Plugging in generator to your house dangerous?

[ponytug]

Anyone have one of thos battery banks ?

We have a commercial set of AC batteries hooked up to our solar. During a winter storm, they might be good for a couple of days, before we would have to break out the generator. Mine can't be charged by a generator, but Generac makes some that can be charged via solar or generators.

I know there are folks here with battery banks that they have made themselves. Those tend to be designed to have generators charge them. There are some military surplus generators that output DC directly that seem pretty well suited for it, or the DIYer's special of a small motor hooked up to a 12 or 24VDC alternator can go a long way.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

What's an ac battery? Never heard of one.

 

[CalG]

With the expectation that electric power will go out SOMETIME in any region the experiences freezing rain or winter storms, it would seem that an easy hook up for a battery back up system would be an integral part of any heating plant.

The electrical demand is low enough that a $500 battery pack might well suffice for a day or more. Screw the lights and fridge, The last thing I want is for the house to freeze and break pipes.

 

[bcp]

How many people lose their refrigerator contents during a winter power outage, when they could have set many of the contents outside in the cold?



Bruce

 

[Jstpssng]

How many people lose their refrigerator contents during a winter power outage, when they could have set many of the contents outside in the cold?



Bruce

When my power was out last month it wasn't cold enough for that to work. I don't keep a lot in the frig anyways, my main concern was my 3 freezers full of meat. (They need to stay around 0'F... 32' isn't cold enough.) After 2 days I dug out my generator and was just getting my first freezer cooled back down when the power came back on.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Power goes out, cover your freezer with sleeping bags and blankets, it really helps to keep them cold.

SR

 

[zzvyb6]

Always keep in mind that it only takes 5MA across your ticker to put you in the ground.

MIG or rod ? What size wire and what is duty cycle ?

 

[cqaigy2]

What's an ac battery? Never heard of one.

https://gprivate.com/62slp

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

Thread title is plugging in, wire it straight in and your good

 

[ponytug]

What's an ac battery? Never heard of one.

Try one of these;

Powerwall | Tesla

Powerwall is a home battery designed to store energy from solar or the grid, so you can use it anytime you want—at night or during an outage.

www.tesla.com

IQ Battery 10 | Enphase

enphase.com

Unlike a typical battery, these units have the charger and the inverter as "part of the package", so there is never any DC outside of the box. You put AC power in and you get AC power out.

Like many things around energy and energy storage, there are pros and cons. They come on automatically and have next to no maintenance and with enough sunlight keep going for as long as necessary. They are pricier than DIY versions, can run out of power if there isn't much sun for an extended period, and can be complicated. (That isn't an exhaustive list, either way.) On the bright side, there is no hauling the generator out, no messing with transfer switches, extension cords, fuel, carbs, or suicide cords...some of which @stumblinhorse has previously raised...

All the best,

Peter

 

[Egon]

Yah...ah drunk ma beeer an wach thius...ah dun gotta 70 i.que!

Don’t overate yourself!

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Try one of these;

Powerwall | Tesla

Powerwall is a home battery designed to store energy from solar or the grid, so you can use it anytime you want—at night or during an outage.

www.tesla.com

IQ Battery 10 | Enphase

enphase.com

Unlike a typical battery, these units have the charger and the inverter as "part of the package", so there is never any DC outside of the box. You put AC power in and you get AC power out.

Like many things around energy and energy storage, there are pros and cons. They come on automatically and have next to no maintenance and with enough sunlight keep going for as long as necessary. They are pricier than DIY versions, can run out of power if there isn't much sun for an extended period, and can be complicated. (That isn't an exhaustive list, either way.) On the bright side, there is no hauling the generator out, no messing with transfer switches, extension cords, fuel, carbs, or suicide cords...some of which @stumblinhorse has previously raised...

All the best,

Peter

Ok...so batteries are DC. An inverter converts it to AC. No such thing as an AC battery.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Don’t overate yourself!

You're very entertaining at least!

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Don’t overate yourself!

You're very entertaining at least!
You may want to evaluate your diction since overate implies eating too much. I assume you meant to say "overrate".
You're a hoot every time you post! Keep going!

 

[Egon]

Typical type comment when original comments do not meet the actual facts. Misdirection and ridicule are one resort for some!

 

[MossRoad]

Ok...so batteries are DC. An inverter converts it to AC. No such thing as an AC battery.

AC battery

www.acbiode.com

 

[MossRoad]

 

[TheMan419]

Well OP you got a lot of good advice and a lot of really bad advice on this thread. Do it safely and get it properly locked out. Even if we agree the lineman will not get hurt because they ground their stuff before they start, you don't want to risk your generator getting toasted when the power comes back on.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

Well OP you got a lot of good advice and a lot of really bad advice on this thread. Do it safely and get it properly locked out. Even if we agree the lineman will not get hurt because they ground their stuff before they start, you don't want to risk your generator getting toasted when the power comes back on.

It's not just the lineman that are in danger of getting electrocuted, anyone near downed wires can become a victim of ignorance/arrogance. I have seen the results of confirmation bias to many times. If I did it and it worked for me, then it is ok. Wrong!
The reality is it should be considered a crime and be prosecuted, my opinion from talking to a person after they injured someone with there suicide cord. I find it disgusting that there are so many people that don't or won't learn from history of others mis-fortune.

 

[Eagle1]

Let's be real if you back feed to the pole the transformer will block current, if it really "powered" the line all your neighbors would drag your gen set into the ground. Transmission line is much higher than 220 vac often between 7200 to 14000 vac .
That said I also cut the main and back feed through a dedicated breaker for that purpose. No reason to send power up the wire to the transformer or power other circuit on the property. If you do get near a down powerline expect a LOT more than 220 vac at 400 amps.