Using Generator As Backup For House Power

[John Suter]

Lest anyone needs to hear it one more time, a manual or automatic transfer
switch WHICH LIFTS BOTH LEGS AND THE NEUTRAL, must be used to comply with many
codes passed since the recent hurricanes.

Generally, backfeeding the house through a "dryer" plug with just the "panel
disconnected," does not comply, as that method normally does not also disconnect
the panel neutral from the utility neutral.

The penalty for being caught feeding any house circuit (versus feeding just an
extension cord) other than through an "approved transfer switch" in Florida
jurisdictions where the latest code has been adopted, is, the utility company
will "pull" the meter. The re-application takes up to 6 months and is for
INITIAL electrical service, which means; accompanied by plans signed-off by an
engineer/licensed electrician certifying the house/business wiring meets all
current electrical codes.

Learned these goodies from the inspectors in 2005 when I added a house
generator to replace the past "tried and true" Bird methods.
I also stopped complaining about the outrageous cost of a 400 Amp transfer
switch when I got the estimate to bring the 6-year-old house up to current
electrical codes.

John Suter
Currently Birdless


one_dusty_hoot wrote:
Absolutely, I did this for several years with a
small 3KW generator on a Troy Built Tractor, two
male plugs on an extension cord. Electricity
entered the outlet, through the circuit breaker,
though another circuit breaker to the furnace motor
an TV. THEN I said what if someone accidentally
throw the main? Voltage would go through the box
through the street transformer building up to a
high voltage. A repairman could be electrocuted.
NOT ME, NOT ANYMORE, SOMEONE COULD DIE!! I did
this 20 years ago and principals of electricity
don't change in time. The only safe way is the
right way, use a line transfer switch/relay.

bob janes, greenville, sc

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "chet geist"
wrote:
>
> Ralph,
>
> I'm not an electrician, but in an emergency situation couldn't Eric
just
> turn off the main disconnect on the outside of his house and then
run
> extension cords? This should prevent sending power down the grid.
>
> Chet Geist
> 1981 FC33, Austin, Texas
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Ralph L.
Fullenwider
> Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 9:55 AM
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Using Generator As Backup For
House Power
>
>
> Eric:
>
> Yes it is doable. You will need an auto transfer switch to switch
out the
> power grid in coming from your utility company. Then install a
buddy plug
> on your coach wired 220vac 50 amp and have a cable long enough to
run from
> the coach to the house to another plug wired to the auto transfer
switch.
> The transfer switch control would need to be wired so the default
power is
> from the power grid. Reason for the transfer switch is to keep
from
> feeding
> power into the electrical grid from your utility and fry someone
working
> on
> the down power lines. And of course, to keep the power grid from
feeding
> back into your genset.
>
> Safe travels,
>
> Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider ( iced in, in Oklahoma)
> 84FC35
> Ralph's RV Solutions, Duncan, Oklahoma
>
> This is done with back up gen sets at hospitals and so forth.
Check with
> your power company, they should have the info you need.
>
> At 03:05 PM 1/15/2007 +0000, you wrote:
> >Ice storms may bring loss of power to our home as in other areas
of the
> >country so I brought
> >the coach to the house with the idea of moving into it if we
have a
> >problem. Then I got to
> >thinking about using the generator to provide power to the home
so we
> >could have heat and
> >lights. Has anyone else done this? What would be the best way to
make
> >the connection so
> >you get maximum use of the generator capacity?
> >
> >Regards, Eric in San Antonio
> >84FC35SBWL2
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>






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