Gas Generator to House AC connection???

[joshuabardwell]

And your homeowners insurance company will say "generator connected without a interlocking device as required per code? Sorry, that is not covered"

Bingo. This is ultimately what finally convinced me not to backfeed without interlock. No matter whether you think you can do it safely or not, society expects you not to do it. So if you ever screw up, you are going to be boned. Your insurance is going to refuse the claim, or you are going to be arrested because a line-worker was injured or killed. Society expects you to drive a car, so if you are driving a car and through no fault of your own, something unexpected happens, you are going to be let off the hook. If you are violating code and, through no fault of your own, something happens, you're going to get hung out to dry.

 

[daybreak1998]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't it be best practice to size the backfeed breaker to be at least as large as the generator is capable of serving? I guess it's not a safety issue if it's under-sized--you'll just pop the panel breaker before you pop the generator's breaker--but I would hate to have the panel breaker be the limiting factor if I had generator capacity to spare.

Howdy,
The interlock kit lets you use the circuit breaker of your choosing. If you have a smaller generator, you would have a dual pole 30amp breaker. If you had a larger generator, you could have a dual pole 50amp breaker. Here is a interlock with dual pole 30amp breaker for the generator
All I am saying is, the physical location of the breakers in your panel allow you to use what is needed for your specific generator, and then you still have to use your head on what items you can run. But, at least you have your whole panel to select from. That is why the generator breakout panel is so limiting.

 

[grsthegreat]

i think its laughable that people with no knowledge of how transformers work would try to convince other people that back-feeding a transformer couldn't do any harm. WRONG.

in a lab at class we actually backfed a transmission transformer with 240 volt household power, and our meters we were using, at the time, went off the scale.

If the incoming utility supplied power was from a 12,470 /7200 volt system before the transformer, then a backfed 240 volt source would produce a 7,200 volt feed back thru the transformer. Thats how electricity works.

As others have stated, the National Electric Code requires the use of a transfer switch to prevent inadvertent backfeeding of electric power from generator into utility system which can be a safety hazard. If you own or operate a backup power source, you are responsible for ensuring that its power cannot backfeed into the utility system.

An additional consideration is the homeowner's insurance. If the home is damaged by fire or someone is injured or electrocuted as a result of improperly connecting a generator without a transfer switch, insurance claims might not be paid.



heres a case where a Pike Energy lineman wass KILLED by a generator backfeeding power. Pike Electric, Inc., Docket No. 01-0166

Lineman Killed By Generator Back Feed - Victim Helping Restore Power in Alabama - Electric Energy Online

people that think this cant happen are fools.



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[joshuabardwell]

An additional consideration is the homeowner's insurance. If the home is damaged by fire or someone is injured or electrocuted as a result of improperly connecting a generator without a transfer switch, insurance claims might not be paid.

"Insurance claims absolutely will not be paid, because the insurance company is going to do everything in their power to avoid paying a claim."

I fixed that for you.

 

[aczlan]

"Insurance claims absolutely will not be paid, because the insurance company is going to do everything in their power to avoid paying a claim."
I fixed that for you.

Knowing that, is it worth saving $200 not to put in an interlock and have your insurance company deny what could be many thousands of dollars of claims?

Aaron Z

 

[joshuabardwell]

Knowing that, is it worth saving $200 not to put in an interlock and have your insurance company deny what could be many thousands of dollars of claims?

I'm sure you know this already, but I'll go ahead and say it: to some people, this consideration doesn't matter, because they don't think that they will ever make the kind of mistake that will make it matter. This is the same attitude that leads people to walk around in the woods with a round chambered and the safety off. It doesn't matter, because they're not going to pull the trigger! Suuure.

 

[aczlan]

I'm sure you know this already, but I'll go ahead and say it: to some people, this consideration doesn't matter, because they don't think that they will ever make the kind of mistake that will make it matter. This is the same attitude that leads people to walk around in the woods with a round chambered and the safety off. It doesn't matter, because they're not going to pull the trigger! Suuure.

Yep. My "checklist" when setting up something like a generator is:
1. Can my wife easily and safely use it without me walking her through it
2. Could Joe Random hurt themselves on it if they stumble across it?
3. If something goes wrong, will it cause my insurance to not cover me?

I have a friend to whom I suggested an interlock on his generator input breaker and he scoffed at the idea. In my mind, if its not locked off with you having the only key, it should be safe enough that someone cannot accidentally do serious harm to themselves or others.

Aaron Z

 

[wdchyd]

I am also in the "Transfer Switch is the best WTG" camp

My neighbors get envious when the power goes out and I'm up and running in mere minutes.....

So simple, even a caveman can do it

 

[joshuabardwell]

My neighbors get envious when the power goes out and I'm up and running in mere minutes.....

Do the neighborly thing and offer them an extension cord. Come the zombie apocalypse, they'll remember, either way.

 

[grsthegreat]

the weird thing with my system, is for some reason my outdoor Christmas lights are on the generator panel. never intentionally meant for this to happen..,, but im too lazy to fix it.

Several years ago we had a blackout happen just before xmas. lasted for many hours. My generator was up and running, the manual transfer switched over and the house was warm and bright inside. the xmas lights were also on. no other lights could be seen as far as i could view out the front porch, except at the water pump house about 1/2 mile away..

all the neighbors could see my xmas lights...and probably hated me for ir
. A few came over and we spent the evening watching tv and munching goodies.

My next door neighbor never came over.... dont know why... but he spent evening huddled in front of his fireplace with family. I asked him later on why he didnt come over, and he said that they were comfortable enough, oh and by the way. " I saw you christmas lights lit....your an As$#$#$" HEHE. we both laughed about it...later i discussed adding a generator to his house.