Generator and electricity flow

[CNC Dan]

It has been discovered that many of the circuit breakers are mislabeled and I'm going to have to do a lot of running around the house turning breakers on and off, flipping light switches and testing outlets to assure that I really know what breakers are for what. It seems simple on the surface of it but that's going to take a lot of time and it's probably going to be easy to miss something. Is there some shortcut that I'm not smart enough to see on my own?

Get your self several long extention cords long enough to reach the breaker panel. Plug in to an outlet in the house an use it to power a lamp or something. Flip breakers 'till lamp goes out, and that's the breaker for that outlet. If you can't get enough extention cords, use a radio set loud enough to hear from the panel. Use two set to diferent stations.

For celing lights, you can get a screw in adaptor at most hardware stores that will allow you to plug in a two prong plug.

 

[CNC Dan]

...and when you are done, label the outlet covers with the breaker number. On the back of the cover if the Mrs. wont stand for labels visable.

 

[Dave M7040]

Digital Circuit Breaker Finder-ET300 at The Home Depot

I dont know how to paste a link properly but Home Depot sells a Klein circuit breaker finder for approx. $40. You plug the transmitter into a receptacle and scan the breaker panel with a receiver until you find the breaker you are looking for. It makes the job you are wanting to do very easy and you will soon have friends wanting to trace circuits in their homes.
Dave M7040

 

[daybreak1998]

Howdy SlowPocono,

I am glad you got it all together. As you see, anyone can hook your generator up safely even if you not there. Or disconnect it and flip the main back on.

I use little orange and blue little dot stickers. I usually leave all 15amp breakers on (usually all lights), I just switch between running pump, then running hot water heater, then pump to shower. I do not turn off the electric stove breaker... no sense, I am on generator, and I can not run everything. You would be suprised at how many things can run in the house. You just need to watch when you run the big draw things (well pump, hot water heater)

2 people tracking down circuit breakers is always easier too.

good luck
Mike

 

[brokenot]

It has been discovered that many of the circuit breakers are mislabeled

That's always been a puzzler for me. With all of the other rules and regulations associated with a panel, why is circuit labeling sort of *allowed* to be all over the place? Of course changes and upgrades made somewhere along the way could render what the original installer did, (and what the inspector signed off on), as being perhaps less relevant, but still....

Our house was built in the late 70's. The breakers were labeled with a dull pencil....using made-up abbreviations....in handwriting that rivals the "prescription script" of an elderly doctor.

 

[jejeosborne]

That's always been a puzzler for me. With all of the other rules and regulations associated with a panel, why is circuit labeling sort of *allowed* to be all over the place? Of course changes and upgrades made somewhere along the way could render what the original installer did, (and what the inspector signed off on), as being perhaps less relevant, but still....

Our house was built in the late 70's. The breakers were labeled with a dull pencil....using made-up abbreviations....in handwriting that rivals the "prescription script" of an elderly doctor.

First we need to find inspectors that inspect the major items. Unfortunately many times the green tag is in their hand before they get out of their vehicle. But this a whole nother thread.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Here's my follow up concerning the information I requested.

I took the advice of daybreak1998 and CurleyDave and and want to express my thanks for their help as well as the constructive comments by everyone else.

The installation of the new breakers, the interlock and the inlet box went smoothly for a total outlay of about $214.00.
The house hasn't burned down or caught on fire even once and I didn't electrocute myself either.

The generator plugs in and provides power to any of the circuits that the breakers are turned on for. It all works just right. Thanks very much, again.

It has been discovered that many of the circuit breakers are mislabeled and I'm going to have to do a lot of running around the house turning breakers on and off, flipping light switches and testing outlets to assure that I really know what breakers are for what. It seems simple on the surface of it but that's going to take a lot of time and it's probably going to be easy to miss something. Is there some shortcut that I'm not smart enough to see on my own?

The biggest load for the generator and the main reason I needed it is the well pump. I wanted to make sure that the generator would be big enough so I did some more reading on this forum and decided to buy a cheap clamp meter. I tested the current draw multiple times and learned that the running the pump draws about 6 or 7 amps and that when I watch the meter closely during start up there's a momentary surge of about 16 amps. When the peak hold function of the meter is used it records a 30 amp draw but I'm convinced that is of very short duration. In any case the generator I got starts and runs that pump quickly and without any apparent strain. I'm happy about that.

Here are a couple of pictures of how it turned out. Thanks again!

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=298392"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=298393"/>

Your setup is just about what I have. I went back and painted all the breakers I want to turn off with red paint so its easy to figure out at 3am when the power is out.

The only big draw breaker I leave on other than the 30 amp well pump is the 50 amp stove. I have used just one or two burners with no issues.

We have propane hot water and heat so that is not a issue.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Not sure why all the pics are rotated?

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Lets try again.

Chris

 

[davedj1]

So just to be clear, NEC is ok with the interlock breaker system?