Generator

[tommu56]

Ilike these ones


http://www.squared.com/us/products/load_centers.nsf/unid/B3F05CB39B7080AD85256A62006FA416/$file/GenPan1.jpg

you only put nessary loads in it and they work fine


tommu56

 

[Mickey_Fx]

Just ran across this interesting thread.

I like Higgy's approach to off grid power. Hard to beat those ST generator heads. Built to run 24/7/365 @ 1800rpm.

One thing I didn't see mentioned for disconnecting one's house from the grid is to just pull the meter. If needs are infrequent this is easy, safe, and low cost.

I've done this a time or two and when power was restored I replaced the meter and called the power Co and asked them to stop by and replace the meter seal. Not a harsh word from them. I'm sure their position was better to have to reinstall the meter seal than having to worry about back feeding generator power back into the grid where it creates a safety problem.

 

[Highbeam]

So how did the power company know that you hadn't broken the seal on that meter several weeks ago, heck maybe even years ago on remote read meters? Would be no trouble to rig up a jumper to steal power and then put the meter back in place every so often so that the meter at least spins a little bit.

I would agree though that removing the meter is a certain way to mechanically seperate the house from the lines.

 

[Mickey_Fx]

So how did the power company know that you hadn't broken the seal on that meter several weeks ago, heck maybe even years ago on remote read meters? Would be no trouble to rig up a jumper to steal power and then put the meter back in place every so often so that the meter at least spins a little bit. ....

Pesonally don't care but I think my power Co is smart enough to know when someone is robbing power. Our bill includes a graph of power usage for the previous 12 months. I'm sure their billing system will catch any irregularities.

Since they didn't have any critisim of pulling the meter to hook up a generator I don't think they are concerned either. Wouldn't be too surprised that when they stopped by and replaced the seal, they poped the meter and took a look.

Your power Co may raise a fit over something like this. Only have had need twice in > 3 decades here. No sense going to trouble and expense of installing a transfer switch for needs less than once every 10 yrs. It was just an alt suggestion that may fill the needs for some.

 

[thingy]

Of course I don't want no 'electical worker killed',,man,,,,but just like the guy said,,[and believe me, I would think the same],,you got to assume 100 people are doing it like me and are screwing up like I ain't,,,,,,just saying,[and alotta people don't know this],,that alls you gotta do is plug a cord into a 220 outlet and turn main breaker off,,turn other breakers off to,,go slow,,,you can get heat,lights and water this way,,might mean the difference tween life and death to YOU,,in a blizzard,,,,if you don't want to,,fine with me,,but I ain't selling nothing,,,thingy one thing,,,somebody wanted to know if a 5,500 watt gen was good enough for 1/2 h.p. water pump,,,let me say,,cause I got one,[water pump that is],,just barely,,,mine is 6,000 watt,,6,500 surge and lights dim,,,got a 100 ft well,,,thingy again

 

[Scott in IN]

No backing feeding for me, major big time problems....

I went with this Generator InterLock Kit - Introduction for $150 and it's simple enough for the wife to use....

 

[Highbeam]

All of these interlock kits just go to show you that the real danger is when you forget to shut off the main breaker.

I always thought that the typical main breaker is not meant to handle double the normal line voltage meaning that if our generator was 100% out of phase with the line voltage then that main breaker is actually preventing twice the normal voltage from leaking. Maybe that was propoganda to install a manual transfer lever style switch.

This has been a great thread with real solutions for the more economy minded folks.

 

[BobRip]

No backing feeding for me, major big time problems....

I went with this Generator InterLock Kit - Introduction for $150 and it's simple enough for the wife to use....

This is the route I would go if I were doing this again. I prefer a commercial solution instead of my homemade solution, even though the are very similar. It will help keep the lawyers under control (Am I dreaming?)

 

[midlf]

This is the route I would go if I were doing this again. I prefer a commercial solution instead of my homemade solution, even though the are very similar. It will help keep the lawyers under control (Am I dreaming?)

I agree with you. I could make it with no problem. However my time is worth something and it would cost me $150 worth of time to fabricate this. This has the advantage, as noted, of being approved.