Gale Hawkins
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2009
- Messages
- 11,815
- Location
- Murray, KY
- Tractor
- 1948 Allis Chambers Model B 1976 265 MF / 1983 JD 310B Backhoe / 1966 Ford 3000 Diesel / 1980 3600 Diesel
We all agree a transfer switch is idea but an interlock is better than nothing.
This morning the question popped in my mind is back feeding a grid by accident or intent even possible in the real world more than a micro second with the typical home back up generator used in a hacked fashion in a storm?
We have access to 7KW, 6KW, 3KW and .8 KW generator if needed during a storm. They all have rated circuit breaks that work really really fast when over loaded. Would not a grid load look so HUGE that the generator breaker system trip instantly or kill the engine. If the grid became live from the power company I could see it frying the typical back up generator but it seems to me the breakers would open fast if the generator was seen as a direct short to the grid source.
I really have not experience on this subject but know if I over load any generator that we have access to the breakers pop very fast.
I read the warnings about back feeding dangers but have not found a "confirmed" case of a lineman dying from it but I am sure someone has a confirmed case(s) they can post links concerning such cases.
It seems it is technically impossible for backing feeding to kill a lineman if the lineman is working as directed per lineman codes.
There is no defense for a home owner that would connect a home generator to the power grid period. I am just asking is there a proven case when a lineman died from back feeding where a home generator was the cause. It seems in the legal case linemen are to trip transformers feeding the homes or at least create a dead short of the grid on both sides of where they are doing line repairs.
Pike Electric, Inc., Docket No. 01-0166
Electric Company lineman dies
This morning the question popped in my mind is back feeding a grid by accident or intent even possible in the real world more than a micro second with the typical home back up generator used in a hacked fashion in a storm?
We have access to 7KW, 6KW, 3KW and .8 KW generator if needed during a storm. They all have rated circuit breaks that work really really fast when over loaded. Would not a grid load look so HUGE that the generator breaker system trip instantly or kill the engine. If the grid became live from the power company I could see it frying the typical back up generator but it seems to me the breakers would open fast if the generator was seen as a direct short to the grid source.
I really have not experience on this subject but know if I over load any generator that we have access to the breakers pop very fast.
I read the warnings about back feeding dangers but have not found a "confirmed" case of a lineman dying from it but I am sure someone has a confirmed case(s) they can post links concerning such cases.
It seems it is technically impossible for backing feeding to kill a lineman if the lineman is working as directed per lineman codes.
There is no defense for a home owner that would connect a home generator to the power grid period. I am just asking is there a proven case when a lineman died from back feeding where a home generator was the cause. It seems in the legal case linemen are to trip transformers feeding the homes or at least create a dead short of the grid on both sides of where they are doing line repairs.
Pike Electric, Inc., Docket No. 01-0166
Electric Company lineman dies