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Possible to connect two inverter generators to one L14-30 socket?

8K views 2 replies 2 participants last post by  agentv3 
#1 · (Edited)
I need to bounce an idea off this forum and see if it could work. I wanted to replace my current portable generator with something quieter and more fuel efficient, and be able to run some of the circuits in my house through my transfer panel. The panel connects to the generator through an L14-30 240v twist lock plug. The new units I'm looking at are a pair of Yamaha EF2000is inverter generators, which should power everything I need in an emergency. I know Yamaha sells a kit that lets you run two together for double the amperage output, but it outputs to an L5-20 plug, and obviously won't fit my panel. The only unit they make that has the L14-30 is the EF6500is, and that is a little too much for me to get, but I will be able to get two of the EF2000is units.

I know that the L14-30 consists of two 120v hot wires, one neutral, and one ground. The idea I came up with was to have each generator power one side of an L14-30 receptacle that the transfer panel would connect to, the idea being that each generator will power half of the panel, like a normal generator would. The arrangement would be one generator on one hot wire, the other one connected to the other hot wire, both connected to a common neutral and ground on the receptacle. I believe the Yamahas have floating neutrals, based on the amount of research I've done on them. If it helps, the panel is a Reliance Controls Pro/Tran panel, and it's neutral and ground are attached to their respective bars inside the main breaker panel.

I guess the big question is would this actually work like I think it will?
 
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#2 · (Edited)
If the kit lets you connect two generators to supply their combined outputs to a single receptacle of one kind (size and shape), then the two generators are capable of supplying their combined output to a different kind of receptacle (with the same pin-outs hot hot neutral ground etc) of your choice.

But you must use the kit and connect it up according to the instructions and use generators (make and model) intended to be so combined, and only the receptacle itself is changed out.

Typically the size and shape of a receptacle stands for its maximum amperage.

Improper connection, or connecting generators together without a kit, may result in the generators' getting out of phase relative to one another which makes for a tremendous short circuit.

You may connect one 120 volt generator to one side of a 120/240 volt panel and another 120 volt generator to the other side provided you don't have any 240 volt loads or 240 volt receptacles.
 
#3 ·
That's what I was wondering about. The kit that Yamaha sells for the EF2000is is essentially a box with an L5-20 receptacle (a 3 prong 120v receptacle) and and a set of plugs for each generator. It basically ties both hots, neutrals, and grounds to their respective ports on the socket to double the output from 13 amps to 26 amps. The inverter in the generators is what allows them to do this, they'll put out 120v/60hz consistently even with the engine idling, and actually have electronic throttles that can change engine speed depending on load. Standard generators can't do this since they need to run at a constant RPM to achieve 120v/60hz, and any variation in engine RPM while they're tied together will result in a fireworks show.

My arrangement is the same except one of the hot wires is tied to the opposite port on the L14-30 with the two generators sharing the neutral and ground port. There are no 240v connections to the transfer panel, only 120v connections, so my arrangement would be supplying each side of the panel with 13 amps (the current generators supplies 15 amps to each side of the panel).

Thank for your response, this project is several months away, but I want to know as much as possible before jumping in.
 
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