ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Emergency generator

Has anyone heard of problems using emergency generators back fed thru a 30 amp 4 wire dryer plug using the neutral ground and all.

I have heard rumors of heating up ground wires and have no clue what they are talking about.

We got pummeled by a Hurricane out here in Va. Beach last year and backup generators are the hottest thing going everybody wants a plug in the garage now.

Tony,
This is illegal regardless of any problem rumors.

Roger

Tony,

The big problem with what you propose it that it's too easy for something to go wrong.

Here's a few sentences I found on this subject. I'm sure if you search you can find much more: (bold is mine) from this page

I'll second both points made by Bill above. From much personal experience parallelling large generators in a past life (Navy), you DO NOT want to have a generator online but no way to synchronize when the utility power comes on.

I believe I've seen moderatly (Profitably) priced residential grade power transfer equipment sold in kit form which is just made for this purpose. Safest way to go.

As an electrician, at my house, I might think I can get away with an outlet arrangement as you described, but I know to go yank the utility meter before I hooked up. Then there is the question of which loads to connect, etc. The generator won't run everything. This is not necessarily as easy as the home owner presumes it is.

What about grounding issues?

Just way toooo many things to go wrong. Too much risk and liability, as you have no control over the home owners actions after you're gone.

Radar

Allow me to relate a little story which happened at a British telecommunications facility some years ago.

In replacing the control modules for the generator set, somebody somehow managed to miswire the synchronizing circuitry and clearly didn't check it before putting it in service.

When they came to parallel two generators, the sync circuitry did it's job in matching speed and locking the gensets together. Unfortunately, they were synchronized out-of-phase when the connection was made.

I understand they were retrieving engine parts out of the roof for some time......

I guess I should have told you that most everyone out here turns the main breaker off in the panel before they do all this unfortunately there are knuckle heads who don't and who think they can power the whole house. Now this is not a 100% guarantee of not powering up the grid. I feel like I am the only one who has seen this done. Home Depot and Lowes were selling these things including male dryer plugs and 10-3 SO by the truck load during the last Hurricane and I know that most of these folks were not taking the time to install transfer switches. And we all know that a 6kw portable generator ain't the cleanest power to be had soooo back to the original question even if you do use a transfer switch has anybody had or heard of any issues with heating up the neutrals or any weird stuff going on.

This is no wonder people get the wrong ideas about how to hook up generators http://www.princessauto.com/_osn.cf...57&PageSearch=ALL&CurrentPage=17

Just Click on the more info on the receptacals

[This message has been edited by dougwells (edited 06-15-2004).]

[This message has been edited by dougwells (edited 06-15-2004).]

Square D for sure and I'm sure a few others manufacture just what you're looking for. A small 2 or 4 circuit sub panel is fed from the main and the outside generator plug, it's an either or proposition (the panel is fed by utility or geneator)and has to be done manually, but it's legal and safe. How can any of us trust anyone during a power outage to be methodical, etc. This does the job, the geneartor can be wheeled back there and you can sleep at night.

Problem is in most cases they are used so in frequent most people don't want to get off the loot to put a transfer switch in.

The other thing is they want more control over what they can run and not run instead of the transfer panel delegating that to them.


A new issue is, is that store bought generators play havoc on the electronics we have in our homes now ie microwaves, TV you name it.

Out here people were getting real desperate after the last hurricane and the prediction is another rough year.

From Doug's link:
Is this for real? Ninety bucks???!!!!