Larry Caldwell
Elite Member
They are lucky the line crews didn't just go work somewhere else, and go back to a 40 hour work week while they were at it.
Hurricane Irene left with my power
- Thread starter the fat kid
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They are lucky the line crews didn't just go work somewhere else, and go back to a 40 hour work week while they were at it.
Larry Caldwell
Elite Member
It's the same in Oregon. If they even get a tickle off of a transformer they disconnect it and flag the service as unsafe. I hear the process can add weeks to the power outage.
Same setup here. Now I'm wishing I had gone with a whole house transfer switch. We remodelled the kitchen years after installing the transfer switch, and there wasn't room for all the new circuits in the switch box. I'm thinking of installing one of those transfer switches that fit under the meter.
Big generators are expensive to run, for sure. I think people overestimate how much electricity they really need. A lot depends on the house. If your only heat is electric, you need to run it. Add in a water pump, water heater, sewage ejector pump, plasma TV and a big sound system and you can work up some serious wattage. If you have wood heat and gravity feed water and sewer, you can light a few oil lamps and be comfortable with no electricity at all, or just enough to run an LED book light and a radio.
CrownHawg
Silver Member
Sounds like you guys who are playing generator police, are doing so from the comfort of your house WITH POWER! This guy is simply doing what he has to, and taking the precautions necessary. Go outside, switch off YOUR main breakers and sit there for a week or so, then see how you feel.....
Charlesaf3
Veteran Member
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- Aug 17, 2006
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Can we all agree that back feeding the utility lines is wrong? Note, not saying the panel per se, just saying if you do it, you MUST disconnect main breaker. Take the linemen into account. Not to mention, if they ground the backed line the generator is probably, and legitimately, going to be toast.
Linemen MUST assume powered lines. I actually think failure to do so is doing their job in an unsafe manner. Much like using tractors in an unsafe manner, or much that we do, one isn't likely to survive long by working that way... At the local hardware stores, all the male plug replacements are sold out....
Linemen MUST assume powered lines. I actually think failure to do so is doing their job in an unsafe manner. Much like using tractors in an unsafe manner, or much that we do, one isn't likely to survive long by working that way... At the local hardware stores, all the male plug replacements are sold out....
Pixguy
Elite Member
Hey Tom, Any idea of gallons used per day?? I'm thinking of putting in an auto start LP genny instead of using our manual 7.5w gen. and I'm wondering if it'll pay off. Thanx
JB4310
Super Member
Oh how i love the "back feed the pannel" threads.
I agree it is beating a dead horse for some of us, but not for those thousands of folks who became first time generator owners just this past week.
JB
Charlesaf3
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2006
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- 1,982
- Location
- Richmond VA & Irvington VA
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- Kubota B3030, Kubota M59 TLB
Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I'd like to see some more education out there - people are going to do it, they should be able to learn how to do it safely
