Unsafe generator wiring et al.

[etpm]

It seems that at least once a year the subject of generator wiring comes up. And at least one person posts about how their particular situation, though it looks unsafe (suicide cords, for example) to most folks, is actually safe because of whatever reason they use to justify the safety of whatever they are doing. Nobody will ever be hurt because they have everything under control and if they are not around to insure safety then their spouse or trusted friend or relative knows not to do so and so, etc. Of course generator wiring is only one instance where people try to justify their bad practice. My opinion is that the reason people do these things is because they are lazy or cheap or both. It has been my experience I cannot do or say anything to change this behavior. I wonder how many people are injured each year because of people who believe their unsafe situation is safe.
Eric

 

[davedj1]

While I understand your concern, the way it was explained to me by a lineman was this: As long as the linemen are following protocol and doing their job accordingly they should be fine, also if for some reason your generator were to try and charge back the grid the demand on it would be so heavy (picture trying to power a village with a 5k or 8k generator) that it would immediately trip the breaker on the machine.
I'm not condoning the practice.

 

[etpm]

While I understand your concern, the way it was explained to me by a lineman was this: As long as the linemen are following protocol and doing their job accordingly they should be fine, also if for some reason your generator were to try and charge back the grid the demand on it would be so heavy (picture trying to power a village with a 5k or 8k generator) that it would immediately trip the breaker on the machine.
I'm not condoning the practice.

Yes, a person working on the lines following all safety protocols should be safe. But they are not the only concern. And if a generator backfeeds the line it is not guaranteed that the generator will be powering the whole town or even a whole neighborhood. Consider my last power outage, which was a few weeks ago. The lines to my house were down but the lines after my house were not. And those lines were only going to 3 more homes. Depending on what they had turned on my 7000 watt generator could have indeed powered those homes without overloading.
Eric

 

[nyone]

7000 watt generator could have indeed powered those homes without overloading.

I doubt that. You have to remember everything is going to be turning on at nearly the same time.

 

[sandman2234]

I doubt that. You have to remember everything is going to be turning on at nearly the same time.

I totally agree with you on that!
David from Jax

 

[DaBear3428]

Please keep in mind installing a generator without an interlock to prevent a back feed situation is almost always a code violation, and a serious
one at that.

 

[David Wayne]

" As long as the linemen are following protocol"
I knew a lineman that didn't. They are human too, and make mistakes and now he is no longer with us.
I prefer to not add any needless unsafe conditions. I know many of our linemen and there family's
personally and want them to go home each night.

 

[Ken45101]

I wonder how many people are injured each year because of people who believe their unsafe situation is safe

Isn't that true in 99+% of ALL ACCIDENTS? Someone believes their excessive speed is safe? They have been drinking but they "are not drunk"? The gun isn't loaded? The ladder won't fall? My truck or trailer is overloaded but I can handle it? "I'm not following too close..."?

Of course, there are regulations that go overboard, to wit:

 

[Ken45101]

Oh, I should have added "I want to try that horse." My wife said I did very well though the first five bucks.... (No, it wasn't a rodeo horse, it was a trail horse for sale...)

 

[grsthegreat]

Ive been told over the years in code classes about the dangers of backfeeding transformers with generators. They have listed actual incidences where lineman have died from electrocution during line repairs after major storms knocked out power. Mind you, im not sure they have ever proved it was from a portable generator, but what if it was.

is it worth killing someone over a $69 part.
just install the interlock.