Generator hookup
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,455
Likes: 8
From: Williams Lake B.C.
Generator hookup
Has anyone ever heard if this works or not?
When the power goes out , shut off your main breaker.
Take your generator and using a cord with 2 males ends plug it into a outside plugin.
Turn off some of your breakers , like electric stove or any other high power use item.
The power feeds back through your wiring and you have lights etc as normal?
When the power goes out , shut off your main breaker.
Take your generator and using a cord with 2 males ends plug it into a outside plugin.
Turn off some of your breakers , like electric stove or any other high power use item.
The power feeds back through your wiring and you have lights etc as normal?
The Pacifier
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,245
Likes: 7
From: Cloverdale, BC
I would not do that.
I have read of people using double male to go to the dryer outlet though.
Having said that, I wouldn't do it that way either. Get an electrician out to hook it up with a safety switch properly.
I have read of people using double male to go to the dryer outlet though.
Having said that, I wouldn't do it that way either. Get an electrician out to hook it up with a safety switch properly.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,562
Likes: 2
From: Southern MD
Agreed. Do NOT connect to any outlets and turn off the "Main" breaker!
There is still the possibility of "Back Feeding" out to the street, through a transformer and upping the voltage, where it could POSSIBLY get someone killed!
Get a dedicated 'box'. I installed a "GenTran" box at my Dad's house.
It removes the house from the 'grid' selectively.
Dad's GenTran box has 12 circuits. We put a couple of circuits as 240v by using two of the breakers (safe and recommended by the manuf.).
Another unit that used to be marketed (now. . .???) is a "Generlink".
It was installed between the electric meter and the house.
It removed the house from the grid whever it detected voltage being applied by a generator.
The only downside to that is the size of the generator. Get one that's too small and you might damage the generator.
There is still the possibility of "Back Feeding" out to the street, through a transformer and upping the voltage, where it could POSSIBLY get someone killed!
Get a dedicated 'box'. I installed a "GenTran" box at my Dad's house.
It removes the house from the 'grid' selectively.
Dad's GenTran box has 12 circuits. We put a couple of circuits as 240v by using two of the breakers (safe and recommended by the manuf.).
Another unit that used to be marketed (now. . .???) is a "Generlink".
It was installed between the electric meter and the house.
It removed the house from the grid whever it detected voltage being applied by a generator.
The only downside to that is the size of the generator. Get one that's too small and you might damage the generator.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,077
Likes: 1
From: None of your business
To answer your question, yes it will work.
But don't do it.
If it would back feed, the transformer will step the voltage back up to the exact same level as it was when the power was on. I've seen a demonstration of this in a fire dept training put on by Duke Energy.
You could kill someone.
There are isolators that can be professionally installed so that you can use your generator safely. Or you could just buy some HD extension cords for probably 1/4 of the price.
Mike
But don't do it.
If it would back feed, the transformer will step the voltage back up to the exact same level as it was when the power was on. I've seen a demonstration of this in a fire dept training put on by Duke Energy.
You could kill someone.
There are isolators that can be professionally installed so that you can use your generator safely. Or you could just buy some HD extension cords for probably 1/4 of the price.
Mike
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,455
Likes: 8
From: Williams Lake B.C.
To answer your question, yes it will work.
But don't do it.
If it would back feed, the transformer will step the voltage back up to the exact same level as it was when the power was on. I've seen a demonstration of this in a fire dept training put on by Duke Energy.
You could kill someone.
There are isolators that can be professionally installed so that you can use your generator safely. Or you could just buy some HD extension cords for probably 1/4 of the price.
Mike
But don't do it.
If it would back feed, the transformer will step the voltage back up to the exact same level as it was when the power was on. I've seen a demonstration of this in a fire dept training put on by Duke Energy.
You could kill someone.
There are isolators that can be professionally installed so that you can use your generator safely. Or you could just buy some HD extension cords for probably 1/4 of the price.
Mike
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 8
From: Cook Forest and Irwin PA
here is how I do it: install a welder outlet or similar (using a 30/40/50 amp plug.)
use a 220v genset, not 110.
the gensets have a floating ground so you insert a dummy plug in one of the 110 outlets to tie neutral to ground.
then you run hot hot neutral to the 220v house plug and if the house plug has a 4th pool - add ground.
turn off the main and backfeed the house.
a 5000watt set will run just about everything but a dryer, stove, and hot water tank
the gen trans setup, aside from being rape expensive, is just a set of SPDT switches that select an isolated circuit between the main and the generator main.
so you have to choose which ones you want.
there is, for about the same cost, an isolation switch that will not interrupt the pole supply unless it sees a generator voltage. so people use a device that starts the generator on loss of customer power and then it trips the main and connects the genset. reconnection is a manual process.
use a 220v genset, not 110.
the gensets have a floating ground so you insert a dummy plug in one of the 110 outlets to tie neutral to ground.
then you run hot hot neutral to the 220v house plug and if the house plug has a 4th pool - add ground.
turn off the main and backfeed the house.
a 5000watt set will run just about everything but a dryer, stove, and hot water tank
the gen trans setup, aside from being rape expensive, is just a set of SPDT switches that select an isolated circuit between the main and the generator main.
so you have to choose which ones you want.
there is, for about the same cost, an isolation switch that will not interrupt the pole supply unless it sees a generator voltage. so people use a device that starts the generator on loss of customer power and then it trips the main and connects the genset. reconnection is a manual process.
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Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,455
Likes: 8
From: Williams Lake B.C.
I cant see any problem unless you are a stupid person?
If the main breaker was locked out so no one could accidentley turn it on.
Its like anything else , common sense should be used.
I dont quit driving on icey roads because i could go out of control and kill someone?
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,455
Likes: 8
From: Williams Lake B.C.
here is how I do it: install a welder outlet or similar (using a 30/40/50 amp plug.)
use a 220v genset, not 110.
the gensets have a floating ground so you insert a dummy plug in one of the 110 outlets to tie neutral to ground.
then you run hot hot neutral to the 220v house plug and if the house plug has a 4th pool - add ground.
turn off the main and backfeed the house.
a 5000watt set will run just about everything but a dryer, stove, and hot water tank
the gen trans setup, aside from being rape expensive, is just a set of SPDT switches that select an isolated circuit between the main and the generator main.
so you have to choose which ones you want.
there is, for about the same cost, an isolation switch that will not interrupt the pole supply unless it sees a generator voltage. so people use a device that starts the generator on loss of customer power and then it trips the main and connects the genset. reconnection is a manual process.
use a 220v genset, not 110.
the gensets have a floating ground so you insert a dummy plug in one of the 110 outlets to tie neutral to ground.
then you run hot hot neutral to the 220v house plug and if the house plug has a 4th pool - add ground.
turn off the main and backfeed the house.
a 5000watt set will run just about everything but a dryer, stove, and hot water tank
the gen trans setup, aside from being rape expensive, is just a set of SPDT switches that select an isolated circuit between the main and the generator main.
so you have to choose which ones you want.
there is, for about the same cost, an isolation switch that will not interrupt the pole supply unless it sees a generator voltage. so people use a device that starts the generator on loss of customer power and then it trips the main and connects the genset. reconnection is a manual process.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
If you are going to use a small generator say 5-8000 watts, get a small panel 12-16 ccts and pull out those ccts from your main panel and put them into the new small panel. Things like fridge, furnace (not electric), well, septic and a couple of general ccts....lights, tv. Then get a 30A manual transfer switch...they are pretty reasonable in cost. Run a 10/3 Loomex to an outside twist-lok receptacle that is mounted in a weatherproof box....hook your generator up to that outlet. Also feed the small panel with a 30A 2 pole breaker from your main panel (connected through the transfer switch). It is also a nice idea to get a battery pack with a couple of heads on it located where your transfer switch is so you have light. I'm set up for a 50KVA generator.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 0
Get the proper equipment. My dad worked for the local elec co. and someone got seriously hurt while working a downed power line because someone hooked a generator up like that and didnt turn main breaker off. They did find the source. Well lets just say that the gentleman that forgot to do this got his butt in real hot water. First his insurance had to pay for the air lift, hospital stay and follow up visits, plus the utility yanked the meter for a few weeks until he had the proper equipment installed and inspected. The elec company was gonna press charges, but I'm not sure what happened with that.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,077
Likes: 1
From: None of your business
How often does your power go out? That seems like a lot of work when some HD extension cords and splitters would do the job for a fraction of the cost and work.
As far as shutting off the main breaker, I'm not going to put that 1:1,000,000 chance of a screw up on some unlucky lineman. Something could short or some other kind of improbable thing could happen.
I'd rather spend the money and know it's done right or use extension cords.
Mike
As far as shutting off the main breaker, I'm not going to put that 1:1,000,000 chance of a screw up on some unlucky lineman. Something could short or some other kind of improbable thing could happen.
I'd rather spend the money and know it's done right or use extension cords.
Mike
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Running extension cords is not really a good idea...you will have to leave a window or door open and code actually prohibits doing this with portable power cables....not to mention the hassle of plugging things like your fridge and other things that are not fitted with cord ends.
Last edited by DNFXDLI; Dec 15, 2008 at 10:58 PM. Reason: spelling
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 343
From: SE Iowa
The following is done ONLY becasue I kow what I'm doing! I pull the meter socket before hooking up the generator. Then there is no chance of an accidental backfeed. This is how I was told by a lineman during a bad ice storm last year and we had no power for 8 days.
I installed a outdoor style plug on the side of the house that feeds into my outdoor disconnect box for the house. It has its own dedicated 30amp breaker that will feed everything in the house but the dryer. To insure no accidents happen, that breaker is locked out so that I am the only one who can turn on that breaker.
I installed a outdoor style plug on the side of the house that feeds into my outdoor disconnect box for the house. It has its own dedicated 30amp breaker that will feed everything in the house but the dryer. To insure no accidents happen, that breaker is locked out so that I am the only one who can turn on that breaker.