generator to home panel connection

[ninefinger]

Thank you Mace Canute, I have honestly just scanned this tread because early on I could see where it was going. Been in the field for 32 years and change and when I hear a generator running I shut the crew down until I find out what is going on. I WILL NOT let one of my guys get hurt by some stuck on stupid consumer back feeding our equipment. I do not care how long they have been out. During major system wide outages most of us are going home to a dark house as well after 18+ hour days and our wives and kids have had to fend for themselves

 

[whitedogone]

Yes on the wall is a female outlet twist lock on. same as on the generator. Thus you need a cord with a male on each end. completly safe unless you grab the male prungs that stick out. Thats the point You have to be careful . But what is the alternative? a male rescessed outlet plug?
http://www.federalindustrialsales.com/images/electrical/hbl2751.jpg

this cord end would only be live when the generator is started. So the cord is plugged into the wall outlet first then the generator started.simple procedure. And being of the twist variety I guess no one will use it in a regular outlet and find the female end live.
I dont believe there is any other alternative. thus the lack of replys other than is unsafe.
only other way i see is to have a disconnect box with a line out that would have to have a female twist to plug into the generator and then youd be relying on the disconnect to be OFF when you are not using it. padlock perhaps but far more likely to remain energized.

The alt. is a rated transfer switch. I wouldn't put my name one that with a 10' pole. You wouldn't be getting power with that setup from me.

 

[MrMiller]

As a Journeyman Lineman I can say without a doubt that it is absolutely possible to backfeed through a transformer and energize neighbours services. Depending on the time of day and time of year, there may be so little combined load that the generator handles it very well! And who's to say the dangerous voltage always has to be the higher voltage? 120V is more than adequate to cause ventricular fibrillation. Also, read up on shunt wound generators. They will drop off output voltage as resistance load goes up. Enough resistance load and they will run but not produce any voltage. A Lineman can check for voltage, find none, and then disconnect enough load that the generator is able to produce voltage again. This is NOT a hypothetical situation, it has happened.



Are you saying you consider it acceptable to backfeed into a transformer and produce dangerous voltages if you only do it for a short time? How long do you think you could handle 14,400 volts going through your body before you were harmed?


Once again: It is NOT the responsibility of the utility to guarantee there is no backfed condition, it is the responsibility of the customer to guarantee he cannot backfeed into the utilities system.

I never said I thought it was acceptable to back feed the line in fact I said the opposite, "I will assume straight off that this is not a great idea... ". I even pointed out that if the solution was not CSA/UL approved I would stay away!

I was merely saying that I could not see how a small generator could power the local neighborhood. I stand corrected, your experience (and the other lineman) certainly wins out. Still I bet most improperly connected generators pop a breaker.

This was all that I was pointing out. Don't have nor will I have a secret lineman death trap installed in my house! I am way too cheap and will just run the cord in from outside to restore some power! ;-)

Oh ya, 120V (definitely 14,400V) across you is certainly enough to get a current through you that could leave you dead.

S.

 

[Mace Canute]

Thank you, Mr. Miller!

The subject of generators and backfeeding onto utility lines is definitely one that pushes ALL my buttons, as everyone has plainly seen! I'm quite passionate about it and I hope I don't come off looking like I am doing a personal attack on anyone. I have had a few friends and acquaintances injured (and one killed) from contact with high voltage lines. I once came this close(holding fingers a c-hair apart) to getting serious burned and possibly killed myself (through absolutely no fault of my own btw).

 

[Bedlam]

Yes no ''winning'' here. People are so personal about it I dont think they can sit and figure out what the poster really means or does.
I for one have no clue what the last poster ment in reference to my post.
In my situation there isnt backfeeding becasue I shut the main off. Thats been standard procedure for the last 35 years for me.(right or wrong) for people.

I think this thread will go on and on , without much change.All good ideas and viewpoints,respectibly.

All good points to ponder, and consider for safe use .Thats what the forums are about at least to me.So alls good.

 

[brin]

I've got a 20KW PTO Generator that I will use with my tractor as a back up power source and when we built the house several years ago I told the electrician to run the circuits with that in mind..On the outside of our house we have two electrical panels....one is sealed just accessible by the elect. co. the other has 3 swithches in it and the electrician has told me I turn all three of those swithces off and that disconnects me from the grid and then I plug my cable coming from the panel inside my house into my generator and start it up..There is no transfer switch and the electrician said none is neccessary since when I throw those three swithches it disconnects the whole house from the grid...Comments ?

 

[tommu56]

A couple of different flavors of interlock kits for their panels



QO2DTIM and QO2DTI

Circuit Breaker Mechanical Interlock, Circuit Breaker Type: Standard

http://www.schneider-electric.us/products-services/product-detail/?event=datasheet&partnumber=QO2DTIM&countrycode=us

qocgk2

Load Center Mechanical Interlock, UL Listed, Circuit Breaker Interlock, QO

http://static.schneider-electric.us/docs/Electrical%20Distribution/Load%20Centers/Accessories,%20QO%20(LK,%20PK,%20QO,%20QON)/40273-809-02.pdf


I have use these on a couple of panels and they are a lot usually cheaper than the third party ones


Tom

 

[hr3]

Brin,, "Comments.". "pictures" or if you would or part numbers off what he intalled outside your house... The way you say it they are no more than what started this whole thread in the first place,,,

It's hard to say what you have without more infomation,, I think I know what he did...but will hold judgment for more infomation,,, "would love to see it though"

 

[jb62901]

Think I'll stick with this guy It works no ?????

http://i31.tinypic.com/90oolw.jpg

 

[Bedlam]

Many different ways to do it , as many ways for people to find safety faults. What ultimately matters is that there is no current flowing to the pole.