Hurricane Irene left with my power

[the fat kid]

We lose power ALOT up here on the mountain! No joke I bet our average is roughly 2x a month. Usually not for to long. But in the winter months even not too long sucks!! Last march we lost it for a night and my hopper in my pellet stove caught fire!! I got it out myself with no major structure damage but OMG the smoke damage was horrific. it took servepro a week to clean my house top to bot and desensitize it. We had to stay at the marriot in the next town over,(they did a great job) but all cuz I couldn't get my generator running!. That's what I mean about it could've been worse!

 

[General Lee]

This is simply the not the right way to hook up a portable generator. It should not be recommended to others.

It is safe if you know what you are doing. My generator has its own 40 amp breaker in the panel and I installed a plug using 10ga/4 wire cable. Turn of the MAIN and simply choose a few breakers to run.

 

[Storm56]

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.

Errrrr wrong. I know of no small generators that put out 7200 volts.

 

[grsthegreat]

Errrrr wrong. I know of no small generators that put out 7200 volts.

the generator doesnt do it silly, the transformer does. If you backfeed a step down transformer, it acts to boost up the supplied voltage in reverse of what it normally does. We have done this experimentally with Tesla coils....and they make an amazing voltage spike.

Oh, and did i say...im an electrical contractor with over 30 years of experience...and have been zapped by countless number of fools that jury rig their panels doing some major foolish things over the years...

 

[Storm56]

the generator doesnt do it silly, the transformer does. If you backfeed a step down transformer, it acts to boost up the supplied voltage in reverse of what it normally does. We have done this experimentally with Tesla coils....and they make an amazing voltage spike.

Oh, and did i say...im an electrical contractor with over 30 years of experience...and have been zapped by countless number of fools that jury rig their panels doing some major foolish things over the years...

You really need to lighten up - silly. I FULLY understand how a transformer works. Maybe you should reread the post of yours I quoted.

Oh and did I mention that I have a degree in electronics and was a field service engineer for a large computer firm for over 10 years...

By the way I never got zapped doing my job because I NEVER took things for granted. I expected the unexpected.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

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!

Wow, it sounds like you need a smaller generator. I have two - one that will run the water heater, and one that will just run a few lights and the refrigerator. The little one is a 1000 watt 2-cycle interrupter governed camping rig that is almost inaudible and runs 4.5 hours on a gallon of mixed gas. I'm always careful to run it empty before putting it away, and it has been reliable for years now. I use it when camping to power the travel trailer. I recall I paid $149 for it at Coastal Farm.

 

[grsthegreat]

You really need to lighten up - silly. I FULLY understand how a transformer works. Maybe you should reread the post of yours I quoted.

Oh and did I mention that I have a degree in electronics and was a field service engineer for a large computer firm for over 10 years...

By the way I never got zapped doing my job because I NEVER took things for granted. I expected the unexpected.

hmm, i re-read my old post, and i dont see any problems.

 

[dodge man]

Trimming trees would help, but is almost impossible to get them all. We had a ice storm about 2 years ago. A tree on my property fell and knocked down the power lines. If you went out and looked before hand, the tree that took out the power is one of the last ones you would have worried about. It was pretty far from the power lines, but it fell on them and things just cooked for several minutes unitl the power lines burned out.

 

[Storm56]

hmm, i re-read my old post, and i dont see any problems.

Your first sentence in your post reads and I quote: "A transformer can take 7200-14400 volt low amp power...."

Show me a generator for home use that produces 7200-14400 volts. We were speaking of a generator backfeeding a line, again as far as I know no generators that anyone would use for home use produce that kind of voltage.

I am fully aware that high tension lines use step up transformers that increase voltages to effeciently transmit electric and then use step down transformers to lower the voltage for home and commertcial use.

And again, I encourage people that use genertors to install a transfer switch. However it can be done safely without the transfer switch IF proper techniques are used, that was what got all this started.

The fact that it can be done does not mean I endorse it, so PLEASE stop flaming me for the fact that it can be done and I stated so.

 

[grsthegreat]

Talk about flaming someone.

1. If you are indeed someone with electrical engineering background, why would yo ever suggest that someone do something AGAINST the National electrical codes?? Refer to Articles 700 -705 in the code book.

2. I never said a generator can produce 7200 volts, i said a generator producing 240 volts then run back-wards thru a transformer WILL produce 7200 - 14,400 volts. Quit mixing up my words and meanings.

I don't want to get in a pissing fight with anyone. Doing so will simply get this thread shut down.

I simply want to protect th lineman out there from improper AND ILLEGAL installation of a generator to a main panel. Its unconscionable for anyone to tell someone that is unsure how to back-feed a house to do the install in an illegal and potentially FATAL manner.

NOW, as for proof, just google lineman killed by illegal generator
Lineman Killed By Generator Back Feed - Victim Helping Restore Power in Alabama - Electric Energy Online

Storm Death??? [Archive] - Lineman Forums

Protecting from Backfeed [Archive] - Lineman Forums

and a few thousands more/.