Generator switch and outlet added

[pawpaw]

Nicely done sir!

[Houston Remodeler]

This may help confuse things

[Houston Remodeler]

The generator sets in the rear of the truck. I doubt there will any CO2 fumes to worry about.

[Houston Remodeler]

Picture of the incoming receptacle closed, then open. Finally a picture of the transfer switch.

generator inlet smaller.jpg (30.7 KiB) Viewed 1963 times

generator inlet open smaller.jpg (34.37 KiB) Viewed 1963 times

transfer switch.jpg (30.92 KiB) Viewed 1963 times

[pawpaw]

Very cool mod! I'd like to see the pictures. Did you do anything to reroute the exhaust gases from the generator so they have no chance of getting into the TT?

[Houston Remodeler]

Since we'd like to keep the camper cool while towing in the south in the summer, and be able to overnight at Walmart, we bought a gently used Honda 3000 generator this winter. Now the dogs can then ride in the camper without overheating, leaving the humans to enjoy the cab of the truck.

To use the generator while in transit, I installed an electrical plug on the front of the TT, behind the battery compartment, on the trailer frame in its own metal box. It's the type where the cord locks onto the outlet with a waterproof seal. The generator will set in the rear of the pickup truck, strapped and chained to the bed. To prevent the factory shore power cord from being electrified by the generator and to bypass the Progressive industries surge protector, I added a Rotary Cam switch which allows either the shore power or the generator but never both at the same time. The cam switch is located inside the rear storage compartment next to the hard wired surge protector. This is also where the factory cord is junctioned to the factory romex. The 10-2 UF wire is piped under the trailer, held in place with metal clips screwed to the frame.

The cord and outlet
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B018 ... ge_o00_s00

The Rotary switch
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T ... ge_o01_s00

If I had to do it again I would buy a Marinco brand with the larger threads on the cord and outlet to allow for easier attachment. But since we don't see the cord being plugged and unplugged a whole lot, we'll live with the finer threads of the version we have. For long trips where we will use the generator, the cord can stay attached to the front of the trailer while moving, then be unplugged from the generator if we drive the TV away, leaving the plug attached / screwed into the TT. At least that's the plan for now.

If anyone wants to see pictures, I'll post them.