Using Generator As Backup For House Power

[erniecarpet@...]

Eric, a few years ago, I ran a few extension cords from my coach to power
the furnace, refer, lites and tv. I did not attempt to attach any of these into
the breaker panel- as that is as far as my electrical expertise would allow.
Ice is melting as we type!!!

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Weatherford, tx



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Eric Johnson]

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

[Ralph L. Fullenwider]

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
>
>

[Chuck Wheeler]

Eric,

I added a 50 and 30 amp plugs to the Bird that are used to power friend's
trailers when we are camping. I added a Generator Transfer Switch to the
house and can plug it into the coach to power the house. It will run the
heat pump if nothing else except lights are on, we can cook and have hot
water if the heat is off. (Our genset has a new 15KW back end on it.)
Takes a little planning but it works. We have rental houses, I made a cable
to back feed through the electric dryer plug when the power is off so I
could work on them. Main breaker HAS to be off!!! Don't do this unless you
are very comfortable with electricity. I brought the Bird home for the
current Fort Worth storm but it wasn't needed.

- Chuck Wheeler -
82 FC 31 SB
Fort Worth, TX


_____

From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Eric Johnson
Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 9:06 AM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Using Generator As Backup For House Power



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]

[chet geist]

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]

[John]

Eric,

Check out these two pages on my web site;

http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/41069743

http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/50203372

Before anybody jumps the gun on the orange wire that I used, from the
breaker box, to the 50 amp plug, the wire is ROMEX SIMpull 10/3 with
ground which according to my electrician, is good for short runs like
this in dry locations, it does not get hot when used to power my shop
and sections of the rental property electrical system. the breaker
box is just there for added security, as the power going to it is
tapped off of the breaker box in the generator compartment.


"REMEMBER SEPTEMBER 11, 2001"
John Finn
'82 35FCRB
BLUEBIRD WANDERLODGE
TO VISIT THE "FINN'S INN EXPRESS" REMODELING ADVENTURE
GO TO;
http://www.pbase.com/image/24977457
HOPKINS, SOUTH CAROLINA

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Johnson"
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
>

[Jack & Donna Smith]

Really what you need is to isolate the Gen from the power companys
system.. (The city Building & Safety Dept also has regs on this).
The main thing you dont want to do is to "Back Feed" into the system,
and reverse the power flow thru the poletop transformer.. The lineman
fixing the problem may get Zapped by the 7 to 16K volts...
Then this 6'10" 310# lineman will come and personally 'explain' to you
just how unhappy he is!!!
Jack Smith
1973FC31
Cold SoCal


--- 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]
>

[one_dusty_hoot]

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]
>

[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]
>






---------------------------------
Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels
in 45,000 destinations on Yahoo! Travel to find your fit.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Wilhelmus Schreurs]

I do not know how the figure of a 400 amp transfer switch was determined, but
here you would require at least the size of the mains coming into the house, or
the size of the generator, whichever is greater. (As John said, it must have
both legs AND the neutral, this is so that no unbalance from the two legs is fed
back either)
Also an automatic transfer switch is not required, but a transfer switch whether
it be auto or manual is.
The transfer switch is two fold as well, first and foremost it is to stop
electrocuting the lineman who is trying to repair the circuit, but second to
pick up a long length of line, transformers as well as other loads, you could do
great harm to your generator/engine.


Bill 84 FC 35 SB "$quanderlodge"
Terrace, B.C. Canada


----- Original Message ----
From: John Suter
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 12:28:00 PM
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Using Generator As Backup For House Power













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





>

> 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.

> _._,_.___







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