Generac plus Yamaha

[Just Me]

BB, I'm going to do what everybody else does: Plug an extension cord in the the generator and plug that into the shore power cord.

Thanks for the explanation, I got most of it. I always have my VOM with me and can check if there is any current flow from the ground of Y to the ground of the trailer.

[Just Me]

So I'm still a tad confused, and just to further confuse things... did you say that you are using the 12V receptacle from your generator to charge the batteries? It wasn't entirely clear to me.

Caught cha... The Generac puts out 2A max to charge the batteries, but when the Generac's AC output is connected to the shore cord through the receptacle, the inverter puts out 45A max to charge the batteries and power any AC appliance.

[RCinFLA]

I thought that Genrac DC output amperage strange too but just assumed the RV gen version had higher 12v charger capability.

The less then 3kW inverter/generators do not have a groundable neutral (the wider AC prong). If you take an AC voltmeter you will read about 60 vac from either plug side to ground prong or metal case of generator.

Your shore plug, RV generator, and/or charger may have the neutral side of A.C. grounded to chassis of RV.

The actual two prongs of A.C. output from inverter/generator are floating except for filter caps that go from either hot/neutral prong to gen chassis/ground.

You may damage the inverter in the generator if you hard tie the ground prong to the neutral prong on the generator. The potential damage is caused by the capacitance of the stator windings to the chassis.

With your RV on rubber wheels and generator on wet ground you might get a tingle stepping off the RV if the RV chassis neutral is tied to its chassis.

[Just Me]

Per the Generac manual and name plate, 2A max 12V DC output, and that is what I see on my Bogart panel. That would suck if your inverter went out in the middle of a long weekend. Bye-bye batteries.

So, what you are saying is that I should not ground the Yamaha generator ground to the trailer/Generac ground. I should use a non-polarized extension cord. Correct?

I'm thinking that Yamaha would incorporate the ability and/or protection to allow for a three prong extension cord to be plugged into the EF2000iS and then to a three prong adapter on the shore cable. I'll know more when I get it and read the "rules". Nobody had complained of getting zapped running their Honda 2000s.

I ordered it Tuesday, 1/5/10 from DHC Supplies and they sent me an email that said: "We will make every effort to ship your order either the same or next business day (Excluding Yamaha Generators)". I called and they said Yamaha generators are shipped directly from the warehouse in Wash St. and they take at least two days to process an invoice, so I have no idea when I will get it. Next dune trip is next Wednesday or Thursday. This may require a phone call.

Here is a pic of the control panel of the EF200iS. Looks like it has a three prong receptacle.

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outdoor/...1/0/image.aspx

[dwh]

Per the Generac manual and name plate, 2A max 12V DC output, and that is what I see on my Bogart panel. That would suck if your inverter went out in the middle of a long weekend. Bye-bye batteries.

Another consideration is that the battery charging output of most of the small inverter generators (and possibly your Generac as well) is unregulated. It will charge a battery - but it's not a great way to do it. The best way is probably to just run the trailer from the 120v of the generator, and let the built-in 120v-12v converter/charger (which your trailer almost certainly has) handle the battery charging.

So, what you are saying is that I should not ground the Yamaha generator ground to the trailer/Generac ground. I should use a non-polarized extension cord. Correct?

I'm thinking that Yamaha would incorporate the ability and/or protection to allow for a three prong extension cord to be plugged into the EF2000iS and then to a three prong adapter on the shore cable. I'll know more when I get it and read the "rules". Nobody had complained of getting zapped running their Honda 2000s.

Using a 3-prong grounded extension cord won't be an issue unless both generators are running at the same time AND one of them has a problem.

[Just Me]

Just as a test, I ran the Generac without the shore plug plugged into the receptacle and it was only a 2A charge. Normally, it is plugged into the receptacle and the inverter output is up to 45A DC regulated charge to the batteries.

There is no way, unless I jerry rig a cable that both the Yama and the Generac would be inputing the inverter at the same time. The AC from the Generac goes to the receptacle and if the shore cable is not plugged in, the inverter doesn't get anything.

Unless I need to run the AC unit, the Yama will provide enough power to the inverter to charge the batteries and run everything else without bothering the neighbors when I stay up till 3-4 am. Yea, bright lights at night so I can see my keyboard.

As a side note, what wide angle LED 1156 lamps are available at a reasonable price. I really only need one for behind my couch when using the laptop. Last time I checked, one was about $15 with almost as much for shipping.

[RCinFLA]

So, what you are saying is that I should not ground the Yamaha generator ground to the trailer/Generac ground. I should use a non-polarized extension cord. Correct?

I'm thinking that Yamaha would incorporate the ability and/or protection to allow for a three prong extension cord to be plugged into the EF2000iS and then to a three prong adapter on the shore cable. I'll know more when I get it and read the "rules". Nobody had complained of getting zapped running their Honda 2000s.

Just check with an ohmmeter on your RV that neutral (white wire ) is not connected to RV chassis ground and you will be fine. With the RV generator and charger you need to check with the ohmmeter that one of them is not grounding the neutral.

To use an inverter/gen, like these, the system should have a floating neutral. This is not the case for house wiring as the neutral is grounded at the breaker box.

A 240/120 v inverter/generator can be neutral grounded. The only one I know of is the larger Honda EU6500i.

I have a Yamaha EF3000i inverter/gen connected into my house system but I use an isolation transformer to keep the inv/gen neutral floating.

[Just Me]

Just checked. It's not grounded.

Thanks for the reply.

Yami should be here Tuesday.