Hurricane Irene left with my power

[Larry Caldwell]

I have set up my 92 year old mother with a generator adequate to run the furnace. I used a DPDT light switch to do the furnace connection. Flipped one way it runs the furnace off of line power, flipped the other it connects to a pigtail extension cord that terminates just outside the house. She has to rely on a neighbor or my brother-in-law to start the generator and string an extension cord to the house, but then she has about 5 hours run time on a tank of fuel.

I also wired in a double plug receptacle in the furnace room, that she can use for indoor extension cords. Just last week I found a $3 electric hot plate at Goodwill.

She refuses to install an auto-start generator and auto transfer switch, which would be the best solution. She doesn't think she would live long enough to use it. Maybe so, but we have a history of ice storms that make a mess out of the electrical grid. At least if the generator is running, she won't have to sit in a cold house, and will be able to make a pot of coffee or a pancake.

 

[hr3]

I have set up my 92 year old mother with a generator adequate to run the furnace. I used a DPDT light switch to do the furnace connection. Flipped one way it runs the furnace off of line power, flipped the other it connects to a pigtail extension cord that terminates just outside the house. She has to rely on a neighbor or my brother-in-law to start the generator and string an extension cord to the house, but then she has about 5 hours run time on a tank of fuel.

I also wired in a double plug receptacle in the furnace room, that she can use for indoor extension cords. Just last week I found a $3 electric hot plate at Goodwill.

She refuses to install an auto-start generator and auto transfer switch, which would be the best solution. She doesn't think she would live long enough to use it. Maybe so, but we have a history of ice storms that make a mess out of the electrical grid. At least if the generator is running, she won't have to sit in a cold house, and will be able to make a pot of coffee or a pancake.

Makes life better for all when you take care of the ones you love.. You did it right for your mom Larry and I envy you :thumbsup:

 

[RobertN]

Over the years here, I have seen the generator issue come up. Isn't there a National Electrical Code for it?

 

[Pixguy]

After 8pm and still no power in RI since sunday 9:15am... not a huge deal, just inconvenient and I can't watch my Sox play the Yankees.

Can't wait to finish my business and go back to NH where they never lost it.

 

[JB4310]

After 8pm and still no power in RI since sunday 9:15am... not a huge deal, just inconvenient and I can't watch my Sox play the Yankees.

Can't wait to finish my business and go back to NH where they never lost it.

I read in the paper this morning, that 65% of RI was without power as of 8pm last night! I know it's a tiny state but I thought that was pretty incredible. Was there alot of tree/ wind damage there? by the maps, looks like it was not even in the path of the storm?

The eastern side of CT is in the dark, I'm feeling pretty guilty here in central CT. bad flooding to the south, west and north of us and extended power outages to the east :confused2: I'm sitting in the middle with the yard all cleaned up (took all of 2 hours) totally unscathed.
The power blinked once, not even long enough to mess up the LED clocks

JB

 

[Pixguy]

I read in the paper this morning, that 65% of RI was without power as of 8pm last night! I know it's a tiny state but I thought that was pretty incredible. Was there alot of tree/ wind damage there? by the maps, looks like it was not even in the path of the storm?
JB

There was a large number of trees that landed on lines. I think it may have been Nat. Grid not trimming as well as they could have.

We're closing on a property here and we just found out saturday that the buyers want a tree taken down before we close in 2 weeks. I stopped today and the tree service co. had a thick book of calls that had come in and we're not at the top of the list.
Looks like someone is gonna wait awhile.

 

[the fat kid]

Pixguy are you sure no in NH lost power?? Im still without it on tues night at 9 pm and I only live about an hour from NH. That just sucks!! And yes I do love my 7800 watt generator. I just don't want to run all day long and burn it up! Not to mention I've already dumped roughly 80$ in gas but no complaints here it could've been worse!

 

[grsthegreat]

Think GENERATOR,,,,,, i put one in at my place cause nearly every winter we'd lose power. One of the best investments i ever made.

 

[JB4310]

There was a large number of trees that landed on lines. I think it may have been Nat. Grid not trimming as well as they could have.

I think it was the NJ Governor that said we have start seriously looking at the threat trees pose to the grid, and start cutting as a precaution. I agree and I'm a tree lover, this was just a tropical storm, imagine if it was Cat 2 or 3. We would all be without electric service for a year.

It is a real threat to our safety and security. There would be a mass extinction for those trying to go thru a New England winter with out power nowadays.

JB

 

[grsthegreat]

You are making assumptions that were NOT present in my post. The fact is that as long as the main is turned off there can be no backfeed into the transmission lines, unless the breaker is malfunctioning which is highly unlikely.

Another fact that is never mentioned is that even if you did not turn off the main, the power load on the generator from trying to feed the entire transmission line and any people that are on it would most likely overload the generator instantly causing the circuit breaker on the generator to trip immediately anyway.

By the way my linemen friends do not want to die any more than the next guy. They know in power outages that lots of people run generators and use appropriate care.

I am not advocating any mis or improper use of generator hook up systems, and I do endorse the main disconnect which is the proper method of course. But the fact of the matter is that it can be done safely without the disconnect if the proper steps are taken.

errrrrr. wrong. A transformer can take 7,200 - 14,400 volt low amperage power and convert it to high amp low voltage (240 volt) power. However this is where a generator transfer switch comes in. If you backfeed the transformer with 240 volt, it will/can put out 7,200-14,400 volts of power onto the overhead lines. This can ruin a lineman's day.

I don't care what your friends or relatives do....NEVER use a generator to power up a residential panel without a transfer switch. Just shutting off the main doesn't do it, as what if you forget. I think its just plain foolish to do otherwise.