Generator wiring

[IndyJay]

^^^Yes! Electrician look at it! My suggestion exactly!

I actually had an electrician look at my setup. He said that as long as I use it the way I described it was fine.
Obviously, a licensed contractor would never set something up like this because it is not code. I would not recommend this for most people since you do need to fully understand what you are doing and why It must be done in a particular order.

 

[TDNelin]

I have wired in my own and a couple of neighbors' places, and it was simply a matter of putting a 220 breaker into an empty slot in the main panel and wiring in a generator plug-in on an outside wall next to the generator using heavy wiring like stove wiring and making a sliding metal gate that allowed only the new breaker or the panel's main breaker to be on. The new breaker will supply power to the entire breaker panel as long as the slider is moved so the main switch cannot be turned on until the generator breaker is turned off and vice/versa. If you don't bother with some setup to prevent power going back out to the grid while the generator is running, you could be sued for killing some repair people trying to restore the outage! Hope this makes sense and helps!

 

[DaBear3428]

I do the same. I disconnect the pigtail when not in use. Not dangerous if you know you are doing and why. Turn off breakers to heavy draws, Isolate from utility, connect pigtail, fire up generator, close breaker feeding panel. Reverse order to restore.

Again not code compliant, and please don't recommend unsafe things to people. It is your life and live it how you want but just because you think you know what you are doing doesn't make it safe, at best you are mitigating risk with your knowledge. Some one else may take that as an example of a safe way to connect a generator. I fall back to the NEC to recommend a code compliant solution and as long as people meet the code, it may not be fool proof but it is idiot resistant. What you are championing is dangerous for someone that does not know.
I need to step out of this conversation because this is starting to be like work and I have to go back to that on monday.

 

[IndyJay]

Again not code compliant, and please don't recommend unsafe things to people. It is your life and live it how you want but just because you think you know what you are doing doesn't make it safe, at best you are mitigating risk with your knowledge. Some one else may take that as an example of a safe way to connect a generator. I fall back to the NEC to recommend a code compliant solution and as long as people meet the code, it may not be fool proof but it is idiot resistant. What you are championing is dangerous for someone that does not know.
I need to step out of this conversation because this is starting to been like work and I have to go back to that on monday.

I didn't recommend anything. Read my post in It's entirety.

 

[DaBear3428]

I didn't recommend anything. Read my post in It's entirety.

Your comment was I do the same and then went on to describe using pigtails and wirenuts to connect the generator in a manor that is not code compliant. If I misunderstood you sorry but it looked to me like you were recommending something that is not code compliant.

 

[grsthegreat]

It does get tiring.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I can agree with you on that

Thanks! You're a good fellow...not for agreeing with me so much as a retired electrician you know what's what!
Maybe it's grsthegreat is/was an electrician. So many people dove on me it's hard keeping straight who's who!

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I actually had an electrician look at my setup. He said that as long as I use it the way I described it was fine.
Obviously, a licensed contractor would never set something up like this because it is not code. I would not recommend this for most people since you do need to fully understand what you are doing and why It must be done in a particular order.

I have to thank Mossy for this simple add on.
Every panel box should be equipped and although I don't need it it's super easy fabricating so I'll install one. I love inexpensive "goof-proof" things.

 

[aircommuter]

Well I read through all the posts so I wouldn’t duplicate anything. This is a solution that was free, installed by the power company. I didn’t need it since I have a Kohler Fast Response II 50kw 3ph 12 lead reconnect able generator with two transfer switches, 3ph and 1ph. Self installed. I am a licensed general engineering and building contractor.
Take a look at the device between the meter and the panel, it came with a 25’- 4 wire cord. Designed for 200 amp panel and 30 amp generator input. Probably would be enough to get most people by.

 

[bgr]

You need to remember that an installation which is not code and not inspected, no matter how clever and electrically functional, will allow your homeowner's insurance company to avoid paying for damages and liability coverage for anything which they might cover otherwise. Their adjusters will look for anything which might void their coverage even at a stretch. You won't find this out until the problem has occurred.
If you are paying a mortgage, your insurance will cover their interests, too. You could lose that coverage and end up with a mortgage cancellation and demand for payment.
The inspector's written approval is important to you.