Plugging in generator to your house dangerous?

[Fuddyduddy1952]

In Egon's defense he has been in Nova Scotia a long time, and Canadians have added useful content to this forum for many years.
I get crap because I live in middle of nowhere and see that different world than the suburban members but it takes different views to better understand the world.

Why don't we discuss, say, power in Europe, Asia or Africa? That may be helpful to me as well. ???

 

[cqaigy2]

Well...no...
From my power my transformer secondary is 240 v center tap, so three wires to meter, there to panel. Main breaker disconnects 240v (two 120v 180° out of phase). This center tap is neutral and goes to driven earth ground. Garage has a sub-panel. By having main breaker off there's no incoming power, transformer center tap is grounded at pole, this lead also grounded at main panel and is neutral.
The generator backfeeds from garage to house, cannot backfeed through an open main breaker back to transformer.

i see what you mean by the neutral being grounded, that makes sense to me.

Not 180 degrees out of phase, it's split phase. I've seen the phase using Oscope unless you connect the leads backwards, it's in phase. 220 volt with the transformer center tapped going to ground.

 

[cqaigy2]

Why don't we discuss, say, power in Europe, Asia or Africa? That may be helpful to me as well. ???

You could, but countries in North America do things very similar. You might have noticed when going to Canada, they drive on the right (correct ) side of the road. And if you've tried to use electric power while up there, you don't need a special plug and voltage converter.

 

[CobyRupert]

I’ve always wanted to see what kind of generator a homeowner has who could leave his main breaker on and feed all the neighbors, town, etc.. in the effected outage area (island), .. making it dangerous for linemen fixing the distribution line.

That would be some generator.

 

[MossRoad]

How about we stop insulting each other and, since we already discussed the issue of generators for home backup in several other threads, we should probably agree that the proper way to do it is a cheap interlock at the least.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

How about we stop insulting each other and, since we already discussed the issue of generators for home backup in several other threads, we should probably agree that the proper way to do it is a cheap interlock at the least.

Better yet what you posted! A super simple metal plate for main breaker. $62 Amazon or free if using scrap everyone has laying around .

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

Attached document:

https://www.nspower.ca/docs/default-source/pdf-to-upload/b-28-900(1).pdf?sfvrsn=bd00f2aa_0

The provinces directive on installation of temporary power. Every province in Canada will such regulations built into their Electrical Code.

There is a difference between “Can Do & May Do”

Your link is very informative, thanks for posting it. Really goes to show that physics/electrical theory is universal and if guidelines are followed it keeps us all out of trouble.
Dean