Anyone need info on generator hook ups?

[hexedagain]

I just want to offer to help get you guy's ready if we have a bad Hurricane season.
I can give info on how to hook your generators up to you existing panels, with nothing else required. No additional breakers.
This is free of charge, I am not looking to get anything for this info. Please remember, this will be a temporary solution.
PM me if you have questions, or want the info on how to do this.
Thanks, and I hope this can help some of you guy's and girl's.

 

[leebo_28]

I have a cord that plugs into my dryer outlet...is that what your talking about?

 

[hexedagain]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10089685#post10089685 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by leebo_28
I have a cord that plugs into my dryer outlet...is that what your talking about?

Yes I am . But are you taking the next steps to insure that when power is restored, it doesn't blow your generator? Main Breaker turned off, and to be sure no "leaks" can come through, I recommend removing the meter also.

 

[hexedagain]

I should have also stated that all breakers that are not needed ( i.e.. Range, AC, Water Heater, etc..) are turned off. Otherwise it will drag your generator down.

 

[leebo_28]

the bubble meter outside?

 

[hexedagain]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10090395#post10090395 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by leebo_28
the bubble meter outside?

Yes, this is the only thing that truly breaks the circuits, preventing a backfeed when utility power is restored.

 

[Don Lino]

huh??

 

[TechniTony]

Um, actually isn't it illegal to remove the service meter in Florida, I understood that only the power company could break the seal or service the meter? As long as the master breaker is off current cannot feed but also remember that you will be backfeeding the breaker for the dryer circuit and it is not rated to backfeed nor will it provide current protection for a potential overload to that particular leg. Just playin devils advocate but I would love to hear a safe way to do this without a disconnect system. I'm sick of running cords everywhere. Just remember to keep the generator outside and away from open doors or windows. Peace, Tony

 

[hexedagain]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10091122#post10091122 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TechniTony
Um, actually isn't it illegal to remove the service meter in Florida, I understood that only the power company could break the seal or service the meter? As long as the master breaker is off current cannot feed but also remember that you will be backfeeding the breaker for the dryer circuit and it is not rated to backfeed nor will it provide current protection for a potential overload to that particular leg. Just playin devils advocate but I would love to hear a safe way to do this without a disconnect system. I'm sick of running cords everywhere. Just remember to keep the generator outside and away from open doors or windows. Peace, Tony

While under normal circumstances, YES it is illegal. But I have yet to see a lineman report someone for doing this. This is for their protection more than your's. This is only in an EMERGENCY situation.
An authorized electricain can cut/break the seal, and all they have to do is call the power company to have them re-seal it.
I need to apologize for stating to remove the meter, being an electrician, I tend to overlook that part of it. It IS ILLEGAL for a homeowner to do it. Thanks for the reminder. LOL.
SORRY everyone.
A main breaker can "leak" voltage through in a backfeed situation. A brand new breaker will not do it, but if it has been used for some time, they "can" leak voltage through them. I would not have believed this, until I saw it happen with my own two eyes. Remember, this was an old main breaker. The springs in the breakers tend to wear over time, and they do not dis-engage the knifes completely every time they are turned off. This is when the "leak" of voltage occures.

 

[TechniTony]

Thats all true and I didn't mean anything by it I just don't want folks to run out and pull their meter and leave it open. I too have seen a breaker "leak", its also a lot of fun when they just stop and will no longer trip. Its a shame that we cant get everyone to routinely toggle their breakers but I guess that will happen about the time they properly drain the sediment from their water heaters and clean the furnace intakes. Oh well... Tony

 

[hexedagain]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10091764#post10091764 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TechniTony
Thats all true and I didn't mean anything by it I just don't want folks to run out and pull their meter and leave it open. I too have seen a breaker "leak", its also a lot of fun when they just stop and will no longer trip. Its a shame that we cant get everyone to routinely toggle their breakers but I guess that will happen about the time they properly drain the sediment from their water heaters and clean the furnace intakes. Oh well... Tony

You made a valid point. One I neglected to think about.

 

[TechniTony]

All Public Service Announcements aside, I would be very interested in this hookup idea. Tony

 

[cham]

Here is a tech question for you sparkies.

I can get a good deal on 5500w generators and wondered if I hooked two of them up to my fuse panel (via electrician) if they could run my A/C.

I have a pretty new house with a very high effiency vairable speed A/C system (13 seer) but I don't imagine one 5500w would run my A/C by itself with no other appliances on (or could it?)

Can you do that? Hook two up to the main bus of the panel via 30 amp breakers and double the capacity of the system?

 

[hexedagain]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10092512#post10092512 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cham
Here is a tech question for you sparkies.

I can get a good deal on 5500w generators and wondered if I hooked two of them up to my fuse panel (via electrician) if they could run my A/C.

I have a pretty new house with a very high effiency vairable speed A/C system (13 seer) but I don't imagine one 5500w would run my A/C by itself with no other appliances on (or could it?)

Can you do that? Hook two up to the main bus of the panel via 30 amp breakers and double the capacity of the system?

No, two cannot be hooked up together.
I am not sure on the AC, I would say it will not run it right off. But would need more info on the unit to be positive.
How many Amps does it draw? Do you know? You should be able to find this info on the unit itself.

 

[flfirefighter13]

One little tidbit I found down south a few years ago, not sure if they are the same way up here but after the storms due to people possibly backfeeding the lines when they where energizing areas the FPL guys would not energize the house of anyone with a generator that was visible or audible. The reason they gave was due to the back feed issues that if you had a generator running when they did your block they where simply skipping that house and would come back out when you made a service call to them. My friend a few blocks away found this out the hard way and was without power for 3 days longer than all his neighbors, luckily he told us about it and we disconnected everything when they came to work our street. Not sure if they are doing that up here, I know it made a big stink in the news down there due to the fact that even if homeowners where home the power contractors werent bothering to knock and tell them to shut it down and Disconnect so they would get power.

On another note if you do pull your meter be sure to block the opening off in a safe manner, saw a house burn down cause the meter was pulled and small woodland creature of some sort made a nest in the panel, we think it was a squirrel but will never know for sure.

 

[cham]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10092540#post10092540 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hexedagain
No, two cannot be hooked up together.
I am not sure on the AC, I would say it will not run it right off. But would need more info on the unit to be positive.
How many Amps does it draw? Do you know? You should be able to find this info on the unit itself.

The air handler says 4.3 amps, but thats just the air handler. The compressor outside will be more amps, but I'm not going outside, its dumping buckets out there.

I dunno, 5500w is right about 22 amps. That will allow for 18 amps for my compressor to use. Maybe it might work, if it did I wouldn't be able to do anything else.

 

[jay24k]

Does that generator run at 5500 watts under load? Many are just starting watts and will not continue at that load.

I've never heard of power comapnies doing that but I guess it is possible. Kind of unprofessional to me. I don't know how they can prevent a single house from being energized. Generally they have to drop a whole feeder line which feeds several houses. I work for the city of leesburg and although I am not in the electric dept, when I'm there they tell me all sorts of information.

 

[cham]

1 5500 Surge, 5000 Running Watts of Power
·2 4-120V Outlets
·3 240V Outlet
·4 12V DC Terminals
·5 Voltage Selector Switch
·6 Automatic Voltage Regulator
·7 Circuit Breaker
·8 6.5 Gallon Fuel Tank W/ Fuel Gauge
·9 10 Hour Run Time at Half Load
·10 13 HP OHV Single Cylinder Engine
·11 Automatic Low Oil Engine Shutdown
·12 Non Contact Transistorized Ignition
·13 Engine On/Off Switch
·14 90 Day Parts and Labor Warranty


Those are the specs on it.

Strangely, I thought most generators had a 3 or 4 thousand watt surge capacity. This one only has about 500w surge.

Odd.