Use of RV Surge Protector with Generator

Hi Everyone. This video shows how to easily get a surge protector to work on an inverter generator.
We hook up our 30A surge protector to our new Champion inverter generator for our travel trailer.

[@kevinmartin4787]

Great job! Watching from Central, Texas

[@KevinCoop1]

In case anyone would like an explanation. This has absolutely nothing to do with earth ground. In almost every electrical service, regardless of size, at the first overcurrent protection (fuse or breaker) the neutral and equipment ground are bonded together. So, shore power has the bond at its main. An onboard generator has the bond from neutral to ground. Inverter generators are not bonded neutral to ground. What does this do? Equipment ground is that third prong on your plugs, and the bare wire in the cables you normally see. If for some reason there is contact from a hot to the metal box on your microwave for instance, the metal will be energized to 120 volts. That equipment ground is connected to the metal case. The energy goes through the bare wire back to the panel, back to the generator, through the plug in the video to neutral, through the generator and trips the circuit breaker. In your house, this sends the power out and through the transformer and comes back to trip the breaker. Hope this helps someone understand. Best wishes, Kevin

[@mattwaters6987]

OK, that makes sense. Thanks!

[@CT9905.]

A bonding plug 🔌!

[@averagecanadians]

Thanks Joe, I should have included that.

[@vincenttumminello5456]

You don't need a surge protector with an inverter generator. They have electronics that clean up the power and keep your voltage and hertz stable.

[@averagecanadians]

Hi Vincent. From what I have read you are correct however what about RV’s that have surge protectors built into their electrical system? Either way, I still use our surge protector, call me over protective lol.

[@jeffreyhalverson83]

Yeah, but this is a great video because people have their surge protectors hard wired into their system.

[@danray9744]

And you don't really need one with a Regular Generator that has a AVR (Automatic Voltage Regular ) that will keep the Output Voltage stable Most of the Newer Higher Quality Generators have a AVR ,Older or Cheaper Generators Use a Capacitor to control the Voltage output and the Voltage can Surge Spike Hi & Low when a load is added or removed , If your buying a Non Inverter Generator Make sure it has a AVR and your go to go.

[@averagecanadians]

Hi Dan. agreed that the models with voltage regulators and even those with inverters like ours may not require a surge protector or the 'bonding plug' but there are still the trailers that have surge protectors built into their factory wiring so I believe this procedure will still be required just for the generator to be able to power the trailer.

[@jeffreyhalverson83]

@@averagecanadians that is correct.

[@alwaysmoody800]

Could you provide a link for your surge protector . ... Or the brand & model number ? Thank you so much .

[@averagecanadians]

Southwire Surge Guard model 44380. I believe this is an entry level for Southwire.

[@robertscherer6343]

$10 bucks on amazon

[@TOURMANBOB]

I do not understand why you need to do this. I plug in my Honda EU6500 to my home Generlink unit and there is no indication of any ground problem. Maybe I'm missing something here..

[@averagecanadians]

Hi Robert. This video pertains to recreational vehicles that have a built in surge protector or if someone wishes to use a surge protector that is not built in. The surge protector will not allow the generator to power the trailer without this mod.

[@TOURMANBOB]

@@averagecanadians Ok, thanks for your explanation; however, I don't really understand how an RV would be an different from a house but I will do some searching to find out.,

[@danray9744]

@@TOURMANBOB Only need to do the Mod if your going to use a Surge Protector it needs a Ground and the Gene only has a Hot and Neutral hook the Ground Pin to the Neutral pin now the Surge Protector thinks it has a Ground , No need to do this Mod if hooking to your house which has Hot , Neutral, Ground

[@bansheerider619]

@@TOURMANBOB a house doesn't have built in surge protectors like some RV's do.