Powering your home during power outages

[airshot]

At least I have enough common sense not to touch things I don't understand.

Are you saying you don't like to try and " lets just see what happens" ????

 

[Bantou]

At least I have enough common sense not to touch things I don't understand.

I’d like to say that about myself. However, I’m the guy that would hit a big red “DO NOT TOUCH” button just to see what happened.

On the plus side (maybe), that’s how I found myself in the middle of a tin boat rebuild and working on a motor that is a year older than I am.

 

[thill]

The biggest problem with suicide cords are they they will hang around after you're gone, and there's no telling who will get 'hold of it.

Roger

HUH??? NO... NEVER hard-wire them!

ALWAYS make them so they plug into a stove or dryer outlet on one end and into the generator on the other end, and of course, unplug them when done.

 

[GTS225]

HUH??? NO... NEVER hard-wire them!

ALWAYS make them so they plug into a stove or dryer outlet on one end and into the generator on the other end, and of course, unplug them when done.

Thill, I suspect you didn't follow my train of thought.
When you/we pass on, you/we will not have the opportunity to disassemble that cord, and someone who isn't quite as common sense abundant as the guy who made it might not understand the sequence of operations. That's what my quoted post meant.

Roger

 

[thill]

Got it. That makes more sense.

I have a laminated instruction sheet zip-tied to mine showing the proper sequence. It's as follows:
1. Turn off the large main power breaker at the top of the circuit panel
2. Turn off the 240 circuit labeled "welder."
3. Plug the power cable into the generator and then into the welder's plug
4. Start the generator and let it warm up for a few minutes,
5. Turn on the "welder" circuit breaker to power the house.

Shut down is similar, but in reverse order. Shut off the generator, completely unplug the cord, turn on breakers, turn on main.

I did this in case we had an outage when I wasn't home. My wife can do it easily with our electric start generator. I make sure she practices while I watch to be sure.

 

[FuzzyGrub]

When I ran the generator in to the panel, I had to remove the ground-neutral bonding at the generator, since it is bonded at the panel. To use it in stand alone mode for using the 110 and 220 outlets, I have a twist lock plug that ties the neutral and ground back together. It has been too long since I did it, to remember why it was important to do that.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

When I ran the generator in to the panel, I had to remove the ground-neutral bonding at the generator, since it is bonded at the panel. To use it in stand alone mode for using the 110 and 220 outlets, I have a twist lock plug that ties the neutral and ground back together. It has been too long since I did it, to remember why it was important to do that.

I'll have to look into this when I install an interlock in my panel.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

IIRC the most gasoline you can transport without undo regulations is 400 pounds. At roughly 8 pounds per gallon that's 50 gallons. If you're thinking you can use a 55 gallon drum the container cannot be capable of holding more than 400 pounds of gasoline. But in an emergency situation who's really going to be checking. Currently gasoline is $2.98 a gallon for regular that 50 gallons is $149.00 or $164.00 for 55 gallons.

 

[moedelawn]

Got it. That makes more sense.

I have a laminated instruction sheet zip-tied to mine showing the proper sequence. It's as follows:
1. Turn off the large main power breaker at the top of the circuit panel
2. Turn off the 240 circuit labeled "welder."
3. Plug the power cable into the generator and then into the welder's plug
4. Start the generator and let it warm up for a few minutes,
5. Turn on the "welder" circuit breaker to power the house.

Shut down is similar, but in reverse order. Shut off the generator, completely unplug the cord, turn on breakers, turn on main.

I did this in case we had an outage when I wasn't home. My wife can do it easily with our electric start generator. I make sure she practices while I watch to be sure.

I’m set up exactly the same with a 50 amp welding plug on the shed. I’m the only one who handles it. My wife won’t even think about trying to learn.
One thing I noticed is I can weld aluminum better with my machine connected to 240.

 

[Crazyboat]

Are you saying you don't like to try and " lets just see what happens" ????

My house was built in 1959 or so. The wiring has no color coding and I confess I have no tester. So I made my own, I took a pigtail and plugged in a bulb, flipped the switch and bam, she blew! So I reversed the wires, added the light fixture I bought, and all was good! No ground wire to connect it to, nothing. I call myself Mr. Half-ass when it comes to electrical and plumbing issues. I can do a few tasks but I much prefer paying an expert.

 

[thill]

When I ran the generator in to the panel, I had to remove the ground-neutral bonding at the generator, since it is bonded at the panel. To use it in stand alone mode for using the 110 and 220 outlets, I have a twist lock plug that ties the neutral and ground back together. It has been too long since I did it, to remember why it was important to do that.

Does your generator have a 4-prong 240V plug, or 3 prong? You shouldn't have to twist wires together if you make sure the house outlet and the generator have the same number of prongs. If not, then so be it, if you know what you are doing.

 

[FuzzyGrub]

Does your generator have a 4-prong 240V plug, or 3 prong? You shouldn't have to twist wires together if you make sure the house outlet and the generator have the same number of prongs. If not, then so be it, if you know what you are doing.

It is 4 wire, twist lock plug on the generator and where the cable plugs into the wall. Seperate terminals for neutral and ground.

Before I wired it to the main panel and ran extension cords, the generator was attached to a ground rod. So you want neutral and ground to be bonded at the generator. When hooked to panel, it is grounded at the house ground and bonded at the panel. I believe this is only an issue with portable style generators. Easy to test with ohm meter.

I made the neutral-gnd plug (center pic) to use when I use it in a portable fashion

 

[user 26281]

Lived on the gulf coast in the past and been trough a few hurricanes.

My opinion, but down south, get a room A/C and a portable generator. Plug in the fridge, when needed, but sleep comfortably.

Getting fuel was difficult during Kamile and Katrina, so plan for it.

Keep it simple and it will work.

 

[airshot]

Lived on the gulf coast in the past and been trough a few hurricanes.

My opinion, but down south, get a room A/C and a portable generator. Plug in the fridge, when needed, but sleep comfortably.

Getting fuel was difficult during Kamile and Katrina, so plan for it.

Keep it simple and it will work.

Another reason for going to a propane genny, gas and diesel have no real shelf life and fresh fuel can be hard to come by in hurricane. However propane lasts a very long time, years even so long term storage is not an issue !

 

[user 26281]

For those connecting generators to house circuit, backfeeding will slow/stop, electrical work in your area. The crews, ride around to every generator they hear, until they find the culprit.

Make sure your not the one.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Just heard from the girlfriend's nephew in Tampa. The electricity just came back on after 9 days.

 

[moedelawn]

I just got this e-mail today. It wouldn’t affect me even if I had natural gas because I’m not in the city limits but this is a common problem around here.

 

[user 26281]

Just got this in a FB add, almost like someone is listening.

Code may, may be different, but the attached picture shows how a simple safety device can prevent backfeed.

 

[moedelawn]

Just got this in a FB add, almost like someone is listening.

Code may, may be different, but the attached picture shows how a simple safety device can prevent backfeed.

Simple but effective

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Just got this in a FB add, almost like someone is listening.

Code may, may be different, but the attached picture shows how a simple safety device can prevent backfeed.

It's called an Interlock.