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MP4VT2004

Joined: 09/09/2007 Posts: 16646
Likes: 13850

What's this?

I do. I purchased a 7200 running watt generator before Irene in 2011.


I can run just about everything in my house with it, assuming we don't try to use multiple things at once. It will even run the water heater.

I don't have the "proper" setup, so I have to be very careful. I backfeed the house through our dryer receptacle - I wired a dryer plug to the end of my twist-lock generator cord. The key to this is to MAKE SURE you turn off your main breaker before connecting the generator. If you fail to do so, you will send voltage back into the power grid and could potentially injure a lineman working on downed lines in the area. Plus, your generator will probably blow up when the power company restores power to your area if it's not isolated from the grid by the main breaker.

Once the main breaker is off, I turn off all of the individual circuit breakers, and then connect the generator cord at both ends (I do this BEFORE starting the generator so that I'm not handling the male plug end while it's carrying voltage). Then I start the generator and turn on the breakers for the circuits I want to run one by one, including the breaker for the dryer, which allows the power from the generator to flow "backwards" into the panel.

It's pretty straightforward, but takes some time to get set up each time. I try to take my time so that I do it correctly and don't forget to turn the main breaker off. Again, this isn't really the proper way to do it, but it works. The "correct" and safest way to do it is to have an electrician install a transfer switch breaker, which is basically interlocked with the main breaker. So when you want to switch to generator power, you throw the transfer switch, which turns the main breaker off. This prevents you from accidentally sending power back out into the power grid. This transfer switch breaker would then be connected to a generator plug (should have the male end so that the generator cord will have a female connection, with no exposed live prongs) which would ideally be located outside where you intend to set up your generator. I'm guessing that setup would run you $500-$1000, depending on how far away from your panel you want the generator connection. I plan to do this eventually, but just haven't been able to allocate the money to it yet. Something else always seems more critical.

(In response to this post by RhinoVT)

Posted: 10/12/2018 at 4:41PM


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Current Thread:
 
  Who has a generator? I don't but am considering. Difficult to hook up or -- RhinoVT 10/12/2018 4:10PM
  I have a whole house generator with automatic switching -- Baltimore Hokie 10/12/2018 10:35PM
  ...221 ** -- chumley 10/12/2018 9:42PM
  Nah - I just do this (link) -- Hokie360 10/12/2018 8:09PM
  Yo, give me a call....................... -- F4EHokie 10/12/2018 7:37PM
  All the ladies, please raise your hands. ** -- Stork 10/12/2018 6:50PM
  I DIY’d installed a transfer switch to plug my generator into -- kjhokie 10/12/2018 5:05PM
  In what way has the weather been more extreme? ** -- CPRVHokie 10/12/2018 4:58PM
  Houston had 3 500 year floods in 3 years, Lumberton NC -- TabbHokie 10/12/2018 9:09PM
  No major hurricane hits (>cat2) from 2005 to 2016 (3 cat2s) -- LaneRat 10/12/2018 5:10PM
  11 years is our data point over 4 billion years? Well. ** -- CPRVHokie 10/12/2018 6:48PM
  Ennials. They're the worst! ** -- 48zip 10/13/2018 08:14AM
  I had an electrician put a portable generator receptacle outside on my -- HokieNLot11 10/12/2018 4:52PM
  Still have to take colds showers... and if you are married its a plus. Hmmm ** -- thankbud 10/12/2018 5:13PM
  Its? ITS? ** -- TomTurkey 10/12/2018 5:50PM
  Yes, it's. I just played the old copy/paste game. ** -- thankbud 10/13/2018 3:43PM
  UWS ** -- ElbertoHokie 10/12/2018 4:48PM
  I have a 6500W Briggs and Stratton with a Honda engine. -- Naelbis 10/12/2018 4:45PM
  I do. I purchased a 7200 running watt generator before Irene in 2011. -- MP4VT2004 10/12/2018 4:41PM
  I did not read your post first. Sounds like you and I have similar set ups ** -- HokieNLot11 10/12/2018 4:55PM
  Your setup is much different -- kjhokie 10/12/2018 5:11PM
  If you read it again, it's the same, just has it external instead -- HokieinTampa 10/12/2018 7:46PM
  Exactly, the same risks, and bet the line men know -- VaTechie 10/13/2018 09:13AM
  That is an important point that I forgot to make. -- MP4VT2004 10/13/2018 12:07PM
  Exactly, that is what you need to do. ** -- VaTechie 10/13/2018 12:58PM
  What type of generator do you want? -- EDGEMAN 10/12/2018 4:37PM
  Closer to whole house than 200watt. From reading MP4 above, I'm thinking -- RhinoVT 10/12/2018 4:45PM
  That’s the safe choice. -- EDGEMAN 10/12/2018 5:02PM

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