Converter Switch

Jul 19, 2003 Sat0Generator, Electrical
Jul 19, 2003 Sat 6:23:42 PM EDT

On a recent trip out west I used my Honda EU3000i generator every day. It powered my 13,500 air conditioner, the power converter, the refrigerator and a crock pot. Everything worked fine except for one hot day near Page Arizona when the generator kicked out due to overload a couple of times.

I didn't want to turn off the crock pot because it was cooking supper. My fridge does not work well on LP at freeway speeds and I have to run it on the generator. I think the problem is because the chimney baffle was not reinstalled when my dealer replaced my fridge last year. The heat from the LP flame escapes too quickly at freeway speeds and does not properly heat the cooling unit. I'll get back to that problem later.

Anyway the converter can pull several hundred watts so I decided to install a switch so I could turn off the AC going to it when I am running the generator. The truck will keep the Wildcat battery charged anyway while traveling so there is no need to power the converter from the generator.

I also will get my fridge fixed so it will work correctly on LP at freeway speeds. Then the only load on the generator will be the air conditioner and sometimes the crock pot. I don't think I will ever have any more overload problems with the generator.

I have tested the Honda EU3000i several times in hot weather with the air conditioner and it has never had any trouble starting it.

I used the same type of switch as I used for the electric water heater element. It has a neon light to indicate whether the power is on or off. I installed the switch about three feet above the power panel just below a horizontal stud in the wall. This wall is hollow from there down to the power panel. Behind the power panel in the rear storage area is a cover. Remove this cover and you can see other wires coming down the hollow wall and going into the power panel.

The wire powering the converter is usually on the same breaker as the outlets. Remove it from the breaker and connect it via 14/2 house wire to one side of your switch. Connect the other side of the switch to the same terminal on the breaker you removed the converter wire from. The converter is still protected by the circuit breaker and the switch controls power to the converter.

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