Device to alert owner when residential power is back on

[ray66v]

A lightbulb, LED, buzzer, etc... can easily and CHEAPLY be wired into the main side that would alert you if power returned.

As someone else mentioned, put it on a switch so you can disable the thing when the power comes back on.

For me, I just watch the neighborhood lights from time to time. When their lights come back on, I then usually run the generator for a while longer, before shutting it down and switching back to grid power. We have had many instances of power coming in, then going out again just seconds later.

Sure it's easy, and cheap to put in a buzzer or light bulb on the feeders. But it's' also a potential hazard.

You would need to safely fuse it. And, could it be done in such a way to pass the application of the code book, if it was inspected?

 

[GPintheMitten]

I'm going to install a mechanical inter-lock between the main and the generator breaker. The only way I could install a light or buzzer to indicate power was back on, would be to wire one in upstream of the main breaker. I know how to do that, but I'm not going to.

I'm going to use the non-contact tester and check it periodically.

If I ever have a fire, I don't want to risk not being covered by my insurance company because of something like that. Even if the fire was caused by something else. I think it is putting too much at risk for convenience.

 

[RickB]

Sure it's easy, and cheap to put in a buzzer or light bulb on the feeders. But it's' also a potential hazard.

You would need to safely fuse it. And, could it be done in such a way to pass the application of the code book, if it was inspected?

I'm going to install a mechanical inter-lock between the main and the generator breaker. The only way I could install a light or buzzer to indicate power was back on, would be to wire one in upstream of the main breaker. I know how to do that, but I'm not going to.

I'm going to use the non-contact tester and check it periodically.

If I ever have a fire, I don't want to risk not being covered by my insurance company because of something like that. Even if the fire was caused by something else. I think it is putting too much at risk for convenience.

My indicator lamp is fused and was installed by a licensed electrician. I'm not the least bit concerned about code or insurance coverage.

 

[GPintheMitten]

My indicator lamp is fused and was installed by a licensed electrician. I'm not the least bit concerned about code or insurance coverage.

Sounds like you are ok, then. I guess I was thinking of a diy effort ... and no fuse or breaker.

 

[ray66v]

My indicator lamp is fused and was installed by a licensed electrician. I'm not the least bit concerned about code or insurance coverage.

Glad your happy.

 

[mpham]

I just wait for the street light outside my front window to turn on. If it lights we have power.

 

[MikeInEburg]

I just wait for the street light outside my front window to turn on. If it lights we have power.

What if it is daytime?

 

[WayneB]

We hooked up a line just like the other fellows and I have a light up stairs that is on a switch so when the power comes back on the light is on, then we shut down the generator and switch over the panel breakers and then turn off the light. Works good for us. A few years ago we ran the generator for at least three hours until a neighbor came by to tell us the power was back on. This past storm (Sandy) we lost power for about 41/2 hours and it was mostly at night so we didn稚 even start the generator.

 

[JerryK]

Our power co-op, Great Lakes Power, calls within minutes of power restoration to make sure we have power... faster than I can go out and look at a couple fused/switched small neon lamps i have monitoring both phases of my 220 coming into the barn....

 

[ray66v]

I have one of those circuit breaker finders that sends a radio signal to receiver, which causes it to stop beeping when the breaker to the circuit it is plugged in to, is turned off.

If I could somehow wire an outlet before to the main breaker, I could plug the transmitter part into the outlet, and carry the receiver. The moment the power is restored, it would start beeping.

I just don't see how I could do that, without spending big money, changing the meter base to one with dual lugs, and then a small panel off the second set of lugs? Or, some kind of panel that I could put one breaker in, which would have a pass through large enough to accommodate my 200 amp main conductors??