| Author |
Message |
sherryd (216.81.100.52)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 7:46 pm: | |
We have a 4104 that is wired for 50 amp service and had to replace a 6kw generator with a 4kw that is 30 amps. Does the wiring have to be changed back to 30 or is there a way to use the 50. The 6kw had 4 wires and the 4kw has only 3. Help!...Sherryd4104 |
Bill Gerrie (65.49.74.228)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 8:16 pm: | |
It sounds like the 6kw was wired for 240 volts and the 4kw is wired for 120 volts. What you have is basicly two separate circuts in your bus. You take the two live wires (black)(one might have been red, Treat it as a black one) from each line that used to go to the gen set and join them together. You join each of the two nuetral (white) lines that used to go to the gen set together so that you now have only one black and one white line. These two lines now go to the proper place in the new gen set. You have now joined the two circuts into one so you will have to watch the amount of amps you use as you now only have 30 instead of the 50 you had. Hope you can understand this. Bill |
Dwight (65.141.6.201)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 12:13 am: | |
You did not say if the gen fed a female 50 amp plug or a transfer switch...but the wiring change would be the same, only in the transfer switch, instead of the female plug.....
The 50 amp had 4 wires, top was a ground (usally green) bottom was the commom (usally white) and the 2 sides were the 2 hot legs (usally black & red).. now on the 30 amp you have top ground (usally green) one side common (usally white) and the other side hot (usally black) ..
1. from the 30 amp generator wire the ground (usally green) to the top of plug on the 50 amp plug
2. from the 30 amp generator wire the white common (usally white) to the bottom of the 50 amp plug
3. from the 30 amp generator wire the hot (usally black) to both of the sides of the 50 amp plug (you can use a jumper in the plug to wire them together, #10 wire would be fine).
4. leave every thing else on or in the bus panel the same !! only rewire the plug that is feed by the generator... |
Stan (216.95.238.97)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 3:59 pm: | |
Does everyone assume the 30 amp unit is a 120 volt unit? It could be a 240 volt only with a ground or it could be a 120 - 240 without a ground wire. Knowing this information is vital before giving any re-wiring instructions. If you replace a 240 generator with a 120 volt you will not have 240 volts for any 240 volt appliance or device in the coach. If the replacement unit is a common RV type it probably is a 120 - 240 generator that has to have the generator wires changed in the terminal box to provide 120 -240 volt 4 wire service. |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (24.196.191.70)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 5:52 pm: | |
I would suggest that the 4kw unit be reconnected the same as the 6kw unit was wired. Then no internal wiring changes in the electrical system is required.
Richard |
Dwight (65.138.102.228)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 12:06 am: | |
Stan, I agree with you, I did just like you did ?? how do you know, that there are 240 volt appliances in the bus ??
But I do not know that I have seen a gen. wired interanlly for 240 volt with 3 wires to tie to ???
But I have been wrong before !!
Sherry
start the 30 amp gen and check what voltage it puts out... |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (24.196.191.70)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 9:56 am: | |
Most RV type gensets can be connected internally for 120 volts two wire (plus ground), or for 240/120 volts three wire (plus ground).
Sounds like Sherry really needs to find someone who understands genset wiring and electrical systems in conversions.
Richard |
Stan (216.95.238.84)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 8:55 am: | |
I will take Richard's comment one step further and try to help you. A 240 volt generator has two hot wires with 240 volts between them. A 240-120 generator has the same two wires plus a center tap which becomes the neutral white wire and has 120 volts to each hot wire. Since electrical codes require a physical ground wire there is usually (installed at the factory) a fourth wire which is green or bare and is simply bolted to the iron frame of the generator. For electrical safety, there is no requirement that this wire be included with the other three. For convenience it is usually done with a four wire plug, but as long as there is a physical bond between the generator frame and the sytem ground it is safe. Note that I am referring to actual safe operation and not what various codes may require. If you are getting involved with modern inverters that require neutral switching you will need a lot of expert advice. |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (24.196.191.70)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 11:18 am: | |
To further amplify on Stans excellent post, the straight 240 volt system is called a two wire system, and the 240/120 volt system is called a three wire system.
Someone mentioned a three wire system, and to my knowledge, this term is only used when discussing three phase power. Never with single phase as we use in the conversions.
Richard |