Portable Generator Electrical Question

[LittleBill21]

actually it appears he has a 120/240 switch, which with the crap drawing appears to give him 30 amp at 120 or 15 amp at 240, prolly flips the windings like my old 3k generator

 

[Beltzington]

I think part of the confusion is how gens list their rating vs how a home is listed.

A home has say a 200a panel. That means each 120v leg has 200a for a total of 200a at 240v.

Sometimes the gen will say something like ?0a gen? Unfortunately that could be 40a at 120v. And if it will make 240v it痴 only 20a.

So if you want to run multiple 120v items you will have 2 120v 20a circuits. Not one 120v 40a circuit.

The comment above about including the brand and model would help. Also, if you plan to backfeed a house panel their is more to the puzzle.

You may be surprised but I actually have many years of electronic training and experience, however most of that was solid state, telecommunications and computer logic. As a result I am often confused by the terms and codes used in the residential electrical world, which is why I ask and why I appreciate your feedback. The wiring diagram is very small and hard to read but it does show the L14 plug 120V legs get power thru two 20-amp breakers. I don't need 240V during a power outage and don't want to have to move breakers around in the panel so I was looking at back feeding my panel via an outside 240v AC connect which I believe will provide 120V to all my breakers in my panel, clearly only a few of them could be on. I would turn off the main line breakers going into the panel and remove the line service disconnect to insure I do not hurt any Glen Campbell's of my county.

Generator is a JD gas powered JD G4400K

 

[RNeumann]

So yes, back-feeding, while not legal, can be done. It requires a systematic approach and is something the spouse or kids probably shouldn’t do without training. Hint- it starts with the main house breaker off and the gen off. I will mention manual transfer switches don’t cost an arm and leg anymore. We will still get flamed for discussing it here....haha.

Anyway, yes you can make a double male cord and back-feed the panel. For a small gen like that most would use the dryer plug or 240v in the garage. You will need to ensure the plugs and loads you take live on generator power are on separate phases. If you understand how the panel breakers are laid out that isn’t an issue-you may need to flop a few breakers.

 

[ruffdog]

So yes, back-feeding, while not legal, can be done. It requires a systematic approach and is something the spouse or kids probably shouldn稚 do without training. Hint- it starts with the main house breaker off and the gen off. I will mention manual transfer switches don稚 cost an arm and leg anymore. We will still get flamed for discussing it here....haha.

Anyway, yes you can make a double male cord and back-feed the panel. For a small gen like that most would use the dryer plug or 240v in the garage. You will need to ensure the plugs and loads you take live on generator power are on separate phases. If you understand how the panel breakers are laid out that isn稚 an issue-you may need to flop a few breakers.

So, is that why they suggest balancing the 120v loads when the gen is running (half the load on the left of the panel, half on the right)?

 

[RNeumann]

Yes- exactly. It’s hard to explain AC current without pictures and USA 240v is a little more complex. But basically it’s like hot and cold water coming out of the shower. Hot water is one leg and cold water is the other leg. In your panel all the 120v breakers are on either the hot or cold water and the 240v breakers use a hot AND cold. The panels stagger the breakers from side to side and vertically. So vertically it’s a hot,cold,hot,cold breaker etc.
When back-feeding the panel with a “small” gen that is only powering a few items you will want to ensure the loads are on the hot and cold equally. So say the frig is on the hot side and the tv, computer and a few lights is on the cold side. If everything was on one side it would overload the gen and trip the gen’s breaker. With some thought it can be done though.

***IN THE EXAMPLE ABOVE THE TERM HOT AND COLD TIES INTO MY WATER ANALGY ABOVE- NOT HOT AND COLD WITH REFERENCE TO ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS......clear as mud???!!! Haha

 

[newbury]

Yes- exactly. It痴 hard to explain AC current without pictures and USA 240v is a little more complex<snip>

Even with pictures and videos it's hard to explain.

How would you explain 3 phase with hot and cold water ?

 

[BAP]

Breaker interlock switches for switching to generator are fairly cheap now and a safe way to isolate the panel from the grid.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Square-...}++dln:{541708}+qu:{breaker+interlock+switch}

 

[RNeumann]

Even with pictures and videos it's hard to explain.

How would you explain 3 phase with hot and cold water ?

It’s the temperature my wife expects.......everywhere........every time.........instantly!!!