Halp ... is it true that 120V transfer switches are generally not made for residential applications?     That's the word I am getting from my electrician (who I have used in the past multiple times and who I consider reputable).  

Background:  my home is 120V for everything except the well pump and grinder pump (which is 240V).  My "solution" was to do things the ARF way -- GET BOTH.    The plan was to have (1) a 240V interlock ; and (2) a separate 120V transfer switch for the "essentials" (fridges and blower for oil fired HVAC).  Two generators -- one 240V and one 120V -- would then be deployed based on the length of the outage (240V being used rarely as I have a decent backup water supply and chemical toilets).  Talked it through with my electrician and he said he could do it, subject to parts availability.  

The 240V interlock is already installed.  Fast forward a few months and now he just said there aren't any 120V transfer panels made for residential.  First, I may be getting this completely wrong but there seem to be a lot of 120V/240V transfer switches listed online (e.g. here and even at big box stores like Home Depot).  Second, if there aren't any 120V transfer panels for residential, why didn't that topic come up a few months ago?  

NB I haven't bought a generator yet, but still have my eye out for a Honda EU3200i for the 120V one.  Most likely will go with a Champion 100719 (8500W) inverter for the 240V generator but am considering a HF Predator as well.

Thanks!

Triple Tap.

Double Tap

I did exactly this.

I have a Goal Zero 4 Circuit. The description is back a few pages on 95.

It’s nice because I can power the 4 circuits with a solar generator or 2200 Westinghouse if I don’t want hook up the big generator. https://www.goalzero.com/products/yeti-home-integration-kit

Was looking at that one for my RV.

Was kinda torn between that and the smaller closed frame inverter one.

My RV has a single roof mount air conditioner, 13,500 btu, draws 14 amps while running.   Not sure what the startup surge is on it, tho.  Or if it has a start capacitor to help.

The smaller closed frame WEN inverter generator can handle 15.8 amps running and 19 amps surge.  Advertised.


The bigger one would definitely work and its cheaper to boot... but I don't want to get the larger, heavier, louder one if I don't have to.

Definitely get the closed frame for RV camping. The walls are thin and you can hear the genset, and all of your neighbors will appreciate it.

At home you can point it at the woods and lean a sheet of plywood against it in between it and the house and you don't have to care as much about noise.

Is it going to have enough muscle to start and run that rooftop AC unit tho?

There are numerous 240/120 on the market automatic and manual.  
This one has the breakers/load panel in it-
Load panel and transfer switch

Just the transfer switch
transfer switch



These tend to be pricey, but you can find any number of 240/120 manual transfer switches on the market.  Wire a plug like this one to the generator side.

You can also find them in manual forms.   Given what you want to do with a 120 and a 240 volt generator, I'd recommend the manual version.  You can then use one of these RV plug, to hook up the 120 generator when you don't need the 240.  

One note, I don't know what size generator you're using so size cables plugs etc accordingly.  The transfer switch will have to match the size your breaker panel now, the generator can be undersized.  

I have the 2000w and 3800W Wen generators.   We take the bigger one camping when we know we will need the AC.   It runs it fine, just don’t turn on the microwave when the AC starts up

Use a  single30 amp inlet for both.  Make a hot-hot crossover cable for the 120 volt generator.

It seems to me that you currently have the best of both worlds with the adapter.  You have both type plugs available.  If you convert the panel won't you have to buy another adapter for the alternate plug style?

The answer is "Maybe" on the 80cc units.

There are a couple of 100cc units out there rated for 2500-2700. I have one and it seems to pull the AC well enough as long as nothing else is going.

Honestly if I were buying new for the purpose of an RV, I'd look at the next size up. The 3500ish closed frame inverters, like the dual fuel Costco Firman unit above will pull most RV AC's just fine.

In general with power, you never want to exceed 80% of your max capacity, so buy bigger than you need.

That is good advice.

I have this on the front of my travel trailer on a rack above the propane tanks.  It is plumbed straight to the second propane tank and works fantastic.  I have never put gas in it.

I have a couple of Yamaha 2000w inverter generators with a 30amp adapter receptacle.  I could barely get my Coleman 15,000 to work and only in the normal running mode.  So no eco mode.  Running anything else at the same time would trip the overload.  
Not sure what the combined watts running are on the two gens connected.  I think I would need closer to 4,500watts running or more to be comfortable. Or get one of the soft start capacitors

GenMax coming out with new generators.

Not only can you run them in parallel, you can run them in series.  So you can hook up two 120v generators and get 240v.  

Pretty cool.

Thanks.  I appreciate the gut check.  I will go with a 3500 or 4kw unit as A/C is a must and regular use thing for this RV.

Also factoring in the freezer/fridge which is dual electric or propane, I'd prefer to generally run it on electricity.   Which even if one of these 2kw units would run the A/C, every time the fridge compressor kicked on, the surge from that would probably stall out the generator.

Those are pretty cool! Dang, Between then 120/240 option and an ATS that may be affordable, I may joining the Genmax club!

Champion, why you slipping!!

Factory refurbished 2kw inverter generator for $255 + tax on eBay with promo code REFURBSAVINGS through 3/27/2023. Can't comment on quality, etc as I don't have one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/313964135712

I already have a generator in that size, though it is certainly worth considering. FWIW, the seller appears to be Firman themselves.

Brought our (new to us) travel trailer home tonight.  Looking to pick up a generator for it.  Seller recommended the 3500w Harbor Freight Predator inverter generator.  I see these are currently $899.

HF linky here

Rather than read 100 pages...recommendations for a better generator for the money?  Will double as the home backup generator during storm season.  If this is the preferred generator, any coupons or ways to get a discount?

I've never heard of this Firman brand.  Is this a Cosco house brand?  More to the point, would this one be preferable to the HF Predator unit?  I've got a 25% coupon for the HF unit, making it $675ish.

Thank you.  I overlooked that.  Now to decide between this or a pair of smaller dual-fuel units (that have sales or good prices right now).

If I ever got an RV my thought was to set it up to run solely on battery power (LiFePo4) for 24 hours, running highly efficient mini-split ACs (vs the 1960s tech roof units)

The generator would be a 2000-2500 dual-fuel unit, running primarily on propane, that runs a battery charger to charge/float the primary power system, ie the battery bank.  Supplemental would be roof solar, as much as can fit up there so that there is charge going into the battery, always, during daylight.

Shorepower would operate the same way, straight into the battery charger.

This way the power fluctuations would always be in the battery system instead of the genny (or shorepower)

Another Firman deal . Ebay

I picked up the Wen 3800 trailer ready generator that was posted way back in this thread.   It was $599 with free shipping direct from Wen.   Probably won’t be that cheap again, but they do go on sale often

Mine is now $799, but this one is similar and only $648.

https://wenproducts.com/collections/generators/products/wen-56450i-super-quiet-4500-watt-rv-ready-portable-inverter-generator-with-fuel-shut-off

Thanks!  I keep going back and forth about a pair of smaller units I can link together, or one bigger unit.  I need to make my decision on that.

I also have a 2000w inverter if we don’t need the larger one.    And they can be ran in parallel if needed

The 3500 will.
I have one and it runs the A/C just fine

I also may have it for sale as I have bigger one from Champion I use more... just because it has remote start


ETA:
My 5th wheel is a 50 amp and my gennys are 30 amp rated (27-29 amp output).

I have the Predator 3500 and the Champion 5500, both are inverter gennys.

both are very quiet, about 65 db rated. I can sleep with either running, as long as they are at the other end of the rig. I am half deaf ( ) and can have a conversation with someone standing right next to either genny. FYI.  
I am pretty much living in the RV full time and travel for work, so these things get used almost every day, 5-7 days a week, depending on how much I am moving around.
They both are top quality bit of equipment in my opinion. Light enough to move easily, good fuel consumption, quiet and can run a lot of stuff.
To be honest they both get loud when I run the A/C (13.5), gets a bit louder with running the microwave, same if I am running the electric fireplace. Barely louder while running the gas furnace.
I have run both of my A/C units just to see how much they scream and if they can handle a 13.5 and 15K BTU units. They can, but they are wound up tight.

The 3500 has a 2.7 gal tank and I will use about 3-4 gallons a day without any A/C. Running the furnace is included with that. I have a routine of filling it at 0900 and 2000 hours. I have never run it out of fuel this way.
The 5500 has a 3.5 gallon tank (I think) and same thing. They are pretty identical on performance.

They are both listed about the same price. 3500 is about $900 and the 5500 is about $1K.

The 5500 is easier to move around as it has larger wheels and a collapsible handle, the 3500 has smaller wheels and no handle.

Maint. on both is the same, about 1/2 qt of oil to change, spark arrester is easy to get to and clean out, and I think they use the same plug. Takes me about 30-45 min to do this. Most of the time is waiting on the oil to drain.


I have been lucky as to not have to run the A/C at all in the last 3-4 months, but my goal is to chase 70 deg. temps, so I dont have to run any A/C. I am also not a fatbody, so I can stand heat as long as I have air movement, i.e a fan or fans.
As I stated above, running the heat options are not a biggy, but I will run the furnace over the elec. fireplace as it it less noisy, but uses the propane over gas, so a wash.

OH, both are electric start and is flawless in that area. Both have a pull start as a back up. The 3500 pull start line broke within a few days. Not sure why, but the start button still works

Hope that helps anyone looking for real world use

Check out the Champion Open Frame Inverters as well. I wound up with one and it has been fine for residential and emergency use. I will note, I picked up a deal on a Pulsar 2300 watt when Walmart had them under 300. The smaller suitcase size is super convenient. Honestly if you’re looking to be in that 4000W power zone for your generators, 2 suitcase size generators with Parallel capability are convenient.

If you can shop around all these generators seem to go on and off sale quite a bit. Wen had some great sales at the end of the year.

I’m of the opinion that if you run them regularly, keep new ethanol free gas in them, and change the oil/service them properly, most of these generators will be fine for basic use.

Also, get one of these

https://www.harborfreight.com/battery-operated-liquid-transfer-pump-63847.html

If the fuel in either of my generators starts getting older, I pump it into my car and just refill the generator with new fuel. Makes transfer extremely easy.

I went back 10 pages, which took me into last year.  Looks like this sale direct from WEN is on par with some of the "good deal" sales on inverter, dual fuel ~2500w units earlier in the thread (aside from some $300 sales on the 2k - 2200w units).  Any reason not to just jump on this?

https://wenproducts.com/collections/dual-fuel-generators/products/wen-df250i-super-quiet-2500-w-portable-dual-fuel-inverter-generator-with-fuel-shut-off

For the guys running a camper air conditioner with a generator, I installed one of these soft start units to reduce the amperage surge requirement when the unit kicks on.

They claim it "eliminates low-power RV A/C start-up problems for any RV AC unit on any rig."

https://www.softstartrv.com/

I was not aware of these until I started looking for generator stuff.  Another thing to put on the "buy" list.

Trick is not to be where A/C is not needed.

Not like you can just hook it to a pick up truck and go to where it is cooler.



I am doing pretty well for not even using the A/C in the last 4-5 months of full time mobile.

Finally got set up to run the house on that weak little thing.
Put a shunt across an unused double pole breaker, and used a cable of death to plug it into a garage outlet.

Result: running the sump pump, and only the sump pump, kills it dead on overload protection. I don't know what the locked rotor amps on the pump are, but they're beyond this generator.

Will run my fridge or my freezer, struggles a bit during startup but it runs them fine. But it can't start the fridge while the freezer is running, and it can't start the freezer while the fridge is running. 82 running watts on the freezer is apparently less than the excess capacity available when starting the fridge.

So, I've got a tiny quiet cheap generator that's very easy on gas, and can run lights/TV/laptop while the fridge or freezer is running, but I can't run a sump pump and probably can't start the fridge while the laptop is charging.

I'd have to shed loads, start the fridge, then put the other loads back on, and turn off the breaker to the fridge once it shuts down so that it doesn't start itself back up when I'm using other stuff.

It was a warm day, so I didn't think to test the furnace. I'm already convinced that I can't use it to run the fridge and furnace overnight, because it'll shut itself off if the fridge comes on while the furnace is running.

Conclusion: the Sportsman 1000i is more hassle than it's worth, because it's too weak to run furnace/fridge/freezer unattended while I sleep. Wish I'd bought a Pulsar 2300 when Home Depot had them (a couple years ago) for $100 more than I paid for the Sportsman.

Need to rename thread to
Harbor Freight "Inverter Generators" NOW OFFICIAL BUDGET NEVER GOING TO SHIP GENERATOR THREAD

A battery bank may handle the load, including surge, while the genny keeps the battery bank charged up.

but that means having a battery bank of course.

that's why I went with a 2500

Good point, I could run everything 120v off this tiny generator and a big UPS, as the generator puts out safely more than my average load.

Seems like a competitive price. $449++

https://www.farmandfleet.com/products/1473080-champion-power-equipment-2500-watt-ultralight-portable-dual-fuel-inverter-generator.html

You have the capability for 37 1/2 amps, and potentially more if you would add a paralleled generator,  I would not go lower than a 50 amp circuit. Especially if you're going to be using a bridged setup powered with 120v generators. I'd be tempted to go up a wire gauge on the neutral if you're planning for bridged.

And a lot of people think they need an 8000 or 10000 watt generator.

aside from the $50 price difference, input on why I would choose the Champion over this WEN?

https://wenproducts.com/collections/dual-fuel-generators/products/wen-df250i-super-quiet-2500-w-portable-dual-fuel-inverter-generator-with-fuel-shut-off

the Champion's output on gas is the same as the WEN's output on propane.  All things being equal, I'd choose the WEN for this additional output.

This is it y’all, amazing price for dual fuel Champion. Wish I would have been able to pick this one up when I was looking for a small genset.

Depends on what you want or need to run.

I’d suggest Wen as an option, but Champion has been around for awhile, and has a reputation as reliable with great customer service.