Plug in furnace

[theoldwizard1]

Wiring a generator transfer switch can be expensive and is really not appropriate for a small (less than 3kw) generator. During the the big blackout of the NE/Midwest a few years back I ran a refrigerator, freezer and television off of an extension cord that I swapped between them.

Of course that was in summer and I still don't have a good solution for running my forced air furnace. Does a furnace have to be "hardwired" or can I "legally" put a plug on it and then a receptacle right next to that. Then, if I lose power in winter, I can just unplug it from the receptacle and hook it to the generator via an extension cord.

I guess this would be the better - Reliance Controls TF151W

 

[brewchief]

One of the electricians will have to chime in as to if it will meet code but as a furnace guy I'll put my two cents in.

Some of the newer furnaces with integrated control boards do not run well on a generator, we get a few with burned up circuit boards every time the power is out for an extended period.

Make sure your grounds are proper on the generator and furnace.

Make sure that you don't cross your hot and neutral, I know it sounds dumb but I bet some one does it every year around here, could be as simple as a cord that had a new end put on it and the wires got switched.

Don't overload your generator, run the furnace by itself if the gennie is a smaller one, the electronics won't live a long happy life if you are running two fridges and half a house full of stuff on a smaller generator.

 

[ishiboo]

Wiring a generator transfer switch can be expensive and is really not appropriate for a small (less than 3kw) generator. During the the big blackout of the NE/Midwest a few years back I ran a refrigerator, freezer and television off of an extension cord that I swapped between them.

Of course that was in summer and I still don't have a good solution for running my forced air furnace. Does a furnace have to be "hardwired" or can I "legally" put a plug on it and then a receptacle right next to that. Then, if I lose power in winter, I can just unplug it from the receptacle and hook it to the generator via an extension cord.

I guess this would be the better - Reliance Controls TF151W

It'd be fine to put it on a plug, may not meet all codes but it's perfectly safe and reasonable. Use a quality plug or twist-lock like a L6-20 so that the plug doesn't vibrate/fall out. The switch you posted would be a bit cleaner of an install and may look less dumb

 

[nate379]

My boiler is on a plug. The one plug powers the boiler, controllers and all teh T Stats. 20 amp circuit. I think it's not supposed to have anything else plugged in that outlet but I put a water softener on it as well (very small electrical load)

 

[theoldwizard1]

I think it's not supposed to have anything else plugged in that outlet (circuit) ...

I'm pretty certain that is code. The only things allowed on the furnace circuit are things directly attached to the furnace like a humidifier or a condensate removal pump.

 

[May Pop]

It will meet code if on a plug because it must have a" means of disconnect" at the furnace. But take what Brewchief says seriously. It will never be inspected again so that is something to take into consideration also.
Ron

 

[nate379]

Probably but that is another one of those NEC rules that don't make any sense.

I'm pretty certain that is code. The only things allowed on the furnace circuit are things directly attached to the furnace like a humidifier or a condensate removal pump.

 

[ishiboo]

Probably but that is another one of those NEC rules that don't make any sense.

Parts of the NEC are for safety, part are for "best practices". You don't want other **** on the same circuit tripping the furnace.

 

[Thruxton]

One of the electricians will have to chime in as to if it will meet code but as a furnace guy I'll put my two cents in.

Some of the newer furnaces with integrated control boards do not run well on a generator, we get a few with burned up circuit boards every time the power is out for an extended period.

Make sure your grounds are proper on the generator and furnace.

Make sure that you don't cross your hot and neutral, I know it sounds dumb but I bet some one does it every year around here, could be as simple as a cord that had a new end put on it and the wires got switched.

Don't overload your generator, run the furnace by itself if the gennie is a smaller one, the electronics won't live a long happy life if you are running two fridges and half a house full of stuff on a smaller generator.

I did this with our furnace (propane fired Lennox with a fairly good solid-state controller) and our well pump for 10 years before I installed a standby genset with transfer switch last summer, and never had a problem. Our little 4KW portable ran everything, including TV and computers, with nary an issue.

 

[Thruxton]

I meant to add that Brewchief's comments are also good advice!

 

[djjsr]

If you plug a furnace into a portable generator, what do you do for a ground?

 

[theoldwizard1]

If you plug a furnace into a portable generator, what do you do for a ground?

Most generators do have a lug for ground, but few people ever hook it up.