All outlets getting 220

[Wileel]

Hey guys/gals need a little help on generator wiring...

Im in FL and getting ready just in case, so hooked up tested generator a bit ago to find a surprise...all of my outlets are getting 220...thank fully I think I only smoked the irrigation system xformer plug

So here is the set-up and please no soapbox about the dangers and legality's of backfeeding, I'm completely aware...this is for emergency only.

6500w "floating neutral" generator
Backfeed cable; 4 prong twist-lock to 3 prong welder hook-up.
Twist lock hooked up as it should be, and 3 prong side has individual hots to their respective pins, neutral and ground are connected on the same pin

I shut off all mains to my shop to isolate it and use it as the test area.
-Shut off all beakers in that panel as well.
-Verified all power was killed then connected my cable
-Fired up genny
-checked GFCI's and they tested and reset
-plugged in a trouble light to one wall and turned on welder breaker then the wall breaker...light came on. Killed the wall breaker then moved the light to another outlet in another wall. Plugged in and turned on that wall breaker. This is where I had a brain fart and got lazy, but ended up being a good thing...went to pullout the plug for the light (left the wall energized) and that's when the lightning happened .
Killed the wall breaker and started testing outlets with the fluke...yup both sides of my 110 outlets are getting 220.... any ideas?

 

[PCustoms]

You are feeding your building hots tied together form one leg and a nutral in the building with the 2nd leg from the generator.

I suggest your welder outlet or your twist lock isn't wired the way you think it is.

What you're doing is obviously very dangerous, and I'm not sure you fully understand the implications to properly mit gate the risks.

What are you trying to run? Just run a couple extensions cords to the fridge.

 

[kd3pc]

hook up cable is backward or mis-wired..else the outlet you are using is....

might want to stop, check both ends of the cable and draw out what you have..., then do the same for the outlets and the generator..

You did the check the generator outlets for 110volts??? Not just that the GFCI set/reset??

something has changed since your last use, if what you say is true.

 

[Wileel]

I'll double check the connections but quite sure they are wired correctly...I've used this in the past at another home for emergency. Without going into it...mitigating risk in austere environments is my career, I think I can handle it...its a curse getting paid to overthink s#it all the time.

Pulled off the breaker box cover...more clear now both feeds are connected to the same side of the panel (same buss bar)...shouldn't each hot go to its own side in the panel?

 

[Wileel]

I'm heading back down there now to tear the cable apart and recheck...good advice on checking the receiver plug, never know about the PO

 

[American Locomotive]

As mentioned, you built your cable incorrectly, and have tied the neutral wire to a hot, giving 240v on 120v outlets.

Also keep in mind that 3-pin NEMA 6-50 "Welding Outlets" aren't really designed to do what you're trying to do. The 3rd round pin isn't supposed to be used to carry current as a neutral. It's a ground - meaning it's really only designed to carry current in an emergency. Aditionally, ground wires are typically "undersized" compared to the primary conductor on higher capacity circuits. A 50 amp outlet may only have a 10 gauge ground wire, which isn't adequate for 50 amps.

 

[Wileel]

Yup, have to eat crow on this one but its all sorted. Its been years since I pulled this cable out and I could have sworn I used it in the past...hmmm...another mystery. Thanks for the advice, Hope to not use it but in a pinch its nice to have options.

 

[Richard Cranium]

good luck, Wileel, keep you head down and watch out.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I'll double check the connections but quite sure they are wired correctly...I've used this in the past at another home for emergency. Without going into it...mitigating risk in austere environments is my career, I think I can handle it...its a curse getting paid to overthink s#it all the time.

Pulled off the breaker box cover...more clear now both feeds are connected to the same side of the panel (same buss bar)...shouldn't each hot go to its own side in the panel?

Can you post a pic?