Home Generators

[PAGUY]

Could you tell me why on this scenario:

A consrtuction electrician was running below ground wiring into the cabin from a generator shelter (made of corrugated steel) next to the wood shed. Two separate wire that would plug into the generator at the duplex outlet. When he had the wires inside at an octogon box he wired one black to the kitchen lights and appliances in there and the other wire 9again only the blackwire) to the cabin lights. He connected the white wires from both feeds with the white wires from the different designated areas. The kitchen lights would not light. I separated the white wires and connected them to their respective feeds and everything has worked perfect since then.

Why would they not work with all neutral/common wires together?

 

[Pirate]

FWIW, if you want to feed your house with a portable generator, this seems like the easiest way to go. Replaces the meter yet allows you to feed the whole house with no chance of backfeeding. I thought about it, but wanted auto start etc...

Generlink Automatic Transfer Switch 50 Amp, Model# MA24-N | Transfer Switches | Northern Tool + Equipment

Without a doubt, generlink is the only way for me to go. How does one get those installed? I can't break the elec. company seal. Should I call them and ask them to install? Hire electrician? Can an electrician break their seal? Thanks.

 

[gerard]

Without a doubt, generlink is the only way for me to go. How does one get those installed? I can't break the elec. company seal. Should I call them and ask them to install? Hire electrician? Can an electrician break their seal? Thanks.

Kind of pricey. What does this do that a transfer switch doesn't for about 1/2 the price? (Also a transfer switch can be placed where it's convenient to put your portable generator. That may NOT be where the meter is.

 

[Pirate]

Well, it does keep me from having to rip the kitchen wall apart again, and since I just finished redoing the entire kitchen, I don't feel like fixing yet another wall. The guy that built the place had the panel put in the upstairs kitchen instead of the giant basement, or garage. Ease of operation is the biggest thing going for this gizmo.

 

[hr3]

Our local utility puts them in for free,, They are the only ones in our area that are allowed to break the seals..Now in the northern part of the state a Master electrician can do it... Sooo Check with your local utility first,,they might not even allow it,,ya never know,,

 

[whistlepig]

Honda makes a control system also called HP2S. I would love to have one but it costs $1,400 installed. I'm going to get one though. It's just so much nicer than running the extension cords through the windows. It senses load. If too many appliances kick on at the same time it will delay the starting of the appliance (of your choice) so as not to overload the generator. Also one can hook the generator up and not worry about back feed. When it senses the power is back on it isolates the generator and lets the house run off line power. It' a sweet system.

 

[BobRip]

Does this have a way of running off the generator while the power company power is still available. This enables you to test the system periodically. I am not talking about back feeding to the Power Company, just a manual activation.

 

[whistlepig]

Does this have a way of running off the generator while the power company power is still available. This enables you to test the system periodically. I am not talking about back feeding to the Power Company, just a manual activation.

On the Honda HPS2 system you can run the the generator plugged in to your electric while the power is still on. It's computer controlled. If it senses load from the power company it will isolate the generator. You don't have to test the system. If your power goes out you can plug the generator in and go to work. If the power comes back on the HPS2 will isolate the generator. The generator will still run but won't back feed the house.

 

[BobRip]

On the Honda HPS2 system you can run the the generator plugged in to your electric while the power is still on. It's computer controlled. If it senses load from the power company it will isolate the generator. You don't have to test the system. If your power goes out you can plug the generator in and go to work. If the power comes back on the HPS2 will isolate the generator. The generator will still run but won't back feed the house.

Part of testing is actually powering the house. I try to do this at least once a year. Just running the gasoline engine is only part of the test. Actually powering the house with a generator is the complete test. How do you know that the contacts in side the transfer breaker actually close, or know that the generator can put out power. Twice a month I load my generator with two electric heaters for 20 minutes to make sure power will come out. This to is a partial test, but it does build some confidence. Sorry if I sound paranoid, but I have seen to many things that sat for a long time fail when needed. Some of them failed years before, but no testing was done to notice that.

 

[IXLR8]

I just ordered this one with a 200 amp auto tranfer switch : Yanmar Powered 6,875 Watt Diesel Generator

Hi,
I am looking at the same generator, have you used it enough ( at all ) to provide some feedback on it. I find little information about it on the web... but Yanmar is known to make a good engine.

Thanks,