Hooking up a 240-volt genny to a 50-amp RV
What’s the right way to do this?
ANNOUNCEMENT
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Dear Mike,
Most generators, with the exception of really large units, 10kW or bigger, do not have a 50-amp plug. I currently have a Honda 3000 and am looking to upgrade to the 7000 … the 7000 has both a 30-amp/120-volt and a 30-amp/240-volt connection. Is it possible to wire the 50-amp plug to the 30-amp/240-volt outlet on the Honda 7000? And if so, is there any advantage to doing this?
I may be thinking crazy but it seems that the 50-amp plug on the RV has two hot legs and the 30-amp/240-volt outlet on the generator has two hot legs, and other than the reduced amperage the direct connect should work? What is the right way to hook my 50-amp shore power cord to the generator? —Bob T
Dear Bob,
Camco already makes that exact product. It has a male, twist-lock, 30-amp 120/240-volt plug on the generator side, and a female, 120/240-volt, 50-amp, NEMA 14-50 outlet on the camper side.
As for operation, since this class of generator outputs around 30 amps of current per each of its two legs, and each leg is tied to one of the 50-amp bus connections inside of your RV’s distribution panel, you’ll have a total of 60 amps of current available (30+30 amps) from the generator. However, that’s not the full 100 amps (50+50 amps) from a pedestal with a split 50-amp, split-phase 120/240-volt outlet. But with this type of adapter you’ll be able to utilize the full 7,000 watts from the generator (30 amps x 120 volts x 2 legs = 7,200 watts).
So it should work perfectly to power your RV within the power limitations of the generator.
Floating neutral problems
But remember that most (perhaps all) inverter generators from Honda, Champion, Predator and others have a floating neutral. So if you want your generator to power an intelligent/EMS surge protector, you’ll probably need to add my G-N bonding plug to the generator’s 20-amp outlets.
Here’s the dog-bone adapter from Camco.
Here’s my article from on how generator Neutral/Ground bonding works.
Here’s where you can purchase a Neutral/Ground bonding plug on Amazon if you don’t want to wire one yourself.
Some of the products above have affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
Let’s play safe out there (especially around electricity)…
I have a Honda eu 7000 is. Here are the power output specs from Honda: AC Output 120/240V 7000W max. (58.3/29.1A) 5500W rated (45.8/22.9A). I checked on the Honda website and downloaded the manual and could not find a spec for how long it can output at its peak power output. I always thought it was 30 sec but it may be longer. I have used it to power my house during power outages for many years with no issues. It can start and run my 1.5 HP well pump which draws 2kW (and much more at start-up) along with other normal loads without a hiccup. In all the years of running it, I’ve never tripped its internal circuit breaker. That’s said, it can’t start my 1.5 ton AC compressor which even has a soft start. I would think it would work just fine powering a 5th wheel as long as you don’t exceed its continuous and peak power and current ratings. It is a heavy beast weighing in at over 250 lbs! It is amazingly quiet. In the eco mode, you can have a conversation right next to it in a normal speaking voice.