Les White
Less is more
2A Bourbon Hound 2024
2A Bourbon Hound OG
Charter Member
Life Member
Multi-Factor Enabled
I picked up a deal on a 6500ish watt generator last week.
In my younger years I spent some time apprenticing to be an electrician - Dad thought it would be a good idea to learn a trade since my grades were so bad. So I understand the basic principals. Wiring in a transfer switch to the breaker panel would be no problem... but I don't have the time to do it right now.
My short term plan was in the event of a power loss to disconnect the main, turn off all the breakers, backfeed the generators 240V/30A output into a 240V/50A circuit I put in for the air compressor (40A 4 wire range plug) , then bring critical circuits online via the breakers. I know it's not the recommended solution, but it'll work in a pinch.
The generators 240V output is a NEMA L14-30r, and there isn't a L14-30p within driving distance at the moment. The generator head has two 120v "hot" outputs and one neutral, the ground is connected to the frame. One hot goes to each side of the 240v outlet, then then continues on to its own 120v receptacle, the neutral connects to all the 3. (wiring diagram below).
Here's the emergency power question, in lieu of the correct locking connector why can't I just get two 25A 120V plugs, some 10g or better SO cord, plug one plug into each of the two 120V circuits, connect the two neutrals together on a new range plug, then run the two hots to the two hots on the same plug and just plug it into the circuit I'm going to back feed into. I know it'll look a LOT hokey (like a reverse Y splitter) , but the theory is sound. I think the end result is the same as rewiring the generator to a different output plug.... but without the rewiring.
I'm pretty sure it'll work, if I was 100%sure I wouldn't be asking.
In my younger years I spent some time apprenticing to be an electrician - Dad thought it would be a good idea to learn a trade since my grades were so bad. So I understand the basic principals. Wiring in a transfer switch to the breaker panel would be no problem... but I don't have the time to do it right now.
My short term plan was in the event of a power loss to disconnect the main, turn off all the breakers, backfeed the generators 240V/30A output into a 240V/50A circuit I put in for the air compressor (40A 4 wire range plug) , then bring critical circuits online via the breakers. I know it's not the recommended solution, but it'll work in a pinch.
The generators 240V output is a NEMA L14-30r, and there isn't a L14-30p within driving distance at the moment. The generator head has two 120v "hot" outputs and one neutral, the ground is connected to the frame. One hot goes to each side of the 240v outlet, then then continues on to its own 120v receptacle, the neutral connects to all the 3. (wiring diagram below).
Here's the emergency power question, in lieu of the correct locking connector why can't I just get two 25A 120V plugs, some 10g or better SO cord, plug one plug into each of the two 120V circuits, connect the two neutrals together on a new range plug, then run the two hots to the two hots on the same plug and just plug it into the circuit I'm going to back feed into. I know it'll look a LOT hokey (like a reverse Y splitter) , but the theory is sound. I think the end result is the same as rewiring the generator to a different output plug.... but without the rewiring.
I'm pretty sure it'll work, if I was 100%sure I wouldn't be asking.
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