Installation of the Microquiet Generator in the Front Compartment of the Camper
The Onan Microquiet 3600 LP
generator was selected for
installation
in my camper because:
- It provides 30 Amps of 115 vac power (at sea level) which matches
the camper's 30 Amp system.
- It will run the air conditioning, microwave, and other appliances
in the camper.
- It is one of the quietest permanent mount generators in it's class.
Visit
my generator noise webpage.
- It fit (very tight) in the generator compartment of my camper.
- It incorporates microcomputer diagnostics for troubleshooting.
- I like the green color.
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The female 30 amp
connector mounted in the electrical
box shown below (mounted in the compartment to the right of the
generator
in the above picture) is connected to the 115 vac output of the
generator.
The 30 amp male plug is connected to similar box in the back end of the
camper, which is connected to the camper electrical system. |
| High-res image of generator wiring | Printable PDF of generator wiring |
| Either forward or rear
plugs can be
disconnected, allowing
at 30 amp extension cord to connect the camper electrical system to
campground
power. When both connections are made as shown in these pictures,
camper power is supplied from the generator.
This wiring scheme is simple, flexable, requires no relays or switches, and eliminates the possibility of 115 vac generator power being back-fed into the utility grid. It also prevents 115 vac grid power from being back-fed into the generator. I have also fabricated a 25 foot 12 gauge extension cord, with a 30 amp female connecter for the RV and a 15 amp household plug on the other, for connecting to 15/20 amp household power outlets. |
Power to RV via the male pigtail to rear of camper  |
 The
Onan 3600LP
generator requires about 150 amps starting current. Because the
main RV 6 volt deep cycle batteries do not perform well as starting
batteries, the 12 vdc RV power would drop more than I prefered when
starting the generator. This caused some 12 vdc appliances (i.e.
stereo, DVD, DirecTV Rec.) to shut down during a generator start.
To rectify this
problem, I installed a small Sears automotive starting battery in the
landing gear compartment next to the generator. This battery is
dedicated to generator starting and cost about $40. It is chraged
from the 2 amp AUX output from the solar charge controller. This
simple low cost solution has worked well. See my RV Solar page for a block diagram. |
| LP was selected because: - The camper has two 40 lb LP tanks, eliminating the need to carry gasoline (diesel truck). - LP does not cause deposits in the engine when it is stored for long periods of time. - LP burns cleaner that gasoline. Fuel Consumption / Run Time:
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