Help with Hunt Camp Generator

sbound

sbound

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
186   0   1
Location
On station eight, shooting the second low house.
Hello fellow hunters... I have a question that I am hoping some of you with electrical know how can answer for me:

For years, we have been running our hunt camp on a 5000 watt Honda Generator. There is a wire coming from the camp electrical panel which has a 120/240 30 amp twist lock 4-prong plug which plugged directly into the generator and worked like a charm.

Unfortunately it appears the generator is at the end of its life and we have upgraded to a 3500w inverter. The problem is that the new inverter doesn’t have the same plugin and is only a 120 30 amp which is also twist lock but 3-prong instead of 4.

I have scoured the internet and all of the local electrical retailers trying to find some kind of adapter,
with no luck.

Has anyone else run into this, and if so, what was the fix?

Thanks
 
Do you have any 240v loads? If so you are unfortunately sol. If every thing is 120v just lop off the existing pug and terminate the correct one. You will have to rearrange your breakers so you are all on the same phase. You no longer have an A/B bus only A or B.
 
Depending on what configuration your electrical panel is (120V only or 120/240V) you can make your own adapter. A 4 prong receptacle connected to a 3 prong plug using 10 gauge wire. You need to see how the 4 prong plug is connected in the panel to determine what to do with the fourth prong.
 
Cool, your panel will have two hot legs A & B plus neutral and ground of course.You need to arrange all the loads on one or the other and then utilize that leg when you terminate the new male plug and cut off the redundant wire. The receptacle will have the number for the configuration of the male plug. I’m to lazy to get my code book right now but I can pm you tomorrow......
 
All you need to do is purchase a new male end for the cord. Ensure it is the same configuration as the generator. It will probably have a twist lock 230V outlet on your 3500W generator
 
Your old genny was running 240v to the panel. If you have no double pole breakers you could tie the 2 hot wires together in a 3 prong 120v plug to 4 prong socket adapter.

Dont tie the legs together in the panel in case someone decides to go to another generator later on.
 
Last edited:
blargon said:
Your old genny was running 240v to the panel. If you have no double pole breakers you could tie the 2 hot wires together in a 3 prong 120v plug to 4 prong socket adapter.

Dont tie the legs together in the panel in case someone decides to go to another generator later on.
Click to expand...


this.

if the wires are done correctly there should be 3 or 4 wires on your current plug. the 2 live wires - red and black, a neutral wire - white, and the ground - green or bare copper.

in the 220v set up each of the live wires carry 110v, but opposite, so 220v between them.

in your new setup you only have 1 - 110v line from you generator, so both live wires need to be connected to the same pole.

you may want to keep a note of this for anyone in the future getting a bigger 220v generator, or someone trying to wire up your panel with a 220v plug for something that needs 220v
 
I have a 3500 watts generator myself and I think this is what everybody refer to in terms of the set up for 220V below:

gLbBhmc.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom