Power Out - Day Two

[LBrown59]

Coobie, what is difference in the colors? I never payed any attention and did not know there were even different colors.

Chris

I checked to see what color the tag is on my meter yesterday.
It is green.
Green is for authorized and connected service.
Red is for disconnected unauthorized service.L . B .

 

[IXLR8]

Question...
I'm considering installing a wind turbine in the backyard.
When we are not utilizing the total output of the unit, the excess will be "backfed" into the grid (perfectly legal) and I will get credit (meter runs backwards).
When the electricity goes out, the turbine will continue to produce (hopefully). Nowhere have I found a requirement to have an auto cut-out switch to prevent the backfeed.
The power company and the county say I don't need one.
I don't want to hurt anyone, and I'm sure this scenario is carried out thousands of times a day.
Any ideas?
Tom

Tom, If you are just running a wind turbine, with no battery storage, they typically use the line power to 'excite' the generator and 'sync' the generator power to the line power, so they are phased correctly. So if incoming power dies... so does the output of the generator. This is why you don't need a transfer switch.
If you use the generator to charge some batteries, then convert the battery power to AC with an inverter... then all bets are off and you need a transfer switch to isolate your power from the lines. I am looking at doing the exact same thing... still looking for the best setup, and if I have enough wind to be cost effective.

HTH

 

[coobie]

I checked to see what color the tag is on my meter yesterday.
It is green.
Green is for authorized and connected service.
Red is for disconnected unauthorized service.L . B .

I guess every power company must have there own colors for different types of meter sockets.I learned something new today.coobie

 

[jake98]

Question...
I'm considering installing a wind turbine in the backyard.
.
I don't want to hurt anyone, and I'm sure this scenario is carried out thousands of times a day.
Any ideas?
Tom

From what I've heard, 'the grid' is sync'd from one end to the other, for the 60hz. To, like, the thousanth of a second or something. I'm curious how that get's accomplished.

Jake

edit: IXLR8 splained that i guess

 

[jake98]

What would be such an offence ------- ?

electricians pull meters all the time with prior permission. the ones I worked with used to call later sometimes. I think the offence would probably sound something like 'tampering with a public utility', if something happend...

 

[jake98]

Yeah running little cheap extension cords all over the house, ya know 100 footer plugged into a electric space heater, getting slammed in doors, getting wet, etc has never caused any problems.

I'll take my chances backfeeding.

Rob

You callin' me a cheapskate???
I got fat cords.

In all seriousness tho, you're taking sombody else's chances.

Jake

 

[sodamo]

Best of luck with you new storm. My brother and wife were 5 days without power in Middleton, NH last week.

I ran my generator last week too. Oh, I'm not connected to the grid

David