Gas Generator to House AC connection???

[BIG DOOLEY]

:laughing:

I'm no electriction but I slept at a Holiday Inn last nite. What risk would the code be addressing? If your generator and house had different ground potentials there could be a chance of shock but if you grounded your generator to your homes ground I would think there would be no risk at all. Do I need to change hotels?

Good Info Daybreak. I posted before I read yours.

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Beltzington
I have got to remember that one :thumbsup:

By the way.
I don't use a transfer switch. I just throw the main and backfeed from one of my welder outlets.
It might not be the proper way but it is cost effective.
I am close friends with 2 local linemen and they are trained to ALWAYS treat every line as live.
They don't use transfer switches either.
I keep a check list on order of power up and power down right on the generator keytag laminated.

 

[DarkBlack]

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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I didn't see any posts saying that you can't power the secondary of a transformer.

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

The other risk is that, in order to do what you're describing, you have to use a cord with two male ends. If the cord ever comes out of the socket when the generator is live--either intentionally or unintentionally--you have 240v hanging out ready to shock the heck out of somebody.

I have considered all this myself at times. If you follow rigorous safety protocol and never deviate, you will always be okay. Main breaker off. All house breakers off. Plug in cord. Start generator. Backfeed breaker on. House breakers on. Reverse direction to put things back the way they were. The problem is that some day you may be tired because the power went out in the middle of the night, or you may be out of town and trying to describe to your wife or teenage son how to set it up over the phone, or you may be backfeeding and somebody who isn't you might flip the main breaker without you knowing about it, for some dumb reason that nobody could possibly have imagined or anticipated. Yeah, we all take risks every day, but there is a payoff to those risks. What's the payoff for doing what you're doing vs. getting an interlock kit and doing it properly? The interlock kit is, what, maybe a few hundred dollars? Considering the alternatives, isn't that worth it?

Shore power cables and recepticles can eliminate that danger.
HUBBELL WIRING DEVICE-KELLEMS Inlet, Shore Power, 50 A - Twist Lock Devices - 4D353|HBL504NM - Grainger Industrial Supply
HUBBELL WIRING DEVICE-KELLEMS Shore Power Cable - Marine Wiring Accessories - 3D964|HBL61CM42 - Grainger Industrial Supply

 

[DarkBlack]

Around here, we affectionetly refer to the double male cord as a "suicide cord".

 

[DarkBlack]

From Wikipedia

On average in 2009, 93 people were killed on the roadways of the U.S. each day.

 

[grsthegreat]

From Wikipedia

On average in 2009, 93 people were killed on the roadways of the U.S. each day.

what does this have to do with anything? the OP was questioning the necessity of generator backfeed protection vs gerry rigging a panel. obviously you dont believe in any protection from this.

 

[DarkBlack]

In just the state of Iowa alone:
From 2003 through 2010, 74 farm operators and workers in Iowa died from tractor-related injuries

 

[DarkBlack]

what does this have to do with anything? the OP was questioning the necessity of generator backfeed protection vs gerry rigging a panel. obviously you dont believe in any protection from this.

What do you think it has to do with?

 

[grsthegreat]

What do you think it has to do with?

i have no idea. but im tired of your rants. so im placing you on my ignore list. dont need the headaches from know it all,

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

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.

Thats rubbing salt in a wound.
Did your house get egged:laughing: