Generator Outlets

[kellyron500]

Hi guys...

50 year old man just bought his first portable generator...ever. Shameful, I know. Garage full of tools but never took care of solving the time to time storm outages I go through here in the mid-south. It ain't much...5,000 watt genny but it will keep the fridges going, a few lights and the wife's hair dryer, I am told.

Regardless...it was on sale and had some fantastic reviews (85 out of 86 reviewers gavce it 5 stars), so I got it.

Here's the deal: It has only a single 120 outlet, another 120 RV outlet with the funky blade receptacle and the 120/240 outlet. I am never going to use the RV outlet...can I convert that to a second, standard 120V outlet? In my own mind I say duh, yeah, but thought I might reach out to someone who knows first.

 

[mdbeck1]

Hi guys...

50 year old man just bought his first portable generator...ever. Shameful, I know. Garage full of tools but never took care of solving the time to time storm outages I go through here in the mid-south. It ain't much...5,000 watt genny but it will keep the fridges going, a few lights and the wife's hair dryer, I am told.

Regardless...it was on sale and had some fantastic reviews (85 out of 86 reviewers gavce it 5 stars), so I got it.

Here's the deal: It has only a single 120 outlet, another 120 RV outlet with the funky blade receptacle and the 120/240 outlet. I am never going to use the RV outlet...can I convert that to a second, standard 120V outlet? In my own mind I say duh, yeah, but thought I might reach out to someone who knows first.

The RV plug should be 120 VAC-30 Amp but could be 50 amp. More than enough for you to run another 15 amp circuit.

The funky blade receptacle can be wired to 240 VAC and then split to two circuits giving you more 120VAC-15 amp outlets. I wired mine to a 240 VAC outlet attached to the side frame then wired a 120 VAC-30 amp off of that. I will never use them both at the same time so I should never over load it.

 

[dave67fd]

Have you thought about installing a 240 vac outlet/transfer switch? Do you have any services that require the 240v? like maybe your waterpump if you have one.

 

[kellyron500]

The RV plug should be 120 VAC-30 Amp but could be 50 amp. More than enough for you to run another 15 amp circuit.

The funky blade receptacle can be wired to 240 VAC and then split to two circuits giving you more 120VAC-15 amp outlets. I wired mine to a 240 VAC outlet attached to the side frame then wired a 120 VAC-30 amp off of that. I will never use them both at the same time so I should never over load it.

Thanks for your thoughts, MD. I was thinking more along the lines of removing the RV plug and just replacing it with another 120 in that same slot...you know so I have dual 120's side by side (as well as the 120/240). I never thought about adding additional 120's (Until now, that is),

 

[kellyron500]

Have you thought about installing a 240 vac outlet/transfer switch? Do you have any services that require the 240v? like maybe your waterpump if you have one.

I am thinking about the transfer switch...The stove and the dryer are the only 240 draws in the house.

 

[BigJohn20]

I am thinking about the transfer switch...The stove and the dryer are the only 240 draws in the house.

Depending on your panel, some interlock kits can be had for relatively cheap compared to a transfer switch. Going with an interlock kit is usually less expensive and gives you more flexibility compared to a manual transfer switch, although there are some caveats like it is much easier to overload your genny.

 

[rct]

Before changing your 30 amp rv plug, how about making up ay cord with an RV plug. Also not that anyone would backfeed a 240 circuit, check out a generator interlock kit for an economical code compliant solution.

http://www.interlockkit.com/

 

[jlckmj]

The RV places sell a short adapter that you can plug into the RV plug and the other end is a standard 120 volt receptacle.

I would do that, you never know when you may need the heavy duty 30 amp RV plug.

Jim

 

[theoldwizard1]

3rd plug for an interlock kit !

Simple and relatively inexpensive.

Once you wire the generator into the panel you can choose which circuits you want to use. NO ADDITIONAL WIRING !

 

[kellyron500]

Thanks guys...for all the responses since yesterday. I did not even consider an adapter from RV to 120 plug. Great idea and problem solved there!!!

An interlock kit versus a transfer kit? Therein lies the value of this site. I have a buddy at work who is into living in his garage like I am and I didn't even know there was such a thing as a transfer switch. It wasn't until I told him I was getting a genny that he told me I had to add a transfer switch to the house. Hell, I that point I thought that was the only option. Now I know better.

Interestingly, after reading what you guys had to say about the interlock, and the caveats, I Googled it...seems like there are a few forums out there with some highly heated discussion on the versus issue. I love it though and am sold on Interlock versus transfer...

Thanks all..hope I can re-do the knowledge somehow...someday!

And hey, just as a quick aside, any idea what the standard cost might be to have an electrician come install the interlock? I'm not a tight wad....just curious??????

 

[kellyron500]

Thanks guys...for all the responses since yesterday. I did not even consider an adapter from RV to 120 plug. Great idea and problem solved there!!!

An interlock kit versus a transfer kit? Therein lies the value of this site. I have a buddy at work who is into living in his garage like I am and I didn't even know there was such a thing as a transfer switch. It wasn't until I told him I was getting a genny that he told me I had to add a transfer switch to the house. Hell, I that point I thought that was the only option. Now I know better.

Interestingly, after reading what you guys had to say about the interlock, and the caveats, I Googled it...seems like there are a few forums out there with some highly heated discussion on the versus issue. I love it though and am sold on Interlock versus transfer...

Thanks all..hope I can re-do the knowledge somehow...someday!

And hey, just as a quick aside, any idea what the standard cost might be to have an electrician come install the interlock? I'm not a tight wad....just curious??????

 

[kellyron500]

Whoops...double duty post tonight. I guess. Sorry

 

[kellyron500]

And as long as I am apologizing for mistakes, my comment "Hopefully I can re-do the knowledge someday" should have been hopefully I can REPAY the knowledge...geez, rough Monday at work I guess!!!

 

[theoldwizard1]

PAY BACK Take some pics of your setup when it is completed !

 

[kellyron500]

I will.

I'll start with the genny in my filthy garage...a lot of woodworking projects of late and too many temp work benches still not broken down and put away.

When I bought the generator from Tractor Supply, they were out of the optional wheel kits. I have a couple dollies, the cheapest of which was a $19.99 Home Depot special....so I broke out the recip saw and chopped the handle off.

I need to mount it 90 degrees so I then cut the steel load plate off the bottom of the dollie (dolly? handcart?) and and cut triangle brackets that. I even spray painted it texture flat black to match the roll bar around the genny and put some rubber boots on the bottom of the legs.

I then flipped her upside down on an old throw rug (before putting in gas and oil), bolted the the cart to the bottom and flipped her back on the wheels..viola! A genny buggy from an old dollie that was gathering dust in the corner.

Again, thanks for all the feed back and I'll throw some pics when I have the install done.

 

[mdbeck1]

I will.

I'll start with the genny in my filthy garage...a lot of woodworking projects of late and too many temp work benches still not broken down and put away.

When I bought the generator from Tractor Supply, they were out of the optional wheel kits. I have a couple dollies, the cheapest of which was a $19.99 Home Depot special....so I broke out the recip saw and chopped the handle off.

I need to mount it 90 degrees so I then cut the steel load plate off the bottom of the dollie (dolly? handcart?) and and cut triangle brackets that. I even spray painted it texture flat black to match the roll bar around the genny and put some rubber boots on the bottom of the legs.

I then flipped her upside down on an old throw rug (before putting in gas and oil), bolted the the cart to the bottom and flipped her back on the wheels..viola! A genny buggy from an old dollie that was gathering dust in the corner.

Again, thanks for all the feed back and I'll throw some pics when I have the install done.

Nice.... It looks like it was factory made.

 

[kellyron500]

Nice.... It looks like it was factory made.

Thanks MD...funny, I didn't notice the little ding on the face plate until I posted this pic and looked at it. Not visible unless the light (flash in this case) hits it right. Not enough to take it back, but disappointing. Although I do have a 14, almost 15 year old boy running around my garage from time to time...hmmmmmm?

For all, I know this is a Tractor Supply generic generator but I gotta say I have never had a pull starter as smooth and easy as this. This thing ain't like starting a mower. I can actually pull start it with my girlie left arm.

I have always wondered, especially when firing up my "beast" pressure washer why with all the gears, pulleys and whatever we have, why we don't make rope starters easier.

Someone figured it out on the generator!!!!