Question about Electrical/Generator

Hi,
 
I am having a Pace American concession trailer built and have a question about the electrical system.
 
There will be a 50 amp panel with a 50 amp auto transfer switch for the generator. I will be buying the generator separately and most generators I looked at had only a 30 Amp outlet like the honda EU6500 or EM500.  My question is how will I connect the two together?
 
Also does anyone have experience with Pace American?
 
Regards,
Daniel

You will have to make an adaptor. This is a typical problem even for hooking up a home to a generator. The plugs never work. See a licensed electrician.

How many amps will you draw from that 50a panel?

Hi,  Thanks for the reply's.
 
I will be running ,
 
True T-49 Cooler 9.1 Amps
True GDM-9 Counter top Cooler 4.1 Amps
6 Gallon hot water heater 12.5 Amps?
3 well steam table 12.5 Amps
3 X 4 Foot double florescent lights ?
5 Interior 15 Amp plugs for miscellaneous things
 
Also I will be having a hood with side venting made, similar to the trucks like Wyss or Armenco. They run on 12 V power but I'm not sure if I should go that route or put it on 120 V?
 
Thanks,
Daniel
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

You are over 38a before lights and plugs, the 30a receptical ain't gonna do it. You might be able to juggle things to keep the breaker on the gennerator from popping, but that is a major PITA....

Hi,
 
Thanks chefbuba. Do you think I should get a bigger generator or upgrade 100 AMP panel? I will be using the generator about 2 hours a day and the rest of the time I will be on shore power.
 
Also is it recommended to have an automatic transfer switch?
 
Thanks,
Daniel

ditch the water heater for an instant on propane unit... that frees up 12.5 amps right off the bat..... 
i would ditch 2 of the fluorescent fixtures (keep the one for cooking area) and go with super bright LED's (12 volt) for everything else.... should free up another 10 amps or so.....
leave the hood fan 12 volt if it handles what you need from it....
 
build a suitable 12 volt system to to compliment your 120ac and you should be fine
 
 

Thanks for the suggestions BackAlleyBurger,
 
Great idea going with the on demand water heater and lighting.
 
Regards,
Daniel

DROSS
        I can help you...I'm a licensed electrical contractor in addition to having a patent on a generator switch...
        Your looking at a 12kw generator WITHOUT a start up load. The generators your looking at are 30 amp outlets BECAUSE that is what they are rated for...probably 7.2 KW or less. You will either have to learn to juggle loads or increase the generator size... DO NOT make an adapter for a 50amp load and plug it into a 30 receptacle.. you will just kill the generator in a short time OR it will just die out all the time... 
hope this helps..too bad I cant sell you our product but its not that application!

Thanks Lee,
 
Wow, it seems so complicated. We run on 7000 k Onon generator on Wyss truck I work on with no problems. I am going out on my own and building a trailer similar to the truck I work on. I talked with Onan said they could wire a 5500 or 6500 generator to 50 amp panel no problem.
 
The problem I am having now is Pace american doesn't do a converter for a 50 Amp panel, only for a 30 Amp panel. Also I want two batteries interconnected to the convertor for charging.
 
I found a link below that explains a lot about electrical systems. Hope it helps everyone.
 
I can't post links because I am a new member! Message me if you wan't the link  
   
   
 
Regards,
Daniel

Dr. of BBQ,
 
I can't respond to PM'S either, have to been a member more than 15 days
 

dross....how do you like that Wyss truck?  They built several movie trucks for the company I worked for, IMO, far better than the other builders that we bought trucks from....
and no leaky roof with them.

Here is the link

http://www.rv-dreams.com/rv-electrical.html
 
Regards,
Daniel

Hi Chefbuba,
 
The company I work for has two of them and I like them a lot, no big problems in the last 11 years besides the usual maintenance. I have never had a roof leek. I wish I could afford to buy a new one that is why I am going with a trailer instead.
 
Daniel

Thanks for posting the link for me Dr of BBQ

dross


Thanks Lee,

Wow, it seems so complicated. We run on 7000 k Onon generator on Wyss truck I work on with no problems. I am going out on my own and building a trailer similar to the truck I work on. I talked with Onan said they could wire a 5500 or 6500 generator to 50 amp panel no problem.

The problem I am having now is Pace american doesn't do a converter for a 50 Amp panel, only for a 30 Amp panel. Also I want two batteries interconnected to the convertor for charging.

I found a link below that explains a lot about electrical systems. Hope it helps everyone.

I can't post links because I am a new member! Message me if you wan't the link  
  
  

Regards,
Daniel

 
Wiring a 30 amp gen set to a 50 amp panel is not a problem.    ... I've wired a 30 amp gen to 100 amp panel (abt 5 min).   ... The problem is delivering 50 amps when all the gen set can furnish is 30 amps.     ... This is about like trying to put out a house fire with a 1/2 garden water hose.    I think the max. running load of a 50 amps service is abt 41 -42 amps (???)  ... Oh, the 30 amp gen set, should not be loaded more than about 23 to 25 amps under steady running load.
 
If you do this, then you have to decide what electrical equipment can be used and which cannot be used.  If you exceed 30 amps, the overload breaker at the gen set should trip as the 50 amp panel main is useless.

Dross I believe the question started when someone figured your load to be 38 amps...what I said was DO NOT adapt a 50 amp load to a 30 amp plug and plug it in
   Any size generator can be wired into anything that has larger capacity not the reverse...So if you had a 400 amp service you could still use a generator that put out 30 amps..common sense tells us that your not getting more than the generator will give. NEC (National Electrical Code) has endless rules but just as a rule of thumb don't exceed 80% of the rating 30 amps.
So Onan is absolutely correct they can wire into ANYTHING larger than what the generator is capable to produce.
 
EDWMAX...you may have "hot wired" a 30 amp gen into a 100 amp panel in 5 minutes...you certainly did not do it code.   NOt that I care...I'm grateful that is what inspired my invention..EZ Generator Switch