Generator installation

[spindrift]

I received the generator prep package. For those of you who purchased the whole enchilada, can you please share the method by which the factory tied the generator into the LP gas system? Additionally, if you could tell me whether there is any additional floor support that would be great as well. Any pics of the install would be appreciated. Thanks.

[atom ant]

I have the same questions. It looks like the transfer switch is up behind the prep box. I really don't like the unsupported floor, but Dave said that is exactly how his is installed. I'm curious too where the LP tap is. My Montana had a "T" and a plug, but it was on the wrong side.

[spindrift]

Just got off the phone with RW. We'll need to find a convenient spot to T off the main (black iron) gas line and run pipe to the generator area. Obviously, you need a flexible hose connection between the pipe end and genny. The fuel inlet connection on the Onan 5500 is 3/8" - 18 NPTF. Can you say, "generator prep package"?

[mhs4771]

On our RL the Tee is mounted in the Road side Propane compartment just after the switch over regand a flexible hose line runs from that Tee to the Genny.

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by mhs4771

On our RL the Tee is mounted in the Road side Propane compartment just after the switch over regÂ*and a flexible hose line runs from that Tee to the Genny.

mhs4771, Does the propane line for the generator run through the cabinet to the generator, our does it run underneath the cabinet?

These are so clean underneath compared to the Montana. There is much of anything underneath.

[Dave&Ginny]

My LP line runs through the upper part of my battery area and then through the fire box to the left side of my genny. The only thing running underneath is the exhaust.

[atom ant]

Cool, thanks Dave. Is it all the flex line I assume?

[Dave&Ginny]

Originally Posted by atom ant

Cool, thanks Dave. Is it all the flex line I assume?

Yes it's a black rubber hose. Send me your cell phone number and I'll text you a picture of it or if you have an I-phone we can facetime it.

[mhs4771]

Yep, ours is exactly the same as Dave's

[spindrift]

Finished installing the generator today. It's schweeeet! I'm accustomed to industrial transfer switches so bear with me on this one. I had the generator running and then connected shore power. In my mind, the transfer switch should "see" this as normal utility and direct the generator to shut down. This didn't happen so I turnedoff the generator manually. Is this how your switches operate or is there a time delay to generator shutdown and I simply didn't wait long enough? Thanks.

[atom ant]

All the transfer switch does is close the relays on the generator side and opens them on the AC side whenever it sees power from the generator. shut down the generator, and the relays flip back over to AC. No automatic anything really.

[mhs4771]

We don't have an auto-shutdown of the genny upon the return of shore power. My understanding is that as long as the genny is running the transfer switch will continue to supply genny power to the rig. Once the genny is shutdown, manually, the transfer switch will switch back to shore power whether it's there or not. This is how I understand it, and in testing seems to function that way.

[spindrift]

Then it appears the transfer switch is in fact, <b style="font-style: italic;">not[/b] automatic.

[Dave&Ginny]

Originally Posted by mhs4771

We don't have an auto-shutdown of the genny upon the return of shore power. My understanding is that as long as the genny is running the transfer switch will continue to supply genny power to the rig. Once the genny is shutdown, manually, the transfer switch will switch back to shore power whether it's there or not. This is how I understand it, and in testing seems to function that way.

You are correct...that's the way mine works.

[atom ant]

It's automatic in the fact it automatically flips over to generator power and isolates shore power when the generator powers up.

[Dave&Ginny]

Originally Posted by spindrift

Finished installing the generator today. It's schweeeet! I'm accustomed to industrial transfer switches so bear with me on this one. I had the generator running and then connected shore power. In my mind, the transfer switch should "see" this as normal utility and direct the generator to shut down. This didn't happen so I turnedoff the generator manually. Is this how your switches operate or is there a time delay to generator shutdown and I simply didn't wait long enough? Thanks.

There is a delay in switching power but the unit will not shut down automatically.

[homeguy]

I don't have one on our rig but on commercial/residential back-up generators, you have a coold down period after power is restored. If these don't do that, be careful of shutting them off too soon.

[Buddy]

Originally Posted by Dave&Ginny

My LP line runs through the upper part of my battery area and then through the fire box to the left side of my genny. Â*The only thing running underneath is the exhaust.

Can you hear it run in the bedroom?

[Buddy]

Originally Posted by atom ant

All the transfer switch does is close the relays on the generator side and opens them on the AC side whenever it sees power from the generator.Â* shut down the generator, and the relays flip back over to AC.Â* No automatic anything really.

How much propane does the Onan 5.5 use with the A/C running?

[Adamsvr]

Cummins says that under full load, the Onan 5.5 uses 1.1 gallons of LP gas per hour. For half load it is .8G/Hour.