Hack Or Not - My Not So NEC approved Plugs

[mobiledynamics]

In light of the recent thread, I wanted to share my current generator wire setup.

I actually shared this on another forum, but the mod felt since it was not up to NEC standards, he deleted the whole thread/diatribe. Actually, from what I recall, transfer switches in itself in his ~eyes~ were not up to NEC code, and he deleted all transfer switch threads...

Regular L14-30 Inlet to a Transfer Panel
Gas Guzzler 120/240V on hand.

After Sandy, I added 2 Gas Sipping Honda EU2000'i to my stash. I wanted to maintain the L14-30 ~standard generator cord~ so I made 2 cheater plugs. One of my EU's has the standard duplex, and the latter also has a L5-30R on it, as you can Parallel both the EU's together. Both ends of the cheater cord have a L14-30 Connector on them, in which I then connect my regular generator cord back to the inlet.

The cheater cord basically give me the option of powering both legs on my transfer switch.

Mustang brought to light a point about ampacity on plugs....and just spurred this thread.

 

[rockwithjason]

if those are both male cord caps then no it's not nec compliant. a better description would help

 

[mobiledynamics]

Those are not suicide cords.
The males ends go either into the L5-30 or 5-20 on the Hondas. The other end is a female L14-30.

I then use my *generator * 14-30 cord back to the inlet

 

[southalabama]

In my youth I built something like that.

My dad a career telco tech freaked out. I never goto to plug it in

I'm interested to see what electricians say and will follow this thread.

 

[dogdog]

I don't get what is illegal about the plugs or is it illegal because of the way he used to parallel the inlet?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0091UMGPW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

maybe a configuration pinout would help....

 

[dogdog]

P for plug
R for receptacle.

 

[southalabama]

I thought they were two male plugs.

 

[snorky18]

Assuming the hidden capped end is female - Not a hack.

I looked at making that cord, but found one an existing commercially manufactured one for ~$45.

And I acquired it for the same purpose as you.

 

[rockwithjason]

as long as you are breakered at 30a you should be ok. those paralleling kits are neat.

 

[dogdog]

......
After Sandy, I added 2 Gas Sipping Honda EU2000'i to my stash. I wanted to maintain the L14-30 ~standard generator cord~ so I made 2 cheater plugs. One of my EU's has the standard duplex, and the latter also has a L6-30R on it, as you can Parallel both the EU's together. Both ends of the cheater cord have a L14-30 Connector on them, in which I then connect my regular generator cord back to the inlet.

...this is questionable on the application so you are saying that you used that L6-30P as L5-30P (120V) by providing X from the L6-30P to both X & Y on the L14-30R. and I didn't get how the two generator tied in with each other into the same circuit and none of the appliances in your generator powered requires 240v?

I guess it is ok, when used stand alone (one generator to one house circuit) and not expect 240V from generator, Plus you will be using that cable for that only purpose. which u have a warning tag. Not sure about the NEC and not sure about how you tie two generator to the house. Especially one with 240V and one with 120V powering two legs L1 and L2.

 

[Mustang51js]

What your setup to plug into the house

 

[dogdog]

ok now after seeing the Honda site. You have an EU2000I and an EU200I companion which the Honda have special feature to allow you to tie the two generator together and get a 120V 30AMP outlet and a 120V 20Amp outlet on the companion generator. So you made this L6-30P (even thought their manual says L5-30P) to L14-30R cable by powering X to XY on the L14-30P. I guess it will work as long as it is not powering any 240V. Not sure what would happen if you do. Does the L6-30 really fits the L5-30 ?

 

[madosta]

You are worried about the ampacity of the plug. Your setup could now be drawing 2x the load per wire size over one wire and pin on the plug potentially. The weakest part is obviously the whip to the generator and the generator receptacle.

Obviously a 20amp pin is really only going to yield you 2x10amps at 2x120v legs, so you might be overloading that feeder. Will it melt down? I would take a WAG that the generator CB would break before anything melted, but that's up to you.

 

[mobiledynamics]

...
I guess it is ok, when used stand alone (one generator to one house circuit) and not expect 240V from generator, Plus you will be using that cable for that only purpose. which u have a warning tag. Not sure about the NEC and not sure about how you tie two generator to the house. Especially one with 240V and one with 120V powering two legs L1 and L2.

Corrected my OP. It's a L5-30

 

[mobiledynamics]

What your setup to plug into the house

L14-30 Inlet-Transfer Switch

 

[Mustang51js]

so what do you have a adaptor to run two generators into one 30 amp twist lock if you wanted 220 volts.

 

[mobiledynamics]

I'll fire up the gas guzzler if I want 220

The Honda's only do 120.
One unit does 15amps, parallel is 30.

The adapters are there to power BOTH legs of the transfer switch, utilizing the L14-30 Cord and Inlet

 

[pentavolvo]

I have similar cord to use a 120 generator to power house no issues

 

[pglover19]

In light of the recent thread, I wanted to share my current generator wire setup.

I actually shared this on another forum, but the mod felt since it was not up to NEC standards, he deleted the whole thread/diatribe. Actually, from what I recall, transfer switches in itself in his ~eyes~ were not up to NEC code, and he deleted all transfer switch threads...

Regular L14-30 Inlet to a Transfer Panel
Gas Guzzler 120/240V on hand.

After Sandy, I added 2 Gas Sipping Honda EU2000'i to my stash. I wanted to maintain the L14-30 ~standard generator cord~ so I made 2 cheater plugs. One of my EU's has the standard duplex, and the latter also has a L5-30R on it, as you can Parallel both the EU's together. Both ends of the cheater cord have a L14-30 Connector on them, in which I then connect my regular generator cord back to the inlet.

The cheater cord basically give me the option of powering both legs on my transfer switch.

Mustang brought to light a point about ampacity on plugs....and just spurred this thread.

I have the same setup as far as the 2 Honda EU2000i generators and a L14-30R inlet.

Can you please PM me the parts used to create the L14-30 to L5-30 cable as well as the wiring schematic. I assume you are using a 10 gauge 4 conductor wire to make the cables.

 

[jbs]

So the 2 legs are in phase? It seems that any MWBC you have in the house could potentially see 40A on the neutral, no?

 

[sublimate]

I'll fire up the gas guzzler if I want 220

The Honda's only do 120.
One unit does 15amps, parallel is 30.

The adapters are there to power BOTH legs of the transfer switch, utilizing the L14-30 Cord and Inlet

I believe one could make 240v from two Hondas if needed to by inverting the synch signal between the two.

Now whether it would be safe to do so is another question. Would certainly violate warranties/codes/etc.

 

[mobiledynamics]

I've rewired about 95 percent of the wiring in the house. None of them are MWBC

 

[pentavolvo]

My home has no mwbc either but even if it did I would most likely be ok since my generator can only put out 18 amps I believe so I really couldn't overload a neutral only way would be if all of my load was on a 15 amp mwbc

 

[pglover19]

Ok... Here is my situation.. I have a regular L14-30 Inlet on the outside of my house that comes from my generator/transfer panel. So, this is 30AMPS 220 volts.

I have 1 Honda EU2000i (13.3 AMPS) and 1 Honda EU3000i Handi (21.6 AMPS) that will be connected in parallel. This will give me 34.8 AMPS. I want to make a cable to go from the L14-30 Inlet to the L5-30P connection on the generator based on the discussion in this thread. As I stated earlier, the generator connected in parallel will generate approximately 35AMPS, however; the transfer panel inlet is only 30AMPS. Will this create a problem? Please advise.

I have attached a photo of my generator panel.

 

[Mustang51js]

It won't be a problem since the breaker in the panel will limit it to 30 amps anyway

 

[pglover19]

Sorry for the math.. The EU2000i is 13.3AMPS and the EU3000i handi is 21.7 AMPS totaling to 35AMPS.

 

[pglover19]

MobileDynamics,

Can you provide me the parts list and wiring schematics for your L14-30 to L5-30 cable.

Thanks

 

[Mustang51js]

What I was saying you can have a generator that makes 60 amps,but with a 30 amp breaker in your panel your maxed out on your draw at that amperage. Now I don't know if one generator will trip before the other because I've never hooked up two generators to the same cord.

 

[pglover19]

Can someone provide me the parts list and wiring schematics for your L14-30 to L5-30 cable. You can PM me if you like...