Generator backfeeding into utility lines

[955Lincoln]

The code requires that any device used with the service equipment be "service rated". It has a higher ground fault capacity that the individual branch circuits. If you do know what all this means take my word for it as it is too technical for this forum. So if you are doing the switch selecting of either utility power and generator power at the main breaker level "whole house system" then that is the service entrance. I am trying to make a "licensed electrician" knowledge level something you can understand. It is all about your safety. If you have a sudden fault to ground things can virtually explode and cause a fire or worse if you are in front of it.

This dialog is very important to understand when dealing with heavy commercial/industrial applications or things such as large pumps and compressors.

A more recent issue is arc fault protection. You will encounter this if you do a new installation or major retrofit such as your panel replacement. All bedroom circuits now have to have arc fault circuit breakers. There is a lot to know in the electrical business. It is not for novices.

Of course you all by now should know about ground fault devices in circuits, either at the breaker or the outlet. That is discussion for a different forum as this one also should be.

Ron

Thank you very much, your first 2 sentences answered my question. It's raining heavily now and I need to go and test my outdoor GFI outlets.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Thank you very much, your first 2 sentences answered my question. It's raining heavily now and I need to go and test my outdoor GFI outlets.

Is your outdoor circuit GFCIs in the outdoor box or in an inside receptacle and daisy chained to outside? Unless you are in the desert those GFCIs located outside will not last long, they corrode and fail to trip. Real problem where I live. Testing often is a good practice either way. Get a good quality tester not your body to ground.

Ron

 

[ultrarunner]

Actually, I think "Telegraph" poles where here first.

A better term is probably "Utility Pole"

Telegraph from the 1840's... now long gone... although many cities still have roads by the name of Telegraph Ave...

Telephone from the 1870's and still with us today...

Some of the original creosote poles in service more than 80 years...

 

[955Lincoln]

Is your outdoor circuit GFCIs in the outdoor box or in an inside receptacle and daisy chained to outside? Unless you are in the desert those GFCIs located outside will not last long, they corrode and fail to trip. Real problem where I live. Testing often is a good practice either way. Get a good quality tester not your body to ground.

Ron

Touche....

It's inside BTW

 

[timswi]

As a side note to backfeeding the house...I'm just curious as to why my motor home is factory built to backfeed the 5K generator back into the coach using the AC source cord with no transfer switch, just a closed circuit. If it's so dangerous to do that, why would Gulf Stream design it that way?

This has nothing to do with the grid, obviously....I just noticed some saying this was bad for the house in general.

 

[grsthegreat]

As a side note to backfeeding the house...I'm just curious as to why my motor home is factory built to backfeed the 5K generator back into the coach using the AC source cord with no transfer switch, just a closed circuit. If it's so dangerous to do that, why would Gulf Stream design it that way?

This has nothing to do with the grid, obviously....I just noticed some saying this was bad for the house in general.

I guess i dont know what your talking about. My motor home had a switch that said utility, off, generator. It was a manual trip toggle switch. I have no idea how yours works.

 

[timswi]

I guess i dont know what your talking about. My motor home had a switch that said utility, off, generator. It was a manual trip toggle switch. I have no idea how yours works.

AC feed cord plugged directly into the 220 box coming out of the generator..Of course all of this is in the cord storage box. It's a straight-up backfeed by design. It's a '97, but still.

The generator will just idle away unless the AC cord completes the circuit.

 

[grsthegreat]

AC feed cord plugged directly into the 220 box coming out of the generator..Of course all of this is in the cord storage box. It's a straight-up backfeed by design. It's a '97, but still.

The generator will just idle away unless the AC cord completes the circuit.

If the trailers normal extension cord is simply plugged into the generator OR the house outlet, this IS NOT a backfeed situation, as you cant possibly have it plugged into both at the same time.

 

[timswi]

If the trailers normal extension cord is simply plugged into the generator OR the house outlet, this IS NOT a backfeed situation, as you cant possibly have it plugged into both at the same time.

The AC cord is plugged directly into the generator, it's really no different than plugging the generator into a 220 plug in the house. The recep it just a straight 220 feed from the generator.

Maybe we're saying the same thing.

 

[955Lincoln]

The AC cord is plugged directly into the generator, it's really no different than plugging the generator into a 220 plug in the house. The recep it just a straight 220 feed from the generator.

Maybe we're saying the same thing.

The big difference here, your generator is in effect "the power company". If you were to take another generator and try to hook it up it would be more in line with this thread. Trying to hook both generators up at the same time could toast one or both.