| Author | Message | ||
     Nik |
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-thunderstor ms-knock-out-power-across-region-leaving-2-dead/20 12/06/30/gJQAB9MbDW_story.html Fortunately my power was restored after only a day. But this has made me think about getting my house set up so I can backfeed the panel from a portable generator, without a suicide cord. Anyone have any experience doing this? | ||
| Rwven |
Buy a small transfer switch panel with enough circuits to handle what you'd want powered in an emergency. One advantage of these is that you can compensate for smaller generators by only powering a number of devices at one time that will not overload your generator. Here's an example on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HS2L3O/ref=asc_df_B00 0HS2L3O2079160?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=hyprod-20&li nkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B000HS2L3O &hvpos=1o3&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=196358671259720 0849&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt= | ||
| Kenm123t |
I am generator dealer pm if you need any help | ||
| Scottorious |
why not use a suicide cord? Ive been thinking about this myself. I am going to just put another breaker in my panel and hardwire it directly to that. if the power goes out you just kill the main breaker and then you can select which circuits you want on your main panel. | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
If you forget or the mains don't trip when you flip them someone(lineman) is liable to be killed. | ||
| Fast1075 |
You need a transfer switch. flipping off the main does nothing to disconnect the neutral. | ||
| Kenm123t |
Fast most switches don't either on single phase they are considered the first point of disconnect and grounds and neutrals are tied togather. | ||
| Scottorious |
ken are you a Generac dealer? If so where are ya? Im a Generac tech in central IL. Transfer switches are ideal but sometimes expensive especially if you have a large panel with many circuits. | ||
| Court |
>>>> someone(lineman) is liable to be killed. The reason we Lineman carry log chains when we do storm work. It's easy, at 3am to hear the 3500w Homelite running . . . I always ask politely but few folks realize that their innocent looking 120V powering their lights is 12,470 volts when I see it on the primary side of the pot. We run into the same thing with utility companies in their substations. They open the switches, give me all the physical breaks, clearances and grounds I request and then leave the plug fuses in their PT (Potential Transformers) and that innocent looking 120/208 biomes 345,000. Wild stuff . . . I really like the natural gas powered backup generators with the auto transfer switches. Son in LA has been warned about possible one day a week without power if, in fact, San Onefre gets taken down. He was looking at the Generac 45kW Gaurdian | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
truly a right and a wrong way. the wrong way here has potential for very lethal results. not just for linemen either. if a line is down or a tree is touching and it gets juiced from a standby that's back feeding there is a lethal hazard to anyone that get's involved with the lines or what they may be touching. As Court pointed out those transformers work both ways... 12kV doesn't even take a full amp to stop the ol' ticker and if that part didn't make you stay dead the fall likely would. Suicide cord is a misnomer should be labeled a murder cord. | ||
| Scottorious |
The home standby Generac units are generally good products. Especially when you get into the larger liquid cooled units which the 45kw would be. The smaller aircooled units have a bunch of little quarks in my opinion but they could mostly be avoided if people would pay attention to them excercising every week. thinking of backfeeding. Does anyone know how the solar grid-tie inverters work? Do they sense a power outage and quit feeding into the grid? | ||
| Chauly |
I have a 20 kW NG-fired Kohler that has done nicely for Daughter and family this weekend. We lost a whole lotta power infrastructure on Friday. The only power in Covington, VA is at our paper mill, but we are running low on coal... | ||
| Strokizator |
Does anyone know how the solar grid-tie inverters work? The inverter needs to sense incoming power off the grid or else they shut-down (might not be the right word). So in the case of a blackout, you'll have no power even though the sun is shining. I'm sure with transfer switches, etc. you could make it work but the cost may not justify it. As far as generators go, unless your trying to light up Al Gore's house, isn't 45kW a little on the large size? | ||
| D_adams |
Just some quick research shows that will support a 200 amp service to an average house. Depending on what you buy and where it's made, the price could be easily over $10k to get started. This one is $12k, rated at 45kw. http://onsitepowergenerators.com/Generac-Guardian- QT04524ANSX-45-kw-generator.asp Runs on LP or NG, I'd almost want to have diesel though with a 500-1000 gallon reserve tank. Think zombie apocalypse. Crap, now I need 2 of them. With spares to rebuild. | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
Gotta have spares man got to! | ||
| Nik |
http://www.interlockkit.com/ What about something like that? | ||
| Scottorious |
45KW is most certainly large for a standard house. However Depending on a lot of factors a 45KW might be just right. I have been to many houses that have a 45kw most of the time its houses with geothermal or multiple air conditioners or a large outbuilding that also has AC. I can run my entire house including AC with a 7500 watt diesel titan generator. thats my zombie apocalypse power. | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
the interlock kit is better than noting but only by a the smallest margin. disclaimer: i'm not an electrician just someone who's been shocked enough times to know how bad it can hurt. that being said the only way that i know of to do it 'right' is with a switch. whether manual or automatic is up to your wallet. i have a very mortal respect for electrons. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
Personally, I dont want to see what a zombie apocalypse looks like. It wouldnt be a pretty sight even with the best of preparations. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I prefer diesel as a fuel source. I recently bought a generator from ETQ (Chinese) via home depot. It is 3600 watts and good enough for all the lights and the oil burner as well as fridge and freezer. The house my wife and I bought last year was already wired with a transfer switch and it seems to work fine. My only gripe about this generator is that it's DEAFENING! Recently, I had the muffler off and started it up briefly just to hear how loud it must be with no pipe! It was no different! Looks like I am going to fab something up! Oh and here is the ETQ generator: http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-Outdoor-Power-Eq uipment-Generators-Portable-Generators/ETQ/h_d1/N- 5yc1vZbx9nZ4h3Z1z0z72a/R-100669164/h_d2/ProductDis play?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051 I went into this expecting it to really suck but I tested it for frequency and voltage and it's quite good actually. Just stupid loud! | ||
| Nik |
Yeah that's more along the lines of what I'm trying to do; keep my beer cold in summer and the (gas) heat on in winter, not build a fortress for the zombie apocalypse. | ||
| Fast1075 |
I'm sure the exhaust is noisy, but that is only part of it. Being air cooled, even if you quiet the exhaust, it will still be noisy. And old camper's trick is to attach a piece of flexible exhaust pipe. Run the pipe into a 55 gallon drum with water in it (drum upright, flex pipe over and down so water does not back into the engine). At the races, a lot of people that had air cooled Onan diesels simply ran a very tall exhaust pipe so most of the noise went straight up. Or sell it and find an old Honda EM5000 water cooled unit. Your biggest worry then will be posting a sign that says "caution, this generator may be hot". I forget the exact spec, but the noise level is very, very low. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Yeah those Honda inverter generators are like magic! (expensive magic) I'm already trying to source an old propane cylinder for my muffling needs. I have the flex pipe ready and will make an adapter for the existing muffler. | ||
| Kenm123t |
yes I sell generac and katolight magnums baldors. work on most of them we seldom sell any thing under 40 kw our most common size is 130kw |
