Generator cord question

[Duane]

I have a 50 ft 10 gauge cord that was left to me when I bought my home by the previous owner. This cord being 10 gauge and 50 ft long would make an ideal backup generator cord. Problem is the cord does not have any plugs on its ends.
My generator uses a standard household configuration (2400 watt model).
My question is are there such a thing as a replacement plug for 10 gauge wire in a standard plug configuration, or put another way most standard replacement plugs are rated for up to 12 gauge wire. Is there such thing as one made for heavier gauge and where could I find such a plug. Or is a standard 12 gauge acceptable??

Duane

 

[ishiboo]

I have a 50 ft 10 gauge cord that was left to me when I bought my home by the previous owner. This cord being 10 gauge and 50 ft long would make an ideal backup generator cord. Problem is the cord does not have any plugs on its ends.
My generator uses a standard household configuration (2400 watt model).
My question is are there such a thing as a replacement plug for 10 gauge wire in a standard plug configuration, or put another way most standard replacement plugs are rated for up to 12 gauge wire. Is there such thing as one made for heavier gauge and where could I find such a plug. Or is a standard 12 gauge acceptable??

Duane

Depends on the standard 12 gauge, some will work with the larger wire size and some won't. Just have to look at what's offered.

 

[mrb]

most hardware store type cord ends wont accomodate 10/3. You want hubbell HBL5266-EBK for the male and HBL5269-EBK for the female. These have a larger cord grip to accomodate up through 10/3 SO cable. I have them if you have trouble finding them at a reasonable price (careful, places like grainger are a huge ripoff on these)

 

[Aceman]

Do you want 240 volt or just 120 volt?

How many wires in the cord?

How are you planning on connecting the cord to your house panel?

 

[Duane]

Just need 120 volts for a few basics, furnace, a few lights, fridge,etc.

I am planning on back feeding an outlet in my back yard to one leg of the main panel with a legal Lockout kit on the main breaker. This seems the least expensive safe legal way to do it and I already have a suitable cord to run from my shed to the house.The shed will keep the generator dry and fumes well away from the house as well.

Duane

 

[mrb]

Just need 120 volts for a few basics, furnace, a few lights, fridge,etc.

I am planning on back feeding an outlet in my back yard to one leg of the main panel with a legal Lockout kit on the main breaker. This seems the least expensive safe legal way to do it and I already have a suitable cord to run from my shed to the house.The shed will keep the generator dry and fumes well away from the house as well.

Duane

cant backfeed an outlet -you have to use an inlet

cant simply have a lockout on the main breaker, you must have an interlock between the main and the breaker the inlet is connected to.

 

[Duane]

Yes there is a company that makes an interlock kit.I got the link for it off this site. I didn,t go into the specifics of the kit and how it works, but I have read
how it works and it does require relocating some of the breakers so that it can work as designed.
I did not know about the inlet though. Thanks for the info. That may also change the one end of the cord I am trying to make. I would need the male end to match my generator and the other to match whatever inlet I go with.

I think you just saved me some money.LOL

 

[montecarlo31]

http://www.interlockkit.com/

 

[sdowney717]

Actually interlocks that go in the panels are made by GE, Square D, and some others. So you do not have to use the one interlockkit.com is selling and it will be cheaper.

 

[nehog]

Actually interlocks that go in the panels are made by GE, Square D, and some others. So you do not have to use the one interlockkit.com is selling and it will be cheaper.

?? can you post a link to these? (Square D for instance...)

 

[sdowney717]

http://www.squared.com/us/applications/residential.nsf/LookupFiles/RetaiLinkDec2002small.pdf/$file/RetaiLinkDec2002small.pdf

I put one in my box and it works well.
Homeline and QO kits are available
Instructions
http://ecatalog.squared.com/techlib/docdetail.cfm?oid=090089268013c2cf

http://www.geindustrial.com/cwc/Dispatcher?REQUEST=PRODUCTS&pnlid=7&famid=16&catid=9987&id=gik
GE box

http://milo.com/ge-load-center-generator-interlock-kit

 

[nehog]

http://www.squared.com/us/applications/residential.nsf/LookupFiles/RetaiLinkDec2002small.pdf/$file/RetaiLinkDec2002small.pdf
...

MANY thanks!