buddy plug - Printable Version
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+--- Thread: buddy plug (/showthread.php?tid=2276)
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buddy plug - encantotom - 04-26-2015
hi, a dumb question because i have never used it or thought of it....
how does it work?
is it live all the time?
so if i was out drycamping with someone who had a trailer, could they plug in and share my power without doing anything?
does it share the inverter power?
or just whatever power is on the panel. (genny or shore?)
thanks
tom
RE: buddy plug - Chester Stone - 04-26-2015
Not sure, but since it is a 50 amp plug, I would think that it only works through the genny or shore, and it would otherwise overload the inverter. Just a guess.
RE: buddy plug - prairieschooner - 04-26-2015
I may have what you are asking about.
There is a 50 Amp Receptacle that is on a short cord that is connected to the Output side of my Source Relay Panel (on the same side of the Relays that goes to the House). This way the "Buddy Receptacle" would be able to use the same Power that I am using Generator or Shore.
It cannot use the Inverter Power to the "Buddy Receptacle", I wired my Inverter to a dedicated Circuit. I installed a 3 Position Isolation Switch at the Circuit Breaker Panel so that I can choose to use the Shore Power not using the Inverter, Off, Inverter Power.
RE: buddy plug - Dmatz - 04-26-2015
For sure works off of the generator never tried it on shore power. Does not provide inverter power.
RE: buddy plug - Yachts - 04-26-2015
Works off of shore power too
RE: buddy plug - HoosierDaddy - 04-27-2015
I have used mine to power my buddy's t trailer from my generator. He was happy to be able to run his A/C!
RE: buddy plug - Express1 - 04-27-2015
(04-26-2015, 03:39 PM)encantotom Wrote: hi, a dumb question because i have never used it or thought of it....I was once hooked to shore, Cannon pulled up along the side in his 47. We ran and powered everything all night until leaving early one morning...0 issues. all 50 service!
how does it work?
is it live all the time?
so if i was out drycamping with someone who had a trailer, could they plug in and share my power without doing anything?
does it share the inverter power?
or just whatever power is on the panel. (genny or shore?)
thanks
tom
RE: buddy plug - Fulltiming - 04-27-2015
Only issue you would run into is monitoring air conditioner loads. It would be really easy to exceed the breaker limits even on 50 amp with several AC'S running in your coach and in the coach or trailer plugged into yours. Last time David and Denise were visiting they plugged into my buddy plug with their 30 amp class B and we had no issues but I did keep only 2 of my AC'S running.
RE: buddy plug - Yachts - 04-27-2015
Ethan is true. My old stacker had a large bard ac on it, the equivalent of 2-3 roof airs.. When I plugged it into my 50 amp and had all the ac/s on my coach going I could pop the breaker at the pole very easily.
RE: buddy plug - bestgenman - 05-02-2015
I can shed some light on the "buddy plug" wiring that started with an 89 and included 2000, & several newer coaches. They have all been wired alike.
The total description and you already know most of this:
Shore and generator inputs merge at the XFER. The output of the XFER feeds into the (circuit breaker panelboard) AKA "panel" through a two pole 50A breaker. The buddy plug is fed from taps (connecting to the main lugs of the panel) and is therefore protected by the same 2 pole 50. Ordinarily, (if it was under the National Code Jurisdiction) you would feed the into the panel with the output of the XFER connecting to the main lugs and subfeed the buddy plug with the 2 pole 50.
Newell is smart! Their arrangement allows you to to reset the breaker in the panel if overloaded and additionally protects the #6-4 cable that runs from the panel to the XFER. If wired per NEC, the buddy plug load plus the coach's load are now protected by the feeder breaker (either gen or shore). If you are on generator and loads increase to trip point you'll have to roll out the gen to get to the set's breaker, Newell's method lets you go to the closet. Pretty smart if you ask me.
Another reason I really like a Newell!