Darren wrote: "I realize that, but it still is only pertinent when
plugged into into 50 amp power. Nothing in the coach runs
off 240. That is both sides of the panel. They are separate
120 sides. The generator only supplies 120 to each side
not 240. That is why I am wondering."
While others have a more technical background on this
subject, let me try different words to explain.
Correct, the coach can only recieve 240 Volts if plugged
into shore power.
Also correct that the coach only uses 120 Volt circuits.
The risk would only exist, when running large loads where
the supply is 120 Volts. The issue is simply that the supply
line, whether from the Onan or from shore power only contains
a single "common" lead, of the same gauge as both the
Black and the Red wires.
If the coach is operating on 240 volt shore power then the
juice traveling through the Black wire is out of sync with the
juice traveling thorugh the red wire. Because they are out
of sync with each other the load the white or "common"
wire sees is very low even though the single "common"
wire services both the black and the red. This is because
the electricity in the black and the red leads is out if sync
and the electricity from the black lead cancels out the
electricity from the red lead.
If the coach is plugged into a single 120 volt source, whether
the Onan or shore power, it sees juice traveling through
the black and red wires that is in sync. Because it is in sync
the load in the "common" wire is the sum of the electricity in
the black and the red leads.
While the capacity of the common wire is half the sum of the red
and the black (since they are the same gauge) I would think
it would be a rather rare occurance for a large enough 120 Volt
supply circuit to be available (and used) to cause a problem.
I hope I never use that much electricity in my coach!
Regards
Gary Zingle
1973 GMC 26 foot
plugged into into 50 amp power. Nothing in the coach runs
off 240. That is both sides of the panel. They are separate
120 sides. The generator only supplies 120 to each side
not 240. That is why I am wondering."
While others have a more technical background on this
subject, let me try different words to explain.
Correct, the coach can only recieve 240 Volts if plugged
into shore power.
Also correct that the coach only uses 120 Volt circuits.
The risk would only exist, when running large loads where
the supply is 120 Volts. The issue is simply that the supply
line, whether from the Onan or from shore power only contains
a single "common" lead, of the same gauge as both the
Black and the Red wires.
If the coach is operating on 240 volt shore power then the
juice traveling through the Black wire is out of sync with the
juice traveling thorugh the red wire. Because they are out
of sync with each other the load the white or "common"
wire sees is very low even though the single "common"
wire services both the black and the red. This is because
the electricity in the black and the red leads is out if sync
and the electricity from the black lead cancels out the
electricity from the red lead.
If the coach is plugged into a single 120 volt source, whether
the Onan or shore power, it sees juice traveling through
the black and red wires that is in sync. Because it is in sync
the load in the "common" wire is the sum of the electricity in
the black and the red leads.
While the capacity of the common wire is half the sum of the red
and the black (since they are the same gauge) I would think
it would be a rather rare occurance for a large enough 120 Volt
supply circuit to be available (and used) to cause a problem.
I hope I never use that much electricity in my coach!
Regards
Gary Zingle
1973 GMC 26 foot
