Generator question

[dodge man]

I recently bought a generator. Its a 6500 watt Powermate. It has 4 regular 120 volt outlets (20amp), one 30 amp 120 volt outlet which looks like a 3 prong twist lock, and a 30 amp 120/240 volt 4 prong twist lock.

My question is the 4 prong 120/240 outlet. I bought a 120 volt twist lock extension cord that is 25 feet long and splits into 3 120 volt 3 prong outlets. This seems to work just fine, but how do you know if its running 120 or 240 volts? I guess what I'm asking is how does the generator know whats plugged into this outlet 120 or 240? Is it all controlled by how the extension cord is setup and wired?

 

[schmism]

My question is the 4 prong 120/240 outlet. I bought a 120 volt twist lock extension cord that is 25 feet long and splits into 3 120 volt 3 prong outlets. This seems to work just fine, but how do you know if its running 120 or 240 volts? I guess what I'm asking is how does the generator know whats plugged into this outlet 120 or 240? Is it all controlled by how the extension cord is setup and wired?

Its my understanding it works like this.

4 prong is 120v - 120v - com - ground

if wired for 240v the cord uses the 2 "hot" 120v feeds plus perhaps a ground.

if you have an extension cord like you have, they spilt each side of the hot into its own 120v side.

so in short ya it depends on how the cord is wired

 

[dodge man]

Thats what I thought makes sense to me. I was just going to plug in a light bulb to make sure, but now that I think about it, I have a volt meter that I can use to check it.

 

[hr3]

I bought a 120 volt twist lock extension cord that is 25 feet long and splits into 3 120 volt 3 prong outlets.

If this cord is being plugged into the "120v-30amp." outlet then you only have 120 volt anywhere on the cord,, The reason for this outlet is for supplying power to RV's.. Your better off running 2 cords at 20amps each than trying to load up one side of the generator.. Besides you have 30amp breaker protection ,,, what would you plug in to a 30amp circuit at 120volts ???

 

[Transit]

No, the generator supplies all the voltages to its outlets at the same time. What you connect to that outlet is what you get. The 120/240 outlet is just like your home 120/240 power. Hot to hot = 240 volts, hot to neutral = one leg of the 240 circuit [120v] phase A,
The other hot to neutral is the second 120 v, phase B circuit.
Which voltages are on what pin, get a inexpensive volt meter.

You may also look at any number of NEMA sites, match the plug number and see what is on what pin.

 

[grsthegreat]

the 30 qmp 120 volt outlet should have only 3 wires ( hot, neutral and ground)while the 240 volt reeceptacle has 4 wires (hot - hot - neutral -ground). The cord ends will state either 120 volt OR 240 volt. You DO NOT want to wire an extension cord with the wrong ends and accidentally plug a 120 corded item into the 240 volt receptacle.

 

[JB4310]

I recently bought a generator. Its a 6500 watt Powermate. It has 4 regular 120 volt outlets (20amp), one 30 amp 120 volt outlet which looks like a 3 prong twist lock, and a 30 amp 120/240 volt 4 prong twist lock.

My question is the 4 prong 120/240 outlet. I bought a 120 volt twist lock extension cord that is 25 feet long and splits into 3 120 volt 3 prong outlets. This seems to work just fine, but how do you know if its running 120 or 240 volts? I guess what I'm asking is how does the generator know whats plugged into this outlet 120 or 240? Is it all controlled by how the extension cord is setup and wired?

Sounds to me like that 4 prong outlet is for feeding a transfer switch. A and B hot legs, a neutral and a ground between the equipment.

That cord sounds odd, I guess it could be done but have never seen it. if they used both hot legs and shared the neutral to get 2 110 circuits why 3 outlets? why not 2 or 4 to balance the load?

If they just use 1 hot for 1 circuit, why not just use the 3 prong 30 amp outlet instead of the 4 prong.

JB

 

[dodge man]

I bought that cord because it was the only one I could find. It is a four prong, that much I'm sure of. The idea behind this kind of cord, from what I've read, is its heavier duty, so you run this cord in the house, and then plug shorter cords into the main cord.

 

[the fat kid]

I've used that same "4 prong" 240v cord for 5 years in my house. We cut the female end off and hard wired it in my garage panel. When we lose power I kill the main ( at my trim meter) and plug the male end of that hard wired cord into the 240v 4 prong 30amp twistlock spot on generator which then backfeeds my entire house. It's worked well for me for years and we loose power ALOT!!

 

[schmism]

which then backfeeds my entire house. It's worked well for me for years and we loose power ALOT!!

Just make shure you have included the proper main breaker lockout.

as to what i would plug into a single 30 amp 120v circuit?

a single 30 amp extension cord runs into the house were it splits into 2 or 3 cords to power say.... a window AC unit, the refrigerator and toaster oven... or in the winter 2 1800w space heaters.....