Portable Generators

[Threepoint]

All transfer switches disconnect your breaker panel from the power grid to prevent generator power from going out to the grid. They allow power from the grid or the generator, but not both at the same time.
[snip]

Mike, one clarification. A transfer switch only disconnects from the power grid those circuits that are wired into it. In some cases that may indeed mean the entire service panel, but with manual transfer switches used in typical small portable generator setups producing, say, 5,000 to 10,000 watts, that usually means only eight to 12 circuits. The remaining circuits stay connected to the grid, unless of course the main breaker is manually flipped, which is not necessary. So when the utility restores power, those unswitched circuits will instantly be energized from the grid, while those routed to the transfer switch will continue to get power only from the generator until manually switched back to grid power.

 

[kevinwak]

I never heard tell of an auto start or remote start generator being 100% banned in Canada. There are some circumstances in some applications where auto-start is hazardous and is thus illegal .

I think I was misunderstood. I didn't mean they were illegal, I just meant that lots of the ones used by people here aren't CSA approved. There are many available that are approved.

 

[Humblebub]

Just as a reference, here my manual 60 amp transfer switch cost me just under $200 retail including breakers. I did not reuse breakers as my entrance panel was Old and used fuses.

 

[aczlan]

Found this interesting piece on six dangers of backfeeding a generator. Disconnecting the main service entrance breaker doesn't protect against all of them.
http://www.qsl.net/kc5qhh/backfeeddangers.pdf

If you have another outlet on your dryer line, using a generator is the least of your concerns.

--Looks like a nice product. $550 - 650. Pricey. Transfer switches at the time were also pricey. If utility companies want them, they should install them. Rate payers already cover all of there money making schemes- they should have to pick this one up if they want it.

A metal interlock plate (such as Generator InterLock Kit Manual Transfer Switch for $150 or ones made by the breaker box manufacturer for $40-60) is a whole lot cheaper than a full interlock switch and is just as legal (in most US jurisdictions, Canada may have a different opinion). I like them because they make it so that no one needs to remember to shut off the main breaker first.

Aaron Z

 

[Turbys_1700]

Several years ago I purchased an All Power 10K on closeout from Northern Tool...
They were switching their house brand labeled larger generators and I got a really good deal...
I've had 3 generators...
Sold the first one and then purchased another one that was stolen...
With that said I energize the whole house panel and it works well...
I only run the outlets I need and with 7.5K constant and 10K surge I can run water from my spring pump...
With that said I really screwed up last year...
We had temps here in the 5 degree range which is unusual to say the least...
I have never had my water freeze in the spring house but when that power went off it only took 30 minutes or so...
Those heat tapes and light did not work too well without power and I was in the bed when the power went off...
So it took me some time to thaw out those pipes...
My neighbor who is in his 80's installed a whole house propane generator that kicks on automatically when the power goes off...
Very nice system but very expensive...

 

[KubotainNH]

Here's a site that shows how a transfer switch gets wired, may help those out that don't understand the setup. I have a 6 pole manual unit similar to the 2nd one down on the left.
GenTran Transfer Switch Wiring Diagrams - Transfer Switch Place

In some states it is against the law to backfeed without an interlock. For the small money I put into this it's just not worth the legal possibilities of backfeeding.
http://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/...cuments/2009-05ResidentialGeneratorSafety.pdf

Please do be careful with running your gens near the house. The fumes seem to get sucked in if too close. A co-worker of mine had their whole family in the hospital because of carbon monoxide poisoning. They only knew it was happening because of a sick child. None of their CO detectors went off and yes they were powered up via the gen set. He sent all the units back to the manufacturer, I don't recall the outcome. This is why I switched to a CO detector with a digital readout.

 

[Garandman]

BTW NH code says the generator has to be at least five feet from a building and 10' from the fuel tank, not sure if it is more if the building is inhabited.

 

[KubotainNH]

BTW NH code says the generator has to be at least five feet from a building and 10' from the fuel tank, not sure if it is more if the building is inhabited.

Yep, mine is closer to 25' I think.

 

[paine]

Take a look at northerntool.com
They have some real nice honda powered units with brushless generators on them. Not cheap but again you get what you pay for with these things.

 

[ESBkevin]

Here in the UK we suffer very few blackouts so gensets are not that common. Anyway I have a 240V 3500w petrol/(Gasoline) genny which is a Chinese no name and cheap, that I use for running sound systems on remote football fields and the like. The first few times I ran it, it started easily first or second pull. But after a while the cold starts became harder and harder to the point of utter frustration. Spoke to my friendly 'lawnmower' guy and he said the tolerances are quite poor in those engines and a whiff of carburettor cleaner in the air intake at first cold start would help. He was correct and I now keep a can handy should I ever have urgent need of power. Just thought I'd pass the tip on, I'm not sure if it's good for the engine long term but then it was cheap for occasional non critical use.

 

[OrangeAgain]

Anyone know what Vermont law is regarding the distance of a standby generator from an in-ground propane tank?

 

[Looking4new]

My genny is in an aluminum garden shed along with 40 gallons of gas about 25' from the north wall of the house. The exhaust exits to the north and away from the house. I cut vents high and low in the walls and a vent in the floor as well (for the gas fumes). I run on extension cords for the sump pump and a few lights. The computers stay off during power outages. All my vents are covered with 1/2" hardware screen to keep animals out. I don't know if this setup is legal or not and I really don't care. My basement flooding is more important to me than any of the stupid laws out there.

 

[buickanddeere]

CO is oderless, tasteless and invisible. When checking with a Drager around CO2 rooms at work and around buildings generators operating. The concentrations of both CO and CO2 are often surprisingly high even with powered ventilation.
The red blood cell hemoglobin's affinity for CO over O2 makes CO fatal at a measly 500 parts per million of short term exposure.Long term exposure of as little as 35PPM causes medical problems as the CO dose accumulates in the body.
Operating a chainsaw or operating a snowmobile . Depending on the circustances and the engine's state of tune. This will leave the operator with raised hemoglobin CO levels. Which makes the operator feel tired, reduces concentration and can cause headaches.

 

[DarkBlack]

[/B]
If I am careful, I have no problem do I. You are always worrying about liability, and approaching life as a lawyer or an insurance broker. You don't build your own place unless you think it out carefully. I am self-taught - from trade books and I have a good eye for spatial relationships. It is not rocket science, and when you get started -commonsense kicks in.
You do realize that every time you operate a vehicle, you have increased your odds of being severely injured or severely injuring someone else- loved ones included. The safest route is to stay inside, keep away from that mechanized vehicle that greatly multiplies the force that you can bring to bear on an object. A lapse in your attention will surely create the possibility of grievous harm.
Toss the keys, stay inside, be safe.
Leave the choices to me.

I agree with you 100%

 

[DarkBlack]

It's because of fools that don't stop. This will justify some power hungry burocrates into such a scheme.

You should really stop with the name calling.

 

[buickanddeere]

You should really stop with the name calling.

What name calling?

 

[oldpilgrim]

My gen is in my barn about 150' from the house. With no animals in the barn, I just crank it up in there. Sometimes I'll leave the door open for ventilation, if there's no hurricane or blowing snow, but most times I leave it closed. It gasses out any rodents in the barn, I hope.

I just replaced my 4k watt 25 year old Coleman gen with an 8k Generac. The 4k had trouble running what I needed, especially when the well kicked in.

So far I'm pleased with the Generac.

 

[grsthegreat]

ive installed 14 whole house systems in the past 3 months, and 6 manual interlock systems for owners own portable generators. The average manual physical interlock switch runs between $49.00 and $79.00 online ( sometimes home depot has them for less). Add $58.00 for the plastic outdoors plug input box and an hour labor, thats all.

pretty cheap insurance from an accidental laps in memory during power failure.

 

[hr3]

We do 3 whole house generators a week from Oct. to Feb. "our busy season".. People seen to wait till the last min. or a big power outage before ordering..

I have 2 generators at my house with a double transfer switch..

 

[KubotainNH]

We lost power Wednesday night at 11pm. Many in NH were without power. Except for the time finding a bad fuse on my gen, we were running the house within a few mins with our setup. The power came back late this morning. Made for an interesting Thanksgiving, especially seeing my gas grill wouldn't play nice but we got it done. 2 crock pots and the microwave running non-stop. We added an electric skillet which tripped the overload on the gen...oops. We didn't cancel though.