So I bought a 7500W Generator, how to hook it up to your home? My usage would be less than that during power outage. Just want to keep food fresh, refrigerator and a few lights in the house. The house I believe has two phase. So I made a male to male connector so I can hook up as pictured, but only half of the house lit up. The rest still died. So I tried to hooked up another wires to the outlet that has no electric, but the generator breaker pop. I believe all the usage is less than 4000W total. How to properly lit up the whole house?
How to hook up a generator?
- Thread starter Harix
- Start date
wellpoison
Well-known member
you should really call an electrician...
aandpdan
Well-known member
Harix,
DON'T EVER do that again!
Get yourself a proper transfer panel OR use an interlock equipped breaker on your panel.
You'll get yourself or someone killed with that male-male cable. You're lucky if ONLY the generator breaker popped.
DON'T EVER do that again!
Get yourself a proper transfer panel OR use an interlock equipped breaker on your panel.
You'll get yourself or someone killed with that male-male cable. You're lucky if ONLY the generator breaker popped.
mackwrench
Well-known member
Yikes....
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
My best advise is to cut the male to male lead up and put it in the trash, then call an electrician and have it correctly installed with a transfer switch and an appliance inlet socket.
Cheers
Cheers
aussiek2000
Well-known member
We have a welder plug on the main panel. Male to male from 30amp generator out to welder plug. Turn off main breaker so you don't back feed the grid. Turn off all high load devices (A/C, Microwave, Oven, dryer, water heater, etc)
JLenegan
Well-known member
That's called a "suicide plug" a good way to kill yourself or a lineman. DON'T DO IT!!
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
A male to male arrangement is potentially lethal and is illegal here in Aust.
mikester
Well-known member
Spend the money and buy a transfer switch or an interlock.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
I suggest doing a search in the electrical section of this forum, this subject has been discussed many times.
As mentioned, you need to have a transfer switch and it has to be properly wired. Here's a good article from Popular Mechanics that explains the procedure pretty well. http://ne.mara.net/generator/pm_gen_install.pdf
As mentioned, you need to have a transfer switch and it has to be properly wired. Here's a good article from Popular Mechanics that explains the procedure pretty well. http://ne.mara.net/generator/pm_gen_install.pdf
rkevins
Well-known member
not sure anymore but at one time if you were caught doing that the power co. would pull your service, you can KILL linemen working down stream, most people don't understand when power goes back up the pole it comes out the transformer the same voltage as the utility is putting in. Get a manual transfer switch and hook it up so you and everyone is safe. and here it is Not legal to just turn off your main you must completley disconect from the utility.
rvr6000
Well-known member
Mine goes through a transfer switch. $300.00 to do it right. I didn't know that about the voltage bumping up when it is back-fed. Good info.
EOC_Jason
Well-known member
I doubt you have "two phase" power... That is a design that really isn't used anywhere anymore, well maybe out in the middle of nowhere in Australia...
You have single phase power, but you have two hot legs, a neutral, and ground. Either hot leg to neutral is 110V, hot to hot is 220v.
I agree, you don't really sound like you know what you are doing, running it that way to power your breaker panel is extremely unsafe.
*If* you don't want to spend the money for an interlock or those other fancy panels, and *if* you knew what you were doing, you could wire up a dedicated 220v disconnect box next to your breaker panel and feed power from your generator through it, assuming you also threw your main breaker FIRST.
Not trying to be rude, but with electricity you don't often get a second chance.
You have single phase power, but you have two hot legs, a neutral, and ground. Either hot leg to neutral is 110V, hot to hot is 220v.
I agree, you don't really sound like you know what you are doing, running it that way to power your breaker panel is extremely unsafe.
*If* you don't want to spend the money for an interlock or those other fancy panels, and *if* you knew what you were doing, you could wire up a dedicated 220v disconnect box next to your breaker panel and feed power from your generator through it, assuming you also threw your main breaker FIRST.
Not trying to be rude, but with electricity you don't often get a second chance.
Alchymist
Well-known member
Consider yourself very lucky you didn't "lite up the house", or yourself. Buy a lottery ticket immediately, then call an electrician.
JCQuick
Well-known member
Yeah fools do that here in Fla during huricanne's
mooman
Well-known member
Did you say "Hold my beer while I hook this up" first before you did that??
Alchymist
Well-known member
NOT a good idea, see below.
True. Not too likely, but possible, has happened, and it only takes once forgetting to flip the main.
Agreed, it's SINGLE PHASE. However, the part in red is bad advice.
Around here, if you're caught backfeeding as described, the main drop is cut, and you will be the last to be restored, AFTER the proper transfer switch is installed.
cowboyjosh
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2010
- Messages
- 1,066
Oh....****. "CowboyJosh" shakes head.
jake00
Well-known member
Ho lee ****
Major Ramifications
Well-known member
Wow, there are a bunch of safety nuts on here. I thought this was a DIY forum.
You need to shut off the main (or mains, in the case of a split bus) first. Then shut off all high-load breakers (central air, electric oven, range, cooktop, water heater, dryer etc.) then plug your second male/male rig into the OTHER set of outlets on the generator, not the same one (after you have one end plugged into a dead outlet, of course). Always plug in the generator ends last.
This is not voodoo or rocket science, as some would have you believe. Also, I've talked to many electricians who don't have even a basic understanding of electricity. All they know is the code and what happens if.
With a basic understanding of electricity, you can do this safely. It sure sounds like you lack a basic understanding of electricity, so I would suggest that you get someone who knows a good deal more about it than you know. I'm not trying to be condecending, but each of us have different skill sets and knowledge bases.
You need to shut off the main (or mains, in the case of a split bus) first. Then shut off all high-load breakers (central air, electric oven, range, cooktop, water heater, dryer etc.) then plug your second male/male rig into the OTHER set of outlets on the generator, not the same one (after you have one end plugged into a dead outlet, of course). Always plug in the generator ends last.
This is not voodoo or rocket science, as some would have you believe. Also, I've talked to many electricians who don't have even a basic understanding of electricity. All they know is the code and what happens if.
With a basic understanding of electricity, you can do this safely. It sure sounds like you lack a basic understanding of electricity, so I would suggest that you get someone who knows a good deal more about it than you know. I'm not trying to be condecending, but each of us have different skill sets and knowledge bases.
aandpdan
Well-known member
Safety nuts? Since when does DIY mean you shouldn't be safe. Codes exist for a reason.
I am trying to be condescending. What you are doing shows a complete disregard for you and your families safety and can put a lineman at risk.
Do you have kids? Do they ever see "daddy" hook up the generator? What happens if you're out of town and the power goes out. This is what daddy does so it must be OK.
Don't be so cheap either. You bought the generator now spend the money to hook it up correctly.
Thank you. This is exactly what I'm looking for. I don't understand why they don't mention anything like this in the manual.
E.T.Privott
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2011
- Messages
- 126
please, PLEASE... don't do that !!! the trouble that can make for you and maybe some poor fool down the line is not worth it !!! I've been told that "real men don't read instructions", or some other **** that some one might think is cool but it can make a difference if you well take the time to be safe. go to your local LOWE'S store and pick up "creative homeowner - ultimate guide, wiring" it has a complete story on the right way to hook up a gen. to your house, and for all the he-men out there it's even got pictures to show you how, right - wrong, box, wires, etc.. so you or anybody else won't get hurt..... think about this then - they can sue you for everything and anything you may own if anyone gets hurt, get the book so DIY people can do it right. no-more "can this work?", "how'd that happen?", and the best one "DAMN, i didn't know that would happen JEEESSSSEEES" or "that's going to cost !"
aussiek2000
Well-known member
It seems to be getting worse by the day.
"That jack could blow a seal"
"Make sure to use a torque wrench"
"Always use loctite on those bolts"
etc.
It's one thing to do things in a safe enough manner that someone isn't going to get hurt. But it's another to pull out the OSHA handbook and follow it step by step.
Please explain to me how someone is going to get hurt if:
A: They shut off the main breaker.
and
B. The have the male to male hooked up before the generator is running
Hey safety weenies. I don't wear ear/eye protection, use my rack locks, use impact sockets on my impact, use jack stands at all times, wear a seat belt, etc.
FarmerSid
Well-known member
The thing that makes this unsafe is that the main breaker just disconnects the two live or hot wires but not the neutral from the pole or transformer.
GirchyGirchy
Well-known member
Ugh, I get into arguments about this constantly. It's amazing how many electricians say it's two phase.
Alchymist
Well-known member
A- you may not be the one doing the "hookup" in an emergency, or it happens when you're stoned or drunk on your ***.
B- someone trips over the cable an pulls it from the wall plug. There's high voltage on exposed pins.
Y'all just keep on doin what you're doin - Darwin is watching.
Not necessarily- again lack of knowledge of the install - depends on weather or not the genset has a bonded neutral. Just one more reason qualified knowledgeable personnel do the install and follow the codes.
The NEC has evolved over time, and while some things in it seem stupid, they are there for a reason. Follow the codes or not, build that suicide cord or not - backfeed or not, the choices are yours, and so are the possible consequences.
Now back to the regularly scheduled thread - PVC for air lines discussion.
CGarcia
Well-known member
Don't want to start an argument, but as far as I could tell, even when using an approved transfer switch, the neutral stays connected.
BD1
Well-known member
Check out this interlock kit. It may be legal in your location.
http://www.interlockkit.com/InstrK5010150225AmpSquareDNewDsn.pdf
http://www.interlockkit.com/InstrK5010150225AmpSquareDNewDsn.pdf
Major Ramifications
Well-known member
I'm guessing that all the "don't do it" responses are coming from posters who live in areas where there are no frequent extended widespread power outages. We get hurricanes down here on a pretty regular basis, and this "suicide hookup" is done by many people and businesses during the extended outages.
b-body-bob
Well-known member
Zero cost explanation .. Get an extension cord. Plug your refrigerator into the generator. If you have more than one refrigerator/freezer, take turns plugging each in for 2 or 3 hours at a time, and don't fan the door of the unpowered one(s). For lights, buy candles, oil lamps, or battery powered lights.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
Or we may be people who understand the dangers.
I know this stuff happens all the time, but I'm not going to give out bad advice and tell people it's okay. And, if you're in an area with frequent outages, why not get a proper transfer switch installed? It would make life easier and a lot safer.
kald
Well-known member
Alchymist
Well-known member
BINGO!
See the comment in post #29. In many cases it does, in other cases not. Depends on several things.
hh76
Well-known member
Having a generator and being ready for an outage is fine, just do it right, or at least better.
fixed that for you.
I said two phase because there are two live wire from the pole. Looks like one live wire and ground will makes 110V. Two live wire will makes 220V. The two live wire then become two group of breaker in the box. That's why if I hook up to one of the outlet, only one group of the breaker energized.
TwoInch
Well-known member
generators are huge dangers, not only for linemen, but tree workers, and any one that is in a related field when outtages happen.
i worked for a world wide tree service, and worked many hurricanes, including the katrina/rita season. was in north miami/hollywood when katrina blew through... we restored about a million customers in florida before heading west to Louisiana and east Texas coast.
we dealt with generators all day everyday, and the people trying to use them, and its a wide spread, and rampant problem of people backfeeding circuits, especially down in the hurricane areas, people know they will be without power for extended periods, buy generators, but have no clue how to use them. hurricane relief workers are injured every season by these backfeeding generators. in many instances, we thought all safety precautions were in place, but there were still live circuits we didnt know about. scary stuff.
we used our insulated pruner poles to "temporarily disconnect"(clip) many a service drop when we suspected a generator was being used on the circuit, and let the linemen deal with it later. its too easy to tag a circuit dead, fuse pulled, and in the middle of working the circuit someone gases up a generator and fires it up, and burns someone up. we also snipped all phone and cable lines, anything that was possibly intermingled with the circuit.. cost people and power/utility companies a lot of money to fix all that stuff, but its just not safe to work.
anyone using a generator during an outtage, unless you are a trained electrician, call the power company, or an electrician, and they will walk you through the proper procedures in hooking up correctly.do all that long before the outtage occurs, and write down a checklist. outtages are a dangerous situation for workers trying to restore your service, dont make the situation harder on them.
i worked for a world wide tree service, and worked many hurricanes, including the katrina/rita season. was in north miami/hollywood when katrina blew through... we restored about a million customers in florida before heading west to Louisiana and east Texas coast.
we dealt with generators all day everyday, and the people trying to use them, and its a wide spread, and rampant problem of people backfeeding circuits, especially down in the hurricane areas, people know they will be without power for extended periods, buy generators, but have no clue how to use them. hurricane relief workers are injured every season by these backfeeding generators. in many instances, we thought all safety precautions were in place, but there were still live circuits we didnt know about. scary stuff.
we used our insulated pruner poles to "temporarily disconnect"(clip) many a service drop when we suspected a generator was being used on the circuit, and let the linemen deal with it later. its too easy to tag a circuit dead, fuse pulled, and in the middle of working the circuit someone gases up a generator and fires it up, and burns someone up. we also snipped all phone and cable lines, anything that was possibly intermingled with the circuit.. cost people and power/utility companies a lot of money to fix all that stuff, but its just not safe to work.
anyone using a generator during an outtage, unless you are a trained electrician, call the power company, or an electrician, and they will walk you through the proper procedures in hooking up correctly.do all that long before the outtage occurs, and write down a checklist. outtages are a dangerous situation for workers trying to restore your service, dont make the situation harder on them.
Last edited:
isaac338
Well-known member
I always imagine people who vouch for this method to be the same guys who think it's okay to swing an "unloaded" firearm around at the range with the action closed. Sure, you're pretty sure it's empty.. but it only takes one *******, cheapass ************ to kill someone with a forgotten round or a forgotten main breaker.
ps: the OP absolutely must be a troll, right?
Last edited: