@@TodayWeGo I tested it this morning and it worked! It's raining and my batteries aren't fully charged so I've not yet plugged the charger into the car but I'm getting the solid green light telling me it's ready to charge 😁
@@TodayWeGo Well... It looks like my system just doesn't have what it takes to do this. I can charge the car but in a matter of minutes it pulls my batteries down lower than I'm comfortable with even in full sun. Perhaps it's the long extension cord I need to reach the car. Perhaps it's my batteries. It heated up my inverter enough for the fans to kick on too. I'm disappointed. 😕
Aww bummer. Sounds like it’s pulling as much power as it can to charge the car quickly. I’m not too familiar with the charge settings on electric cars, but maybe you can tweak how much it pulls from the inverter so it’s more of a trickle charge and won’t overload the system.
I have the same generator and fixed mine yesterday. I removed the front electric cover and purchased a #6 copper split bolt curney then removed and a 1/4 of the insulation from the green ground and the green with yellow stripe , installing the split bolt and reinstalled the cover . Fixed.
Not an RV guy but installing a transfer switch to my sub panel. I’ve converted my gas generator to be floating neutral as it came bonded. I did this because the generator will mainly be used as an emergency back up generator and I know it has to be floating neutral. However, there may be a time when I might need to use the portable generator in a remote environment. Although I could take off the alternator cover and reverse the jumper wire to make it bonded again, I’d rather use your bonded plug method. Let me understand this. In order to use the standard 120V 20 amp GFCI receptacles, I need to make a 30 amp outlet bonded plug and insert it? Could I not make a bonded standard 120V bonded plug instead? If I did, would I just be giving up a 120V outlet? However, in a very rare case that I wanted to use the 30 or 50 amp outlets, would all I need to do is make and insert a 120V 20 amp bonded plug correct?
Nice video, let's say you dont have an ems with the predetor, can you broke electronic stuff inside your rv while not using a bounding plug ? Or an inverter generator protect that? thanks.
You could also take off your generators face plate and run a wire to the generators outlet from the neutral terminal (white wire) to wherever it is grounded (green wire), that way you don't lose a plug and it will always be bonded...
Hello. Just bought a new generator for the RV fifth wheel. My son just happened to have a surge protector and when I plugged it in it showed open ground. I liked your fix but now I’m wondering if I might of done some damage to my RV ??? What you think??? Thanks
On the Predator 3500, it has a grounding terminal on the faceplate. When using these plugs, do you have a live grounding terminal? 60V? So if you accidentally touch the grounding terminal, do you get shocked?
This video is awesome! I have a power watchdog but it's the hardwired version. Used our generator for the first time last weekend and got this fault didn't know what was going on. I'm going to make a couple of these plugs today!!
Hey so if I want to use the watchdog connect with the Generator to my house back up. The generator is self is floating neutral.if the only way I got power out with out error code,i bound the generator but When I feed to my house it has own neutral. Surge protector not seeing the neutral through my house only allowing power when I bounded. If this case it’s gonna be 2 neutral. What to do at this point?
What would you reccomend for an inverter generator that only has 2 120v receptacles ,and a 50 amp RV receptacle? My generator has a bonded neutral so I'd like to dissconnect it, but having to take it apart to put the wire back into its terminal if I needed the bonding back kinda sucks....thinking about a fuseable link, but one that's rated for 50 amps? unplug the fuse when you need to be un-bonded. And put the fuse in when you need it bonded.
Hi There! My friend has a 2023 Thor Tranquility PT RV with the Ford Transit chassis 3.5 lt .with the lithium package...here is the problem They told us we can't use a generator only the power from your house or the RV sites and it works..! we connected to the 120V from the house and charge the battery in the RV .. everything works...but if you connect a Honda 2200 Inverter Generator it doesn't do anything is like not power getting in the RV ...Now we bought the plug neutral ground bond gadget Do you think that will solve the problem? Is not going to damage anything?...we just like to use the generator when is not shore power available...
This plug should solve your problem. I’m not familiar with that specific system, but I would assume that it has an ems which is preventing it from taking the power from the generator. It’s definitely worth the small investment to find out though in my opinion.
I usually switch to a 30 amp surge protector if we are hooked up to 30a shore power. I don’t see the 50a surge protector being necessary if only pulling 30.
I’m wondering the same thing. My newer Trane Furnace didn’t want to turn on with my Honeywell 7kw generator last Friday during a power outage. Everything else did except the refrigerator didn’t act correctly. The old heater used to come on with generator power. I’ve read this is a common problem with the newer high efficiency units.
@@stevez6499 please, Steve, if you find an answer please let me know. I would like to power a new Trane D346435G03 2 stage forced air natural gas furnace in the event of power outage with a generator. Thank you!
@@jolkraeremeark6949 I still have not gotten a definite answer. I did make a neutral ground bonding plug but the electricity is still working and I’m afraid to test it out on the furnace with the generator power. But I’ll let you know if I find the answer.
Same principle applies if you are using a standalone inverter with a battery bank instead of an inverter generator. Most inverters are also floating ground. This applies especially to high-efficiency home furnaces which require a ground for the flame sensing circuit, and probably some newer refrigerators. I use a small, non-inverter generator to power a good sized car battery charger to charge a large deep-cycle marine battery connected to my 3000 watt inverter. I can then run all critical appliances (refrigerator, freezer, power vent gas furnace, power vent gas hot water heater, modem) with clean power and only run the generator when needed instead of wasting gas and creating unnecessary noise. The inverter/battery system is completely silent. The system also remains operational when you're refueling the generator. More pieces to connect, but also more versatile, especially for home backup power. I'll probably add another battery and a solar charger to the mix as well.
Thanks for sharing, that is a very interesting setup! It potentially solves several problems I have been thinking about. I like cheap generators; they are less likely to be stolen. You can also afford more generators in case one doesn't start. I have damaged electronics on appliances though in the past (computer circuit board on a fridge) and so I worry about clean reliable power. I also know that there is a tendency to want to keep plugging in extension cords and keeping plugging in more and more items. During one storm I had 5 fridges and 1 freezer run off one generator. By using a battery, you solve several problems. 1) you can have a quality sign wave (depends on the inverter of course) 2)natural surge protection 3) ability to power small items when the generator is off. 4)ability to power loads bigger than the generator temporarily (aka motors starting ect) 5) Potential ability to move the generator further away from point of use. I have one super cheap gas generator, but as it would run, it would periodically almost die, causing lights to dim, making me wonder what it was doing to the other uses of power, motors and such. Your solution is a very interesting solution. I do realize there will be power lost in conversion as this is generally a temporary emergency measure I don't much care about fuel efficiency or power lost as one can up size the generator. I do realize this is more complex, but can be kept simple. Ultimately, this is very similar to an inverter generator, but the car battery offers some cushion i the system. Another interesting thing about using this technique (in an emergency situation, it that one could run a long extension cord to a neighbors house, have another battery charger and batter and inverter still provide them clean simple power.
I went to price out components for a setup like this. Larger car 12 volt chargers are that run 40 amps (500 watts) are available for $150 to $250. There are both modified sine wave inverters (~$200 Cheap) and pure sine inverters (twice the price $400 to $800). There are a lot of cheap inverters that do not live up to their labeling coming out of China. That said, this setup looks like it would work best with smaller continuous loads of less than 500 watts. Given the ability to store power, short intermediate loads of more should not be an issue. Lots of generators are rated 4,000 watts or 6,000 watts. Almost all gas generators produce 700 to 1000 watts on the small size and some small generators actually produce 2000 watts, about four times the power a system like this would run. That would exceed the ability of such a system. In an emergency situation how much power do you need? This is still interesting, just a little more complicated. Of course the more power one tries to put though a system such as this, the greater the chance of damaging something or blowing up a battery ect.
Wanted to add. You could also jumper the ground to neutral at the source, little unsafe, but it does the same thing. So in a pinch just use 10|12g wire and jumper W to G..
This is only needed if youre using a surge protector. Without a surge protector you can plug right in to your RV with no issues. The problem is some RV's have a surge protector hard wired in the electrical system, therefore this grounding adapter would be needed with a generator. If your RV doesn't have a surge protector hard wired, you dont have to make this adapter. If you want to use an external surge protector like in this video, you need this adapter. To be honest, using an external surge protector with a generator is unnecessary depending on who you ask. Most generators/inverters have protections built in to output clean power and prevent surges and drop in power.
So the inverter generator does not have a surge safety device, much like that big thing you plug into say a shore power supply, assembled into it is what your saying. My apologies for not speaking in technical terms. I know very little to nothing when it comes to electrical stuff. ✌🏽
If you make the 30 amp and you plug into the 15 how do you run your air conditioner You need 30 amps not getting this totally I don't think I see that you'll have two 15 amp but how do you run You can't run your air conditioner with the 15 amp am I missing something here
RV’s are not bonded internally. Shore power coming in to the RV is bonded. That’s why we don’t see any issues with shore power. It’s when we have a generator with a floating neutral that we have the issues and need the bonding plug.
A more permanent solution is to take the cover off of the transformer, locate the neutral and ground lugs and take a piece of wire just like you do for the plug shown in this video, and connect them to the lugs, put the cover back on, and you're done. No messing around with plugs and losing them and trying to find them or taking up one of your generator's outlets.
I don't understand why the generator companies don't realize people are going to have this issue when they use these generators with RVs especially when they have an RV plug on the generator!
This is only needed if youre using a surge protector. Without a surge protector you can plug right in to your RV with no issues. The problem is some RV's have a surge protector hard wired in the electrical system, therefore this grounding adapter would be needed with a generator. If your RV doesn't have a surge protector hard wired, you dont have to make this adapter. If you want to use an external surge protector like in this video, you need this adapter. To be honest, using an external surge protector with a generator is unnecessary depending on who you ask. Most generators/inverters have protections built in to output clean power and prevent surges and drop in power.
Be very careful with this info. Not all generators are the same configuration. If your connecting the generatir to another system(home etc) you Do Not want a neutral bond at the generator. In a stand-alone generator application you Do Want the neutral bond at the generator. There can be only ONE bonding pount in the entire syatem, including whatever system the generator is connecting to.
I've been looking for this video (although didn't realize it ...) for a couple days. Power outage, hooked gas furnace 120 plug up to the extension cord from the generator, --- but alas, it wouldn't run. Spent all day trying to figure it out. Turned into a great learning experience about grounded, bonded, floating neutral generators. This was the final piece I needed to solve the problem. Thanks. Great video!
Haha that’s how we all learn. Glad to help!
Thanks so much for this. A couple of other videos that didn’t show them and being used, only how to build them. So I wasn’t sure what the next steps were after making the plug. You showed me that all I needed to do was insert the plug and the other outlets would work whereas the other videos didn’t. Again thank you so much.
Absolutely! Happy to help!
Thank you thank you thank you for this video.
I bought a generator just before a month-long trip & got this ground-fault error; called generator's support line & they had no idea - they're mailing me a replacement ground-pin that won't arrive 'till after I leave.
I watched your video, cut up an old power-strip, and solved the problem in 5 minutes costing me 0 dollars.
My EMS is wired in, so it wouldn't've been an easy work-around.
Awesome! That’s what we love to hear! Glad it got you back up and running!
Thank you so very much. I didn't realize these generators have this issue. I plugged in my safety plug and had the same faults.. Open Ground and Reverse Polarity. I was too afraid to plug in my camper. After researching I found this video. What an easy fix. Thank you Sir.
Just traded our fifth wheel for a motor home and we are preparing for our maiden voyage and need the Honda portable generators on this trip. I tried them out and I got nothing. Panicked, I started searching the internet and ran across your video. Long story short, I went to the big box hardware store, spent $15.91 for the parts to build two bonded plugs the way you describe above and THEY WORK PERFECTLY! Thank you from a very relieved RV owner!
That’s so awesome! I’m glad it helped. I was in the same position not too long ago, figured I’d pass on the knowledge!
Thanks so much for the point about the 30-amp plug. My generator only has the one 15-amp outlet and i wasn't sure if the bonding would work using the different amp outlet. No other site was mentioning this, so you finally solved my problem with the furnace not running which has been a relief after several days power outage.
Glad I could help!
Yes me too trying to set up my furnace for outages....
Thanks for this video. I was having the same issue and couldnt figure out what was going on. Made a plug and tethered it to the generator so i wont loose it. All is good now. Thanks again.
Glad it helped!
I just bought an electric car, a Nissan Leaf. I figured it would be a piece of cake to level one charge it with my solar panels and my 2000 watt pure sine inverter. Nope. I was stumped, thinking the charger was bad. Plugged it into the wall and it worked fine. Some searching I found out that the charger checks for a ground. I ran a ground from the inverter to a grounding rod outside and that didn't fix the problem.
Then I found out about these plugs. I was concerned about doing this. BUT you took a store bought one apart showing me that it was indeed just what a few people were saying was how to make these. I've made one and will try it out tomorrow. 😀
Thanks!
Awesome! Please let us know how it works!
@@TodayWeGo I tested it this morning and it worked! It's raining and my batteries aren't fully charged so I've not yet plugged the charger into the car but I'm getting the solid green light telling me it's ready to charge 😁
@@TodayWeGo
Well... It looks like my system just doesn't have what it takes to do this. I can charge the car but in a matter of minutes it pulls my batteries down lower than I'm comfortable with even in full sun.
Perhaps it's the long extension cord I need to reach the car. Perhaps it's my batteries. It heated up my inverter enough for the fans to kick on too.
I'm disappointed. 😕
Aww bummer. Sounds like it’s pulling as much power as it can to charge the car quickly. I’m not too familiar with the charge settings on electric cars, but maybe you can tweak how much it pulls from the inverter so it’s more of a trickle charge and won’t overload the system.
@@TodayWeGo Yes, if a Nissan allows that I think that would help. I plan on looking into that.
I’ve had that happen! First time it was popping like popcorn and scared the crap out of me!
Haha I would freak out and start flipping switches!
You saved my bacon. Thank you for the information and video. 👍🏻
Glad I could help!
I have the same generator and fixed mine yesterday. I removed the front electric cover and purchased a #6 copper split bolt curney then removed and a 1/4 of the insulation from the green ground and the green with yellow stripe , installing the split bolt and reinstalled the cover . Fixed.
Will this work if your generator has GFCI outlets?
Thanks for sharing. Now I can run my hot tub. It has an earth detector and wouldn't start, but now it's working perfectly.
Great to hear!
Not an RV guy but installing a transfer switch to my sub panel. I’ve converted my gas generator to be floating neutral as it came bonded. I did this because the generator will mainly be used as an emergency back up generator and I know it has to be floating neutral. However, there may be a time when I might need to use the portable generator in a remote environment. Although I could take off the alternator cover and reverse the jumper wire to make it bonded again, I’d rather use your bonded plug method.
Let me understand this. In order to use the standard 120V 20 amp GFCI receptacles, I need to make a 30 amp outlet bonded plug and insert it? Could I not make a bonded standard 120V bonded plug instead? If I did, would I just be giving up a 120V outlet? However, in a very rare case that I wanted to use the 30 or 50 amp outlets, would all I need to do is make and insert a 120V 20 amp bonded plug correct?
Nice video, let's say you dont have an ems with the predetor, can you broke electronic stuff inside your rv while not using a bounding plug ? Or an inverter generator protect that? thanks.
Okay! So internally it's connected ?? It looks like you used bonded on the opposing line you were hooking up to?? Little confusing.. thanks.
Great video. Why do you feel a need to use your EMS when using your inverter generator? Thanks.
No need to, but some folks have an EMS hardwired in.
You could also take off your generators face plate and run a wire to the generators outlet from the neutral terminal (white wire) to wherever it is grounded (green wire), that way you don't lose a plug and it will always be bonded...
I never thought of that!
But then it's always bonded, LOL Sometimes you want it floating
@@tonyinfinity BAM! toggle switch bonded ruclips.net/video/zaDfwmMiID8/видео.html&t
Hello. Just bought a new generator for the RV fifth wheel. My son just happened to have a surge protector and when I plugged it in it showed open ground. I liked your fix but now I’m wondering if I might of done some damage to my RV ??? What you think??? Thanks
I highly doubt you did any damage, but its always good to have proper pedestal wiring.
On the Predator 3500, it has a grounding terminal on the faceplate.
When using these plugs, do you have a live grounding terminal? 60V?
So if you accidentally touch the grounding terminal, do you get shocked?
That’s a great question, that I don’t know the answer to. I’m curious now too.
This video is awesome! I have a power watchdog but it's the hardwired version. Used our generator for the first time last weekend and got this fault didn't know what was going on. I'm going to make a couple of these plugs today!!
Good deal, glad it helped!
Same happened to me, and I actually returned the parrallel device (joining 2 generators) thinking it was faulty 🤦🏼♂
Great video. Why a power watchdog, on an inverter Generator, and can we plug a bonded plug in at an outlet inside the RV?
I have the power watchdog semi-permanently mounted in the RV. This way I don’t have to take it out of they system each time I use the generator
Hey so if I want to use the watchdog connect with the Generator to my house back up. The generator is self is floating neutral.if the only way I got power out with out error code,i bound the generator but When I feed to my house it has own neutral. Surge protector not seeing the neutral through my house only allowing power when I bounded. If this case it’s gonna be 2 neutral. What to do at this point?
You rock! very helpful vid
What would you reccomend for an inverter generator that only has 2 120v receptacles ,and a 50 amp RV receptacle? My generator has a bonded neutral so I'd like to dissconnect it, but having to take it apart to put the wire back into its terminal if I needed the bonding back kinda sucks....thinking about a fuseable link, but one that's rated for 50 amps? unplug the fuse when you need to be un-bonded. And put the fuse in when you need it bonded.
Just want to say Thank you!!
Of course, thank you!
Hi There! My friend has a 2023 Thor Tranquility PT RV with the Ford Transit chassis 3.5 lt .with the lithium package...here is the problem They told us we can't use a generator only the power from your house or the RV sites and it works..! we connected to the 120V from the house and charge the battery in the RV .. everything works...but if you connect a Honda 2200 Inverter Generator it doesn't do anything is like not power getting in the RV ...Now we bought the plug neutral ground bond gadget Do you think that will solve the problem? Is not going to damage anything?...we just like to use the generator when is not shore power available...
This plug should solve your problem. I’m not familiar with that specific system, but I would assume that it has an ems which is preventing it from taking the power from the generator. It’s definitely worth the small investment to find out though in my opinion.
@@davidocasek5541 Yes The EMS will prevent any malfunction
The Honda 2,200 is running everything with the plug installed..we just fix the issue . Thanks Very Much!!!
With a 50 amp camper do you need to use 50 amp surge protector just running 30 amps off that inverter
I usually switch to a 30 amp surge protector if we are hooked up to 30a shore power. I don’t see the 50a surge protector being necessary if only pulling 30.
@@TodayWeGo o ok thanks
Great information! I need to put one together for our generator. Thanks friend! Hope y’all are doing well! Paul & Magen
Absolutely! Definitely something good to keep in the box of electrical stuff haha
Exactly what I needed. Thanks
Awesome! Glad to help.
Super helpful video, thank you.
Awesome! Glad it helped!
Is this needed if you are using the generator to power a home furnace and refrigerator?
I’m wondering the same thing. My newer Trane Furnace didn’t want to turn on with my Honeywell 7kw generator last Friday during a power outage. Everything else did except the refrigerator didn’t act correctly. The old heater used to come on with generator power. I’ve read this is a common problem with the newer high efficiency units.
@@stevez6499 please, Steve, if you find an answer please let me know. I would like to power a new Trane D346435G03 2 stage forced air natural gas furnace in the event of power outage with a generator. Thank you!
I wish I could definitively tell you the answer, but my initial thoughts are, no you would not need it.
@@jolkraeremeark6949 I still have not gotten a definite answer. I did make a neutral ground bonding plug but the electricity is still working and I’m afraid to test it out on the furnace with the generator power. But I’ll let you know if I find the answer.
Same principle applies if you are using a standalone inverter with a battery bank instead of an inverter generator. Most inverters are also floating ground. This applies especially to high-efficiency home furnaces which require a ground for the flame sensing circuit, and probably some newer refrigerators. I use a small, non-inverter generator to power a good sized car battery charger to charge a large deep-cycle marine battery connected to my 3000 watt inverter. I can then run all critical appliances (refrigerator, freezer, power vent gas furnace, power vent gas hot water heater, modem) with clean power and only run the generator when needed instead of wasting gas and creating unnecessary noise. The inverter/battery system is completely silent. The system also remains operational when you're refueling the generator. More pieces to connect, but also more versatile, especially for home backup power. I'll probably add another battery and a solar charger to the mix as well.
Sounds like you’ve got a nice setup going!
Thanks for sharing, that is a very interesting setup! It potentially solves several problems I have been thinking about. I like cheap generators; they are less likely to be stolen. You can also afford more generators in case one doesn't start. I have damaged electronics on appliances though in the past (computer circuit board on a fridge) and so I worry about clean reliable power. I also know that there is a tendency to want to keep plugging in extension cords and keeping plugging in more and more items. During one storm I had 5 fridges and 1 freezer run off one generator. By using a battery, you solve several problems. 1) you can have a quality sign wave (depends on the inverter of course) 2)natural surge protection 3) ability to power small items when the generator is off. 4)ability to power loads bigger than the generator temporarily (aka motors starting ect) 5) Potential ability to move the generator further away from point of use. I have one super cheap gas generator, but as it would run, it would periodically almost die, causing lights to dim, making me wonder what it was doing to the other uses of power, motors and such. Your solution is a very interesting solution. I do realize there will be power lost in conversion as this is generally a temporary emergency measure I don't much care about fuel efficiency or power lost as one can up size the generator. I do realize this is more complex, but can be kept simple. Ultimately, this is very similar to an inverter generator, but the car battery offers some cushion i the system. Another interesting thing about using this technique (in an emergency situation, it that one could run a long extension cord to a neighbors house, have another battery charger and batter and inverter still provide them clean simple power.
I went to price out components for a setup like this. Larger car 12 volt chargers are that run 40 amps (500 watts) are available for $150 to $250. There are both modified sine wave inverters (~$200 Cheap) and pure sine inverters (twice the price $400 to $800). There are a lot of cheap inverters that do not live up to their labeling coming out of China. That said, this setup looks like it would work best with smaller continuous loads of less than 500 watts. Given the ability to store power, short intermediate loads of more should not be an issue. Lots of generators are rated 4,000 watts or 6,000 watts. Almost all gas generators produce 700 to 1000 watts on the small size and some small generators actually produce 2000 watts, about four times the power a system like this would run. That would exceed the ability of such a system. In an emergency situation how much power do you need? This is still interesting, just a little more complicated. Of course the more power one tries to put though a system such as this, the greater the chance of damaging something or blowing up a battery ect.
Oh this is mens job. Good tips and reminders
It’s an easy one. I think men or women could do it no problem. :)
Wanted to add. You could also jumper the ground to neutral at the source, little unsafe, but it does the same thing. So in a pinch just use 10|12g wire and jumper W to G..
This is only needed if youre using a surge protector. Without a surge protector you can plug right in to your RV with no issues. The problem is some RV's have a surge protector hard wired in the electrical system, therefore this grounding adapter would be needed with a generator. If your RV doesn't have a surge protector hard wired, you dont have to make this adapter. If you want to use an external surge protector like in this video, you need this adapter. To be honest, using an external surge protector with a generator is unnecessary depending on who you ask. Most generators/inverters have protections built in to output clean power and prevent surges and drop in power.
Thanks, that’s what I was thinking, especially with an inverter generator.
Great info. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
So the inverter generator does not have a surge safety device, much like that big thing you plug into say a shore power supply, assembled into it is what your saying.
My apologies for not speaking in technical terms. I know very little to nothing when it comes to electrical stuff.
✌🏽
Thank you!
You’re very welcome!
How do you know which prong is the neutral?
On the plug you should see a “W” or “white”. This is the neutral location.
Research (google) the design of your plug (L14, L5-30P, 5-20P, etc) and you should find a diagram telling you exactly which is what.
The neutral prong is the wider of the two, also the silver terminal screw.
You don’t have to use a surge protector with a generator, but if you do that works.
I want to use one of these on my 50 amp fifth wheel your saying I don’t need a surge protector?
Thanks
You absolutely need the neutral/ground bond. So, you are saving $10. BTW, it is not a “Ground Fault”.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You’re very welcome! 😃
If you make the 30 amp and you plug into the 15 how do you run your air conditioner You need 30 amps not getting this totally I don't think I see that you'll have two 15 amp but how do you run You can't run your air conditioner with the 15 amp am I missing something here
You Don't NEED a Surge Protector on a Inverter Generator they produce CLEAN & SAFE Electricity NO SPIKES OR SURGES !!!!
This is true, however if your surge protector is permanently installed this is definitely something to look at
Aren't most RVs bonded internally? If so, you don't want to bond twice.
Btw: Made a 30-amp bonding plug myself just last week.
RV’s are not bonded internally. Shore power coming in to the RV is bonded. That’s why we don’t see any issues with shore power. It’s when we have a generator with a floating neutral that we have the issues and need the bonding plug.
A more permanent solution is to take the cover off of the transformer, locate the neutral and ground lugs and take a piece of wire just like you do for the plug shown in this video, and connect them to the lugs, put the cover back on, and you're done. No messing around with plugs and losing them and trying to find them or taking up one of your generator's outlets.
Great tip!
I don't understand why the generator companies don't realize people are going to have this issue when they use these generators with RVs especially when they have an RV plug on the generator!
I agree, although I’m sure there is some legal reason, code and whatnot.
This is only needed if youre using a surge protector. Without a surge protector you can plug right in to your RV with no issues. The problem is some RV's have a surge protector hard wired in the electrical system, therefore this grounding adapter would be needed with a generator. If your RV doesn't have a surge protector hard wired, you dont have to make this adapter. If you want to use an external surge protector like in this video, you need this adapter. To be honest, using an external surge protector with a generator is unnecessary depending on who you ask. Most generators/inverters have protections built in to output clean power and prevent surges and drop in power.
Why don’t they provide a bonded/unbonded selector switch?
Well said the cost would be next to nothing. @@OilHist
Be very careful with this info. Not all generators are the same configuration. If your connecting the generatir to another system(home etc) you Do Not want a neutral bond at the generator. In a stand-alone generator application you Do Want the neutral bond at the generator.
There can be only ONE bonding pount in the entire syatem, including whatever system the generator is connecting to.
Absolute junk because it uses up your slot. You need a jumped passthrough plug.
Calling it junk is a bit dramatic, but I see your point.
White (N)eutral, (N)ickel screw.
Black (B)ad, (B)rass screw.
Green (G)ood, (G)reen screw.
Good stuff, I like it.