The impending hurricanes have motivated me to take a good luck at my own preparation. I have lived in my house a few years now and I think the original owner sketchily set up my breaker board for a generator. I think I would like to have a more professional breaker switch added but wanted to run my current set up by everyone. I think it would take a male to male cord to make it work and that scares me. Without further adieu, please take a look at the photos. I appreciate the help in advance!
Preparing my Generator
- Thread starter ugafx4
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I am no expert but I think that set up will get you in trouble. Looks like the generator has been wired to back feed into the system. If you are running the generator in that configuration you can put current into the power lines unless the main breaker is off. Not sure about regulations but I think they like to have a switch in line so the generator feeds the system thru the main breaker and seperates it from the power lines. This is to protect the crews working the lines. Again I am no expert so you might want to get one to look at it.
That is exactly what I was thinking it did. My guess on what he would do to power the house previously......would be to open the main house breaker and close the breakers labeled "generator" to back feed the house?
As I was typing my response, Diablos responded. I am not certain I could retrofit my panel to have an interlock like that because the generator breakers are way at the bottom.
As I was typing my response, Diablos responded. I am not certain I could retrofit my panel to have an interlock like that because the generator breakers are way at the bottom.
BigWaylon
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You can move stuff around.
I had to move something on mine (either A/C, dryer, or oven) to a vacant spot in order to put my generator in the closest two slots to the main.
I appreciate all the help, I will look into what is occupying my top two positions. Found several interlocks online, looks pretty straightforward drilling wise.
Does anyone know the name for that wall connection? Step 2 is figuring out the connection.
Does anyone know the name for that wall connection? Step 2 is figuring out the connection.
That receptacle is a standard 4 prong dryer or oven receptacle
Installation of a manual transfer switch would be a good approach, however you can swap out the 50a female receptacle for a generator plug for a lot less $, and use the interlock referenced by Diablo’s.
BTW, MQPower is top of the line equipment, so that generator is a keeper.
BTW, MQPower is top of the line equipment, so that generator is a keeper.
I need to check my back wall some more, I believe that is the only style plug there but I want to confirm that. I should also confirm that the breaker labeled generator actually cuts off the dryer receptacle.
I need to get another gas can and fill it. New gas station next to me now has ethanol free!
As far as MQ goes, it has been great. I think the carb is a little gunked up though. A tear down and cleaning is on my list of things to do in near future.
I need to get another gas can and fill it. New gas station next to me now has ethanol free!
As far as MQ goes, it has been great. I think the carb is a little gunked up though. A tear down and cleaning is on my list of things to do in near future.
This is one type of generator receptacle to wire to your load center. Coupled with a interlock and you’d be good to go.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/GE-30-Amp-Generator-Power-Inlet-Box/4326713
https://www.lowes.com/pd/GE-30-Amp-Generator-Power-Inlet-Box/4326713
poller
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While you're digging in your panel, be sure to check wire gage. 50Amps requires #6 or #8 copper. You'll want that from the generator through to the circuit breaker.
I'd invest the extra bucks in #6 - less voltage drop over distance, less heat, less risk of fire
I'd invest the extra bucks in #6 - less voltage drop over distance, less heat, less risk of fire
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Got me a propane carburetor on my champion generator and works like a charm...I don’t full power like I did with gas, but cleaner burning and no gas to mess with.
9outof10mms
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If it's your house (not a place of business or other that is subject to inspection scrutiny), you don't "need" the interlock device. You can simply label the generator breaker to require main disconnect before engaging.
poller
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Up until you make an insurance claim... If it's not up to code and may have contributed to a fire, it's reason to deny the claim... Insurance companies will look for any reason to avoid paying out
9outof10mms
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All that plate does is keep from energizing the line back out to the street.
Aardvark
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Or having your residential AC from the grid explode your transformer when power is restored to your home. See post re: Insurance claim:
Also, while backfeeding a panel DIY is certainly done, keep in mind, if you "forget" or mis-do manually disconnecting from your incoming powerline, yes that voltage goes out backfeeding your incoming pole or ground transformer. Obviously your rig won't power the neighborhood, but if there are powerline fuse(s) close to your house blown, you could be backfeeding your 220 volts boosted up to 13,800 volts at the other side of the transformer. I'm told it's not unheard of that line-workers have actually been hurt/killed from such. I do know they listen for portable generators, wary of improper backfeeds done incorrectly by buzzed DIYers at 3:00am in an ice storm. I don't know what kind of trouble one may or may not be in if "caught" with one.
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Do the insurance companies deny claims when the driver is DUI DWI and totals the car?
Folks also want a cord with male plugs on each end, aka 'Suicide Cord'. Serious shock hazard.
Guy in Franklin County backfed his house and utility power was restored and his house burned to the ground.
If you are handy you can make your own lockout plate for under $5 using a 4 x 4" metal box cover that you cut to size.
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9outof10mms
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I’m not saying it’s the building code’s preferred method of making your house able to connect a generator. I’m saying it can be done just fine with what he’s got without spending a ton of money. Put labels on the switches that force one to read them and flip the main disconnect.
If you don’t feel like you can do that responsibly, then go the route of paying an electrician to install new stuff. Get ready to pay $800-$1500 *if* you can get an electrician to come do work for you right now.
If you don’t feel like you can do that responsibly, then go the route of paying an electrician to install new stuff. Get ready to pay $800-$1500 *if* you can get an electrician to come do work for you right now.
Understood, but one of the challenges to this approach is what happens if the power goes out and your wife / son / daughter / neighbor is the one firing up the generator? You and I might understand the complete installation and proper steps involved, but if we're not available then it's a potential tragedy in the works.
That's why i went with the generlink, a monkey can use it
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Thanks for the reminder. Need to fire both of mine up tomorrow. It’s been 4-5 months, I think.
poller
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Insurance will pay out your liability claims - but may not pay out comprehensive claims for coverage of your own vehicle due to your breaking the law and operating the vehicle in an unsafe manner
poller
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Paraphrasing Mastercard...
Lockout Plate: $50
Saving your family's life by not feeding out-of-phase current into your house, overloading your circuits, causing an explosion, fire, and destroying your house: Priceless!
Been wanting to get one of those and a few 100lb propane tanks, just havent done it yet. Did you go with the US carb one?
As long as the wire is long enough in the panel it's as simple as snap out snap in
I put a US Carb tri-fuel on mine, one short shot with the primer button and 1-2 pulls and it starts . No more dealing with carbs and gasoline.
Or the neighbor who thinks he knows it all decides to flip the breaker for your wife while you are refueling the generator.
Take a look inside, snap a few photos, you should have enough slack to move the top breakers down two slots, need to run longer cable from the repositioned generator breaker to the recessed male generator connection panel, never use a double male plug cord aka suicide cord.
Right on!
So question I have now is are you guys using smaller tanks or tapping into a bigger one ? We dont have any Lp in use today, which us why I was looking at the 100lb bottles. Curious about run times on them.
So far I have not used the generator for more than 2-3 hours at a time and ran it off a 30 lb. rv tank. I have the means to connect it to my bulk tank if necessary. I certainly would have a 100 lb tank(s) if I didn't have the bulk tank. Would be nice if we had natural gas here.
Haven’t run long on a 20lbs cylinder....but it runs
poller
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[catching up on posts after surgery...]
In the four years I've been in NC, I've been on generator power about 8 times - the shortest was maybe 2 minutes, the longest was 56 hours (18KW kohler w/ auto-transfer switch running on natural gas)
In the four years I've been in NC, I've been on generator power about 8 times - the shortest was maybe 2 minutes, the longest was 56 hours (18KW kohler w/ auto-transfer switch running on natural gas)