Bob NH
In the Trades
I believe that Part III of Article 551 applies to generators that are mounted in or upon the RV; not separate units that may be on the ground away from the RV and connected to it by a cable. That conclusion comes from the terms and definitions used in Part III of Article 551.
Therefore, the code doesn't apply to the generator described in the original post. It would apply to the CABLE used to connect that generator to the RV, and the practices used to safely connect to that generator may be appropriate when such a generator is used.
Consequently, there is no requirement that a generator not mounted in or upon the RV be listed for use in an RV.
Where I quote the code and make comments, my comments are in italic.
551.1 Scope. The provisions of this article cover the electrical conductors and equipment other than low-voltage and automotive vehicle circuits or extensions thereof, installed within or on recreational vehicles, the conductors that connect recreational vehicles to a supply of electricity, and the installation of equipment and devices related to electrical installations within a recreational vehicle park. (A generator owned by an owner of a recreational vehicle, and set upon the ground some distance from the recreational vehicle, which may or may not be in a recreational vehicle park, is not an "electrical installation" and does not fall within any of the terms of the SCOPE of Article 551.)
551.30 Generator Installations (Note the term installations.)
(A) Mounting. Generators shall be mounted in such a way as to be effectively bonded to the recreational vehicle chassis. (Mounting implies in or upon; mounting doesn't mean sitting on the ground 50 ft away.)
(C) Installation of . . . . Storage batteries and internal-combustion-driven generators shall be secured in place . . . ("Secured in place" excludes generators not in or upon the RV.
Therefore, the code doesn't apply to the generator described in the original post. It would apply to the CABLE used to connect that generator to the RV, and the practices used to safely connect to that generator may be appropriate when such a generator is used.
Consequently, there is no requirement that a generator not mounted in or upon the RV be listed for use in an RV.
Where I quote the code and make comments, my comments are in italic.
551.1 Scope. The provisions of this article cover the electrical conductors and equipment other than low-voltage and automotive vehicle circuits or extensions thereof, installed within or on recreational vehicles, the conductors that connect recreational vehicles to a supply of electricity, and the installation of equipment and devices related to electrical installations within a recreational vehicle park. (A generator owned by an owner of a recreational vehicle, and set upon the ground some distance from the recreational vehicle, which may or may not be in a recreational vehicle park, is not an "electrical installation" and does not fall within any of the terms of the SCOPE of Article 551.)
551.30 Generator Installations (Note the term installations.)
(A) Mounting. Generators shall be mounted in such a way as to be effectively bonded to the recreational vehicle chassis. (Mounting implies in or upon; mounting doesn't mean sitting on the ground 50 ft away.)
(C) Installation of . . . . Storage batteries and internal-combustion-driven generators shall be secured in place . . . ("Secured in place" excludes generators not in or upon the RV.