A good reason to keep your Generator.

I took a slightly different course for emergency power for my house. I bought a 200 Amp manual transfer switch. Commercial power from the meter enters at one side of the switch. My 8500 Watt generator on the patio at the rear of the house passes through a 4 conductor #6 cable to the other side. The movable portion connects directly to the 200 Amp main breaker panel. I don't have to fool with anything other than keeping the total load at or under the capability of the emergency generator. During a failure of the main neighborhood transformer serving 12 houses, my generator kept my 3-ton A.C. chugging right along on a 100 degree night until power company replaced the transformer at around 0400.

No chance of electrocuting power company repairmen with my setup!

Interesting happening during that occasion: Folks who relied on power garage doors to enter their house were totally locked out because they didn't carry an actual key for any door of the house! D/uh!

Helps to NOT have a total electric house!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ Since 30 November '53 ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ Member GMCMI and Classics ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
______________
|[ ]~~~[][ ][]\
"--OO--[]---O-"

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of James Hupy
Sent: Friday, December 2, 2016 17:03
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] A good reason to keep your Generator.

I installed a manual transfer switch in my house. The brand is Genentech.
It requires the homeowner to manually throw a switch that takes a circuit
breaker offline before actuation of the genenrator. It has 6 breakers, two
of which are locked together for 240 volts. I use that one for the water
pump. I have one for the furnace, one for the kitchen range control
circuit, one for the freezer, and one for the refrigerator. Some limited
lighting is also powered by the kitchen circuit. Not perfect, but it gets
us by during outages with cold water, cooking on the gas stove, and
protection of perishable foods. It also protects electrical linemen from
back feeds from our generator. I use a Coleman 6.5 KV manual start gasoline
powered 120/240 volt. Not the biggest, but adequate for our needs. Holds 6
gallons of gasoline, and will run about 10 hours on that, depending upon
load. If it were not for the well pump requiring 240 volts, the Onan in the
coach would suffice.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403

> Thanks for the info, so no water from the generator (240 well pump), but I
> can have heat...
>
> cheers
> kelly
> 1978 kingsley
> putney vt
>
> --
> 1978 Kingsley
> Putney VT
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
Gmclist Info Page - list.gmcnet.orghttp://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
list.gmcnet.org
To see the collection of prior postings to the list, visit the Gmclist Archives. Using Gmclist: To post a message to all the list members, send email ...

>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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To see the collection of prior postings to the list, visit the Gmclist Archives. Using Gmclist: To post a message to all the list members, send email ...
 
Thanks Johnny, I guess it was wistful to think I could run a 240 well pump (one that's 520 feet deep into the ground). But I will recheck my furnace
power consumption (it's oil forced air, can't imagine it's 240) and lights/ etc would be nice to have. We can always melt snow to get water or goto
the brook if it's not cold out (though if it's not cold out the coach should have water in it)

-kelly

--
1978 Kingsley
Putney VT
 
Yeah deep well pumps usually want 240 - ours certainly did. Had I the money, I'd punch another well. You might keep an eye out for an Onan
alternator, they built the same set with a 240 volt alternator for contractor use. If you could find one, it might bolt onto your 'power drawer' set
in place of the 120V only one. A hassle, but it would give you 240 volts.

--johnny
--
'76 23' transmode Norris upfit, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"The road goes on forever, and the party never ends" --Robert Earl Keen
 
Those sorts of transfer switches are expensive to buy and to install.
Instead of that, I bought a Schneider (Square D) generator sub-panel. It
uses a pair of 60-amp 240V breakers with a mechanical interlock to prevent
both from being in the on position at the same time. I feed it from a 60A
breaker in the main panel. The generator plug in my garage wires into the
other input. The sub-panel has six or eight slots, each of which can serve
a 240V branch or a pair of 120V 15A or 20A breakers. I moved the well pump,
the air handler and control system on the furnace, and circuits feeding the
refrigerator, computers, and a light or two on each floor.

When I bought it, that sub-panel was about a hundred bucks, and I didn't
spend more that $250 for the whole setup (me doing the installation),
including the wire, branch breakers, and 50A generator receptacle and cord
(which allows me to use any cheapie construction-site portable generator).
If what I did doesn't meet code should I ever sell the house, it's easy to
reverse.

And, yes, we have used it several times.

Those generators won't power the big water heater in the house in addition
to that other stuff, but I can make hot water in the coach. Well, except
that in our usual snowstorm scenario, the coach is winterized. And (if last
year is any example) I have to steal the battery from the motorhome to get
the tractor started.

Rick "whose rural commercial power is unreliable" Denney

> I took a slightly different course for emergency power for my house. I
> bought a 200 Amp manual transfer switch. Commercial power from the meter
> enters at one side of the switch. My 8500 Watt generator on the patio at
> the rear of the house passes through a 4 conductor #6 cable to the other
> side. The movable portion connects directly to the 200 Amp main breaker
> panel. I don't have to fool with anything other than keeping the total
> load at or under the capability of the emergency generator. During a
> failure of the main neighborhood transformer serving 12 houses, my
> generator kept my 3-ton A.C. chugging right along on a 100 degree night
> until power company replaced the transformer at around 0400.
>
>
> No chance of electrocuting power company repairmen with my setup!
>
>
> Interesting happening during that occasion: Folks who relied on power
> garage doors to enter their house were totally locked out because they
> didn't carry an actual key for any door of the house! D/uh!
>
>
> Helps to NOT have a total electric house!
>
>
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
> ~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
> ~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
> ~ ~ Since 30 November '53 ~ ~
> ~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
> ~ Member GMCMI and Classics ~
> ~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
> ~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
> ~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
> ~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
> ~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
> ~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
> ______________
> |[ ]~~~[][ ][]\
> "--OO--[]---O-"
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Gmclist on behalf
> of James Hupy
> Sent: Friday, December 2, 2016 17:03
> To: gmclist
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] A good reason to keep your Generator.
>
> I installed a manual transfer switch in my house. The brand is Genentech.
> It requires the homeowner to manually throw a switch that takes a circuit
> breaker offline before actuation of the genenrator. It has 6 breakers, two
> of which are locked together for 240 volts. I use that one for the water
> pump. I have one for the furnace, one for the kitchen range control
> circuit, one for the freezer, and one for the refrigerator. Some limited
> lighting is also powered by the kitchen circuit. Not perfect, but it gets
> us by during outages with cold water, cooking on the gas stove, and
> protection of perishable foods. It also protects electrical linemen from
> back feeds from our generator. I use a Coleman 6.5 KV manual start gasoline
> powered 120/240 volt. Not the biggest, but adequate for our needs. Holds 6
> gallons of gasoline, and will run about 10 hours on that, depending upon
> load. If it were not for the well pump requiring 240 volts, the Onan in the
> coach would suffice.
> Jim Hupy
> Salem, Or
> 78 GMC ROYALE 403
>
> On Dec 2, 2016 10:28 AM, "kelly stockwell"
> > Thanks for the info, so no water from the generator (240 well pump), but
> I
> > can have heat...
> >
> > cheers
> > kelly
> > 1978 kingsley
> > putney vt
> >
> > --
> > 1978 Kingsley
> > Putney VT
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> Gmclist Info Page - list.gmcnet.org gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org>
> list.gmcnet.org
> To see the collection of prior postings to the list, visit the Gmclist
> Archives. Using Gmclist: To post a message to all the list members, send
> email ...
>
>
>
> >
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> Gmclist Info Page - list.gmcnet.org gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org>
> list.gmcnet.org
> To see the collection of prior postings to the list, visit the Gmclist
> Archives. Using Gmclist: To post a message to all the list members, send
> email ...
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
'73 230 "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
 
For those of you that want to use your GMC's Onan for backup house power in the event of a power failure but need 240 volts for a well pump you should be aware that there are step up transformers available that can be plugged in to connect the well pump. There are several listed on Amazon. Just get one that will handle the wattage requirement of your pump motor.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO

>
> Those sorts of transfer switches are expensive to buy and to install.
> Instead of that, I bought a Schneider (Square D) generator sub-panel. It
> uses a pair of 60-amp 240V breakers with a mechanical interlock to prevent
> both from being in the on position at the same time. I feed it from a 60A
> breaker in the main panel. The generator plug in my garage wires into the
> other input. The sub-panel has six or eight slots, each of which can serve
> a 240V branch or a pair of 120V 15A or 20A breakers. I moved the well pump,
> the air handler and control system on the furnace, and circuits feeding the
> refrigerator, computers, and a light or two on each floor.
>
> When I bought it, that sub-panel was about a hundred bucks, and I didn't
> spend more that $250 for the whole setup (me doing the installation),
> including the wire, branch breakers, and 50A generator receptacle and cord
> (which allows me to use any cheapie construction-site portable generator).
> If what I did doesn't meet code should I ever sell the house, it's easy to
> reverse.
>
> And, yes, we have used it several times.
>
> Those generators won't power the big water heater in the house in addition
> to that other stuff, but I can make hot water in the coach. Well, except
> that in our usual snowstorm scenario, the coach is winterized. And (if last
> year is any example) I have to steal the battery from the motorhome to get
> the tractor started.
>
> Rick "whose rural commercial power is unreliable" Denney
>

>>
>> I took a slightly different course for emergency power for my house. I
>> bought a 200 Amp manual transfer switch. Commercial power from the meter
>> enters at one side of the switch. My 8500 Watt generator on the patio at
>> the rear of the house passes through a 4 conductor #6 cable to the other
>> side. The movable portion connects directly to the 200 Amp main breaker
>> panel. I don't have to fool with anything other than keeping the total
>> load at or under the capability of the emergency generator. During a
>> failure of the main neighborhood transformer serving 12 houses, my
>> generator kept my 3-ton A.C. chugging right along on a 100 degree night
>> until power company replaced the transformer at around 0400.
>>
>>
>> No chance of electrocuting power company repairmen with my setup!
>>
>>
>> Interesting happening during that occasion: Folks who relied on power
>> garage doors to enter their house were totally locked out because they
>> didn't carry an actual key for any door of the house! D/uh!
>>
>>
>> Helps to NOT have a total electric house!
>>
>>
>> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
>> ~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
>> ~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
>> ~ ~ Since 30 November '53 ~ ~
>> ~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
>> ~ Member GMCMI and Classics ~
>> ~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
>> ~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
>> ~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
>> ~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
>> ~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
>> ~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
>> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
>> ______________
>> |[ ]~~~[][ ][]\
>> "--OO--[]---O-"
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: Gmclist on behalf
>> of James Hupy
>> Sent: Friday, December 2, 2016 17:03
>> To: gmclist
>> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] A good reason to keep your Generator.
>>
>> I installed a manual transfer switch in my house. The brand is Genentech.
>> It requires the homeowner to manually throw a switch that takes a circuit
>> breaker offline before actuation of the genenrator. It has 6 breakers, two
>> of which are locked together for 240 volts. I use that one for the water
>> pump. I have one for the furnace, one for the kitchen range control
>> circuit, one for the freezer, and one for the refrigerator. Some limited
>> lighting is also powered by the kitchen circuit. Not perfect, but it gets
>> us by during outages with cold water, cooking on the gas stove, and
>> protection of perishable foods. It also protects electrical linemen from
>> back feeds from our generator. I use a Coleman 6.5 KV manual start gasoline
>> powered 120/240 volt. Not the biggest, but adequate for our needs. Holds 6
>> gallons of gasoline, and will run about 10 hours on that, depending upon
>> load. If it were not for the well pump requiring 240 volts, the Onan in the
>> coach would suffice.
>> Jim Hupy
>> Salem, Or
>> 78 GMC ROYALE 403
>>
>> On Dec 2, 2016 10:28 AM, "kelly stockwell" >
>>> Thanks for the info, so no water from the generator (240 well pump), but
>> I
>>> can have heat...
>>>
>>> cheers
>>> kelly
>>> 1978 kingsley
>>> putney vt
>>>
>>> --
>>> 1978 Kingsley
>>> Putney VT
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> GMCnet mailing list
>>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>> Gmclist Info Page - list.gmcnet.org> gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org>
>> list.gmcnet.org
>> To see the collection of prior postings to the list, visit the Gmclist
>> Archives. Using Gmclist: To post a message to all the list members, send
>> email ...
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>> Gmclist Info Page - list.gmcnet.org> gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org>
>> list.gmcnet.org
>> To see the collection of prior postings to the list, visit the Gmclist
>> Archives. Using Gmclist: To post a message to all the list members, send
>> email ...
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
>
> --
> '73 230 "Jaws"
> Northern Virginia
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
> Yeah deep well pumps usually want 240 - ours certainly did. Had I the money, I'd punch another well. You might keep an eye out for an Onan
> alternator, they built the same set with a 240 volt alternator for contractor use. If you could find one, it might bolt onto your 'power drawer'
> set in place of the 120V only one. A hassle, but it would give you 240 volts.
>
> --johnny
The Onan that came OEM in the GMC can be modified to run 240V, but only 240, not 120/240. It is either 120 OR 240, but won't do both at the same time.
I suspect Jim Miller could tell us how to do it, if anyone needs to know. Some people in Europe modified Mark Hogenboom's Onan, but never revealed the
details.

http://gmc.mybirdfeeder.net/GMCforum/index.php?t=msg&goto=147932&rid=2083
--
73 23' Sequoia 4 Sale
73 23' CanyonLands Parts Unit 4 Sale
Upper Alabama
"Highest price does not guarantee highest quality."
 
Onan built 110-240 alternator sets with the same engine for contractor service. They fitted different manifolds because they didn't have to go in a
power drawer, and consequently made a big mo0re power. However, you migtht could get the 120-240 alternator to fit in a power drawer. While I don't
remember it being physically larger, it's been a long time since I had a couple of them on remote stuff. The TVs and all were 110, but I believe the
A/C units were 220. Here's one version:

https://www.google.com/search?q=%22giant+boom+box%22&lr&hl=en&as_qdr=all&tbm=isch&imgil=7yTWAAKeEhUorM%253A%253BKwTKOwe2FbjyMM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.roadsideamerica.com%25252Ftip%25252F48804&source=iu&pf=m&fir=7yTWAAKeEhUorM%253A%252CKwTKOwe2FbjyMM%252C_&usg=__TV7ib3QlN7n1OE2IiKko-1cbqmA%3D&biw=1920&bih=951&ved=0ahUKEwjN7q-8v9jQAhVLOyYKHeQWDjoQyjcIKA&ei=wvlCWM2FLsv2mAHkrbjQAw=k9_GrBSgBIVEVM%3A

--johnny
--
'76 23' transmode Norris upfit, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"The road goes on forever, and the party never ends" --Robert Earl Keen
 
> Onan built 110-240 alternator sets with the same engine for contractor service. They fitted different manifolds because they didn't have to go in
> a power drawer, and consequently made a big mo0re power. However, you migtht could get the 120-240 alternator to fit in a power drawer. While I
> don't remember it being physically larger, it's been a long time since I had a couple of them on remote stuff. The TVs and all were 110, but I
> believe the A/C units were 220. Here's one version:
>
> https://www.google.com/search?q=%22giant+boom+box%22&lr&hl=en&as_qdr=all&tbm=isch&imgil=7yTWAAKeEhUorM%253A%253BKwTKOwe2FbjyMM%253
> Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.roadsideamerica.com%25252Ftip%25252F48804&source=iu&pf=m&fir=7yTWAAKeEhUorM%253A%252CKwTKOwe2FbjyMM%252C_&am p;am
> p;usg=__TV7ib3QlN7n1OE2IiKko-1cbqmA%3D&biw=1920&bih=951&ved=0ahUKEwjN7q-8v9jQAhVLOyYKHeQWDjoQyjcIKA&ei=wvlCWM2FLsv2mAHkrbjQAw=k9
> _GrBSgBIVEVM%3A
>
> --johnny
Somewhere I saw a manual for a different set that had the different ways to jumper those Onans. It was either H1 through H4, or M1 through M4. I don't
remember exactly. Folks outside North America don't need 120.
--
73 23' Sequoia 4 Sale
73 23' CanyonLands Parts Unit 4 Sale
Upper Alabama
"Highest price does not guarantee highest quality."
 
They made two alternators. Ours only have one winding, the commercial ones have two which can be parallelled for current or seriesed to add the two
120s top 240 with a 120 center tap. Ours can as someone said be made to produce 240, but only 240 since there's only one alternator winding.
--
'76 23' transmode Norris upfit, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"The road goes on forever, and the party never ends" --Robert Earl Keen
 
Rick,

While not 100% relevant I'm going to jump in and make a comment about auto transfer switches in GMC's.

I installed one in Double Trouble (actually Jim Bounds did it - I'm electrically challenged) and after a few problems with it I
realized that if it fails I'd have problems supplying power to my GMC so I bought a spare that Mac McDonald didn't want.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6546-under-double-trouble-27s-bathroom-sink.html

If I had to make that decision again I would not install it. Switching the plug from shore power to the Onan follows the KISS
principle!

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808


-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces] On Behalf Of Richard Denney
Sent: Sunday, December 04, 2016 2:11 AM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] A good reason to keep your Generator.

Those sorts of transfer switches are expensive to buy and to install.
Instead of that, I bought a Schneider (Square D) generator sub-panel. It
uses a pair of 60-amp 240V breakers with a mechanical interlock to prevent
both from being in the on position at the same time. I feed it from a 60A
breaker in the main panel. The generator plug in my garage wires into the
other input. The sub-panel has six or eight slots, each of which can serve
a 240V branch or a pair of 120V 15A or 20A breakers. I moved the well pump,
the air handler and control system on the furnace, and circuits feeding the
refrigerator, computers, and a light or two on each floor.

When I bought it, that sub-panel was about a hundred bucks, and I didn't
spend more that $250 for the whole setup (me doing the installation),
including the wire, branch breakers, and 50A generator receptacle and cord
(which allows me to use any cheapie construction-site portable generator).
If what I did doesn't meet code should I ever sell the house, it's easy to
reverse.

And, yes, we have used it several times.

Those generators won't power the big water heater in the house in addition
to that other stuff, but I can make hot water in the coach. Well, except
that in our usual snowstorm scenario, the coach is winterized. And (if last
year is any example) I have to steal the battery from the motorhome to get
the tractor started.

Rick "whose rural commercial power is unreliable" Denney

> I took a slightly different course for emergency power for my house. I
> bought a 200 Amp manual transfer switch. Commercial power from the meter
> enters at one side of the switch. My 8500 Watt generator on the patio at
> the rear of the house passes through a 4 conductor #6 cable to the other
> side. The movable portion connects directly to the 200 Amp main breaker
> panel. I don't have to fool with anything other than keeping the total
> load at or under the capability of the emergency generator. During a
> failure of the main neighborhood transformer serving 12 houses, my
> generator kept my 3-ton A.C. chugging right along on a 100 degree night
> until power company replaced the transformer at around 0400.
>
>
> No chance of electrocuting power company repairmen with my setup!
>
>
> Interesting happening during that occasion: Folks who relied on power
> garage doors to enter their house were totally locked out because they
> didn't carry an actual key for any door of the house! D/uh!
>
>
> Helps to NOT have a total electric house!
>
>
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
> ~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
> ~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
> ~ ~ Since 30 November '53 ~ ~
> ~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
> ~ Member GMCMI and Classics ~
> ~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
> ~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
> ~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
> ~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
> ~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
> ~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
> ______________
> |[ ]~~~[][ ][]\
> "--OO--[]---O-"
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Gmclist on behalf
> of James Hupy
> Sent: Friday, December 2, 2016 17:03
> To: gmclist
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] A good reason to keep your Generator.
>
> I installed a manual transfer switch in my house. The brand is Genentech.
> It requires the homeowner to manually throw a switch that takes a circuit
> breaker offline before actuation of the genenrator. It has 6 breakers, two
> of which are locked together for 240 volts. I use that one for the water
> pump. I have one for the furnace, one for the kitchen range control
> circuit, one for the freezer, and one for the refrigerator. Some limited
> lighting is also powered by the kitchen circuit. Not perfect, but it gets
> us by during outages with cold water, cooking on the gas stove, and
> protection of perishable foods. It also protects electrical linemen from
> back feeds from our generator. I use a Coleman 6.5 KV manual start gasoline
> powered 120/240 volt. Not the biggest, but adequate for our needs. Holds 6
> gallons of gasoline, and will run about 10 hours on that, depending upon
> load. If it were not for the well pump requiring 240 volts, the Onan in the
> coach would suffice.
> Jim Hupy
> Salem, Or
> 78 GMC ROYALE 403
>
> On Dec 2, 2016 10:28 AM, "kelly stockwell"
> > Thanks for the info, so no water from the generator (240 well pump), but
> I
> > can have heat...
> >
> > cheers
> > kelly
> > 1978 kingsley
> > putney vt
> >
> > --
> > 1978 Kingsley
> > Putney VT
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--
'73 230 "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
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G'day,

I've pasted the email from Marc regarding this subject in case someone can't get the link to work

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808

Ken and Rob,
That is what was done to my Onan.
The connection of the field wiring was changed and a custom electronic regulator was built.

The guys that did this moved on to new and exiting projects and I cant get them to write down exactly what they did.

The engine speed was adjusted to get close to 50 Hz, and this seems be no problem.

Marc Hogenboom
'73 Painted Desert Diesel
Madrid NM

-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces] On Behalf Of A.
Sent: Sunday, December 04, 2016 3:53 AM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] A good reason to keep your Generator.

The Onan that came OEM in the GMC can be modified to run 240V, but only 240, not 120/240. It is either 120 OR 240, but won't do both
at the same time.
I suspect Jim Miller could tell us how to do it, if anyone needs to know. Some people in Europe modified Mark Hogenboom's Onan, but
never revealed the details.

http://gmc.mybirdfeeder.net/GMCforum/index.php?t=msg&goto=147932&rid=2083
 
Related side question to the knowledgeable:
I also have the same 240v issue with my well pump if the power is out...
Assuming the main power is disconnected to the pole so it wont try to backfeed to the grid, can a 240v generator output be backfed to the house panel
via my welder plug or the dryer plug, without sending 240v to the 120 side? Would that still provide 120v for the other circuits?
There isnt any plug at the pump.
Not worried about code or continious use, just emergency power
This would be my backup genset, not the Onan.
--
76 Glenbrook
 
As long as your genset produces 140 and 120, and the center neutral for the two 1120 legs are connected it will work. This is probably not the case
with a welder outlet, since it provides 240 only the center neutral probably isn't there. As long as you've got the backup genset anyway, consider
having a three way switch installed. If your power meter is on the ouitside of the house, your electrician should be able to mount it there for a
reasonable price. If you don't have a true 50 amp plug for your coach which shows 240 volts and 120 volts, you're going to have to add something for
the generator. If the reasoning and how are kind of hazy, hire it done. Then when the house burns down, you won't catch any flack from the inshoance
floggers.
Seriously, there's the potential to break things and hurt yourself here.

--johnny
--
'76 23' transmode Norris upfit, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"The road goes on forever, and the party never ends" --Robert Earl Keen
 
Assuming the main power is disconnected to the pole so it wont try to backfeed to the grid, can a 240v generator output be backfed to the house panel
via my welder plug or the dryer plug, without sending 240v to the 120 side? Would that still provide 120v for the other circuits?

Cris, If the Gen (APU) 240vac output also has a neutral leg, then 1 hot leg (L1 or L2) with the neutral leg will be 120v.

Most 240vac single phase (actually it's a 2 phase) house circuits are L1 & L2 and Ground, with no Neutral. Neutral goes to neutral buss bar,
and ground goes to a separate ground buss bars.

Put in a 240v circuit for the MH, and that can also give the way to backfeed from the APU. Be sure to TURN OFF MAIN HOUSE BREAKERS FIRST,
before plugging in and stating APU.

Hope this help.

--
”When we avoid the mistakes we might have made, we sometimes make the mistakes that we might have avoided.”

Adrien & Jenny Genesoto
75 Glenbrook 26-3
Yuba City,Ca. Text 530-nine-3-three-3-nine-nine-6
 
Chris,

Theoretically you could do as you suggest. The 240vac at your
welder/dryer/stove plugs spans both legs of the 120/240vac split phase
house circuits -- they have no center taps. The well pump should be wired
in the same configuration, so it would receive the 240vac needed.

BUT -- BIG BUT -- you'd have potentially dangerous situation since you'd
now have all of the 120vac circuits powered but with no neutral connection
to any of them. Their hot sides would be referenced to ground, but that
ground would be Open at the generator. If anything with neutral and "true
ground" connected were to be plugged into the generator's sockets, all of
the activated house 120vac currents would attempt to flow through that
device, probably catastrophically.

That's just what comes immediately to mind. I would NOT do it. It's too
easy to do it right.

Ken H.

On Sat, Dec 3, 2016 at 4:36 PM, Chris Tyler
wrote:

> Related side question to the knowledgeable:
> I also have the same 240v issue with my well pump if the power is out...
> Assuming the main power is disconnected to the pole so it wont try to
> backfeed to the grid, can a 240v generator output be backfed to the house
> panel
> via my welder plug or the dryer plug, without sending 240v to the 120
> side? Would that still provide 120v for the other circuits?
> There isnt any plug at the pump.
> Not worried about code or continious use, just emergency power
> This would be my backup genset, not the Onan.
>
 
Rob,

This is off-topic, but I'm a fan of automatic transfer switches in coaches.
They are simple enough to be pretty reliable, I should think, and they have
a very nice feature: they wait about thirty seconds after the generator
starts before switching the load to the generator. This allows the
generator to get running and stabilize before taking on the load, and I
think that's a good idea, especially for generators with electronically
controlled dedicated inverters like my Generac. It also allows you to keep
most things on during the transfer, because it happens quickly.

My switch is an Iota 50-amp model.

My use case: I use a small extension cord from the house as a shore power
cable--it's job is to run the inverter and occasionally the refer. But when
I'm in the coach on a hot day and want to run the AC, I need the Generac. I
push a button in the coach, the generator starts (maybe on the third or
fourth attempt--it is a Generac, after all), and don't have to mess with
the power pigtail.

Rick "keeping it simple--for me" Denney

On Saturday, December 3, 2016, Rob Mueller Rick,
>
> While not 100% relevant I'm going to jump in and make a comment about auto
> transfer switches in GMC's.
>
> I installed one in Double Trouble (actually Jim Bounds did it - I'm
> electrically challenged) and after a few problems with it I
> realized that if it fails I'd have problems supplying power to my GMC so I
> bought a spare that Mac McDonald didn't want.
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6546-under-double-trouble
> -27s-bathroom-sink.html
>
> If I had to make that decision again I would not install it. Switching the
> plug from shore power to the Onan follows the KISS
> principle!
>
> Regards,
> Rob M.
> The Pedantic Mechanic
> USAussie - Downunder
> AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
> USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
> USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808
>
>
> -----Original Mes
>

--
'73 230 "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
 
Rick,

The ATS in Double Trouble is an Iota 50 amp unit as well and I agree with what you've noted but here's another bit of information.
You can't buy a new Iota 50 ATS they don't make them any more. I bought what was billed as a "direct replacement" only to find out
when it arrived the connections were in a different location and there wasn't enough wire in the existing Iota 50 installation to
connect to the "direct replacement." That's why I bought Mac's.

Your points are well stated and since the Iota was installed back in 2008 I may be yelling "the sky is falling."

Question would it be possible to install an ATS and leave the OEM Onan plug in place in case it failed? Or is there some work around
to get power to the GMC if it fails?

Keep in mind that I am electrically challenged!

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808

-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces] On Behalf Of Richard Denney
Sent: Sunday, December 04, 2016 12:20 PM
To: gmclist
Subject: [GMCnet] A good reason to keep your Generator.

Rob,

This is off-topic, but I'm a fan of automatic transfer switches in coaches.
They are simple enough to be pretty reliable, I should think, and they have
a very nice feature: they wait about thirty seconds after the generator
starts before switching the load to the generator. This allows the
generator to get running and stabilize before taking on the load, and I
think that's a good idea, especially for generators with electronically
controlled dedicated inverters like my Generac. It also allows you to keep
most things on during the transfer, because it happens quickly.

My switch is an Iota 50-amp model.

My use case: I use a small extension cord from the house as a shore power
cable--it's job is to run the inverter and occasionally the refer. But when
I'm in the coach on a hot day and want to run the AC, I need the Generac. I
push a button in the coach, the generator starts (maybe on the third or
fourth attempt--it is a Generac, after all), and don't have to mess with
the power pigtail.

Rick "keeping it simple--for me" Denney
 
Going back to a previous discussion, it would be relatively easy to put an outlet box off of my well pump site with the 50a plug for the GMC. My
recollection is that the 240v will only be seen as 120 in the coach.
It would be a handy place to plug in the coach.

So, a a 'Backup' backup plan, perhaps that could be connected to the house to provide 120 for house if the coleman generator fails.

That wont solve the well pump problem though.I have considered adding a caged water tank as a resiviour with either a 110v or 12v pump for
emergencies.

Yes, a transfer switch would be the way to go.

--
76 Glenbrook
 
Chris,

If your well pump is wired like mine, there's no neutral wire, so you could
not hang a GMC 50A socket off of it. Maybe you got lucky and the
electrician did run the neutral, but why would he unless you have a light
in a pump house?

Ken H.

On Mon, Dec 5, 2016 at 11:33 AM, Chris Tyler
wrote:

> Going back to a previous discussion, it would be relatively easy to put an
> outlet box off of my well pump site with the 50a plug for the GMC. My
> recollection is that the 240v will only be seen as 120 in the coach.
> It would be a handy place to plug in the coach.
> ...
 
Chris
You must have missed my earlier post that a step up transformer could easily be wired in to boost the 120 v from the GMC to power a 240 v well pump. I had suggested you check Amazon's site as they have many listed

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO

>
> Going back to a previous discussion, it would be relatively easy to put an outlet box off of my well pump site with the 50a plug for the GMC. My
> recollection is that the 240v will only be seen as 120 in the coach.
> It would be a handy place to plug in the coach.
>
> So, a a 'Backup' backup plan, perhaps that could be connected to the house to provide 120 for house if the coleman generator fails.
>
> That wont solve the well pump problem though.I have considered adding a caged water tank as a resiviour with either a 110v or 12v pump for
> emergencies.
>
> Yes, a transfer switch would be the way to go.
>
>
> --
> 76 Glenbrook
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
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