Plugging in generator to your house dangerous?

[stumblinhorse]

So I have another thread about generators/inverters and looking at getting my place set up in case of emergency.

So that got me thinking that the plug configuration is backwards? I have watched some YouTube’s on hooking everything up and most people plug into the generator then go plug into the house.

Well, seeing that the 14l-30 plug “tangs’ or plug metal is exposed and hot with power from the generator, that seems pretty dangerous and I think the whole configuration is backwards. I would want my generator to have a male plug and my house to be a female plug? Then I could safely connect everything. But I am sure it won’t change but I am surprised there are not more accidents with people fumbling with hot 14l-30 plugs and getting 30 amp pumped into them or their dog when they accidentally drop the plug trying to lock it into the house plug in a storm…

But at least anyone using a generator should know to plug into your house then go plug into the generator second…but maybe there is something I don’t know about a 14l-30 plug. Certainly possible.

 

[ponytug]

So I have another thread about generators/inverters and looking at getting my place set up in case of emergency.

So that got me thinking that the plug configuration is backwards? I have watched some YouTube’s on hooking everything up and most people plug into the generator then go plug into the house.

Well, seeing that the 14l-30 plug “tangs’ or plug metal is exposed and hot with power from the generator, that seems pretty dangerous and I think the whole configuration is backwards. I would want my generator to have a male plug and my house to be a female plug? Then I could safely connect everything. But I am sure it won’t change but I am surprised there are not more accidents with people fumbling with hot 14l-30 plugs and getting 30 amp pumped into them or their dog when they accidentally drop the plug trying to lock it into the house plug in a storm…

But at least anyone using a generator should know to plug into your house then go plug into the generator second…but maybe there is something I don’t know about a 14l-30 plug. Certainly possible.

Proper operating procedures are essential for staying safe in my mind. Properly setup equipment helps reduce the potential for accidents. (The more interlocks and guards, the lower the training level for the operator in my experience; at some level, some things are "don't try this at home" and reserved for qualified personnel.

The double male ended cords are nicknamed "suicide cords" for a reason. They are very dangerous. It is all too easy for various mistakes to be made that are lethal, grid damaging, or damaging to your own wiring and equipment. A female outlet on the house would be dangerous as well, for the same reasons that there is the potential for exposed high voltage contacts.

The safe, code approved method is to put a transfer switch in that switches the house supply from the grid to your generator. That enables a female outlet that is only connected to the generator side of the switch, so it is only "hot" when the generator is plugged in. (Never having exposed "hot" contacts.)

For certain main service panels, and for certain AHJ, a generator interlock maybe permitted on your main panel.

Around here, meter integrated main service panels are popular and they require fairly extensive requiring to install a transfer switch. I don't know about your locale.

There is quite a bit of information available on the web.

All the best,

Peter

 

[crashz]

That's why they are nicknamed "Kill Cords".

 

[RjCorazza]

So I have another thread about generators/inverters and looking at getting my place set up in case of emergency.

So that got me thinking that the plug configuration is backwards? I have watched some YouTube’s on hooking everything up and most people plug into the generator then go plug into the house.

Well, seeing that the 14l-30 plug “tangs’ or plug metal is exposed and hot with power from the generator, that seems pretty dangerous and I think the whole configuration is backwards. I would want my generator to have a male plug and my house to be a female plug? Then I could safely connect everything. But I am sure it won’t change but I am surprised there are not more accidents with people fumbling with hot 14l-30 plugs and getting 30 amp pumped into them or their dog when they accidentally drop the plug trying to lock it into the house plug in a storm…

But at least anyone using a generator should know to plug into your house then go plug into the generator second…but maybe there is something I don’t know about a 14l-30 plug. Certainly possible.

The cord's male end plugs into the generator, the female cord end plugs into the house receptacle (male). Nothing powered is exposed.
With the interlock on the panel, the generator connection on the house cannot be powered off the grid.

 

[stumblinhorse]

Proper operating procedures are essential for staying safe in my mind. Properly setup equipment helps reduce the potential for accidents. (The more interlocks and guards, the lower the training level for the operator in my experience; at some level, some things are "don't try this at home" and reserved for qualified personnel.

The double male ended cords are nicknamed "suicide cords" for a reason. They are very dangerous. It is all too easy for various mistakes to be made that are lethal, grid damaging, or damaging to your own wiring and equipment. A female outlet on the house would be dangerous as well, for the same reasons that there is the potential for exposed high voltage contacts.

The safe, code approved method is to put a transfer switch in that switches the house supply from the grid to your generator. That enables a female outlet that is only connected to the generator side of the switch, so it is only "hot" when the generator is plugged in. (Never having exposed "hot" contacts.)

For certain main service panels, and for certain AHJ, a generator interlock maybe permitted on your main panel.

Around here, meter integrated main service panels are popular and they require fairly extensive requiring to install a transfer switch. I don't know about your locale.

There is quite a bit of information available on the web.

All the best,

Peter

i have a transfer switch. I think I am the one backwards…. I have a female plug for my transfer switch…. That is wrong. I will have to replace it. As usual something else to fix!

 

[setxjeff]

If you look at it as an extension cord, the male plug goes into the power source (generator) and the protected end (female) plugs onto a semi protected male plug inside my transfer switch box. The male plug in the transfer switch does not have power on its prong’s until properly plugged into the extension cord .

 

[MF RED in MT]

When we purchased our home the generator plugged into a female outlet plug with one of those "kill cords".

I replaced the plug with this one and a standard generator cord.

https://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Controls-Corporation-PB30-Generators/dp/B000BQT47S/ref=pd_day0fbt_img_sccl_2/133-8058631-3640611?pd_rd_w=Io7oX&content-id=amzn1.sym.c2062204-a945-491b-941c-359f18d6fec5&pf_rd_p=c2062204-a945-491b-941c-359f18d6fec5&pf_rd_r=VXQTF4TT55D77PPT5NJH&pd_rd_wg=mLZ3T&pd_rd_r=a6fb82eb-5e17-4508-8f35-c53b34611b83&pd_rd_i=B000BQT47S&th=1

KC

Edit: The outside generator plug was connected to a transfer switch electrical panel located next to the main house panel.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Just plug it up before you crank the generator. Turn off house main first. No power, no drain, no pull on generator. So it won't be cranking under a load. I don't understand what the problem is. Several plug it in the dryer plug to hot the house.

 

[stumblinhorse]

When we purchased our home the generator plugged into a female outlet plug with one of those "kill cords".

I replaced the plug with this one and a standard generator cord.

https://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Controls-Corporation-PB30-Generators/dp/B000BQT47S/ref=pd_day0fbt_img_sccl_2/133-8058631-3640611?pd_rd_w=Io7oX&content-id=amzn1.sym.c2062204-a945-491b-941c-359f18d6fec5&pf_rd_p=c2062204-a945-491b-941c-359f18d6fec5&pf_rd_r=VXQTF4TT55D77PPT5NJH&pd_rd_wg=mLZ3T&pd_rd_r=a6fb82eb-5e17-4508-8f35-c53b34611b83&pd_rd_i=B000BQT47S&th=1

KC

Edit: The outside generator plug was connected to a transfer switch electrical panel located next to the main house panel.

I have one ordered! Is that plug color coded with red, black, white and green? This is in my box.

 

[stumblinhorse]

This this the front….

 

[ponytug]

Something like this, usually in a weatherproof enclosure;

https://www.amazon.com/WELLUCK-Generator-Receptacle-Transfer-Weatherproof/dp/B08T6BSCDK

 

[MF RED in MT]

As I recall, it's been over a decade, in your lower picture showing the plug, the top one is your ground (green wire), the bottom one is your neutral (white), and the right and left side are your line 1 and line 2 (black and red wire).

Hope this helps, maybe the sparkys can help you out with a post.

KC

Edit: I alslo found out that it's less expensive to purchase a new generator cord then to purchase the new female plug end for the cord.

 

[bcp]

Need one of these:

generator inlet box at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

Bruce

 

[JohnDeereJoey]

Just plug it up before you crank the generator. Turn off house main first. No power, no drain, no pull on generator. So it won't be cranking under a load. I don't understand what the problem is. Several plug it in the dryer plug to hot the house.

I am totally unaware of a SAFE way to connect a generator to a house without a transfer switch in the house.

Back feeding, such connecting the generator output to an outlet in the house, provides no interlock to prevent a disaster, such as killing someone.

 

[zzvyb6]

As I see it, the reality is where power has gone out on a cold windy dark night. After an hour or so, you decide to hook up the generator to get the heat on. Then, in the cold, dark night, your flashlight is only at half power, you are in your bare feet, the garage door opener is out, too, so you need to find the rope, back a vehicle out, drag the generator outside, and try to hook it up. Sure, the generator may run, but the breakers blow. You've forgotten all the safe steps done in the order that you practiced on a nice warm sunny afternoon.
Now is the time when troubles, mistakes and carelessness start to add up. Pull Main, throw transfer, male/male cord, gasoline spilled, sparks from shorted wires, mis-neutraled cord, not enough devices turned off or unplugged, while backing out of the garage, you didn't quite get the truck into park, I've read about most of these, but I can see this being all eventful, even with a written checklist. Oh, and the battery is dead on the generator, so pull start if can remember how to get the panel open to access the pull handle. No screw drivers around. !!! Not a dime in my pajamas. Where is that pesky fire extinguisher. What do you mean the kids were launching tennis balls for the dog with it ???

 

[stumblinhorse]

As I see it, the reality is where power has gone out on a cold windy dark night. After an hour or so, you decide to hook up the generator to get the heat on. Then, in the cold, dark night, your flashlight is only at half power, you are in your bare feet, the garage door opener is out, too, so you need to find the rope, back a vehicle out, drag the generator outside, and try to hook it up. Sure, the generator may run, but the breakers blow. You've forgotten all the safe steps done in the order that you practiced on a nice warm sunny afternoon.
Now is the time when troubles, mistakes and carelessness start to add up. Pull Main, throw transfer, male/male cord, gasoline spilled, sparks from shorted wires, mis-neutraled cord, not enough devices turned off or unplugged, while backing out of the garage, you didn't quite get the truck into park, I've read about most of these, but I can see this being all eventful, even with a written checklist. Oh, and the battery is dead on the generator, so pull start if can remember how to get the panel open to access the pull handle. No screw drivers around. !!! Not a dime in my pajamas. Where is that pesky fire extinguisher. What do you mean the kids were launching tennis balls for the dog with it ???

Luckily my plug is inside my garage. I will die a painless death from carbon monoxide.

 

[Jstpssng]

I finally needed my generator last month… it’s only been 19 years since I built here. I had yanked the pull cord out of my Coleman about 5 years ago trying to start it and haven’t gotten back to fix it; the only time I ever started it was to make sure that it ran. I started the Lincoln WeldanPower which was my father’s… it turns out that just has (2) 110 outlets and the same number of 20 amp 220 outlets. Also fuel delivery problems… I had run the cord to my first freezer and was getting that cooled down when the power came back on …

I have a transfer switch and everything to make a cord. Next summer I probably ai pick up a PTO driven genny… no sense having yet another engine to keep running “in case I need it”.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I am totally unaware of a SAFE way to connect a generator to a house without a transfer switch in the house.

Back feeding, such connecting the generator output to an outlet in the house, provides no interlock to prevent a disaster, such as killing someone.

If your main is off, you can't backfeed the power company. So if your main is off and you plug everything up before you start generator, no danger anywhere.

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

If your main is off, you can't backfeed the power company. So if your main is off and you plug everything up before you start generator, no danger anywhere.

I mean I've hooked up Megawatt generators this way. Just have discipline. Rack out the breakers when needed. Hang grounds 600v and above. So on and so forth.

But the average home owner is lucky to be able to know not to run a generator in a garage with the door shut

 

[tradosaurus]

If your main is off, you can't backfeed the power company. So if your main is off and you plug everything up before you start generator, no danger anywhere.

That's the way I do it. I would like to put in a transfer switch but don't have the room.