No Doug,
I just plugged in and started up. That's a good idea though, to throw all the breakers except for the A/C if I really needed A/C or the microwave.
When using the generator for the air conditioner:
FIRST, Turn your fridge from Automatic to LP. You're camping off circuit, but IF you don't do this, when the generator starts, it will think it's plugged into the wall socket and switch back to AC (from the generator) That's 3 amps of relief the generator doesn't have to provide.
SECOND throw the blue breakers shown below.
MAIN - 30 amps (This has to stay on)
1 GENERAL PURPOSE 15 amps (these are your receptacles. Leave them on so your laptop will have power from the generator, unless you are running it from 12 volts. It doesn't take that much. At last resort, turn these off.)
2 AIR CONDITIONER 20 amps (Leave on.)
3 MICROWAVE 15 amps
4 CONVERTER 15 amps (this is taking your 'onboard battery charger' out of the circuit. For the time you have this switched, you are running just on batteries and the converter charger isn't replacing amps in your batteries. Once the AC has been shut off, if you reactivate this breaker, the generator will then start charging your batteries.
5 WATER HEATER (electric) 15 amps (this is probably not on, but it's a sure killer if it is. Sucks lots of generator amps.)