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Transformer hit by lightning last night. Only affects my house it appears. Waiting to hear back from Oncor. I have a 1500w genset I have never used like this. Besides shutting off the main breaker to my house, do I just modify a cord to have two male ends?plug into the circuit I want to power? Are there ready made cords for this? Our fridge is the main thing of course and the only thing steady we would really need.
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You could go about it several ways. You could just land the wires into the line side of the main breaker, like your service entrance and turn everything off expect your kitchen circuit.
Whats the amerapge rating? it should be about 12.5A using Ohms law. 1500W/120V
I'd only advise landing the wires on the line side of the main if you know exactly when power will be restored. If the generator and ONCOR feed you power at the same time youll have some bad problems.DE OPPRESSO LIBER
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If the fridge is all you need, how about an extension cord run from the outdoor generator to the fridge?Rich
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That's what I ended up doing. After thinking about it more, I realized there isn't anything else that needs steady power. Not worth the trouble.Originally posted by TexasT View PostComment
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Do not back feed into the grid. Your generator is only big enough for maybe the fridge or some lights anyways.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 22015 F250 PlatinumComment
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I can't see feeding a panel without the generator being permanent. I have a baldor with a Honda engine we use for the occasional outage. Just a couple of cords does the trick. Then some more stabil into the fuel tank and maybe an oil change to get it ready for the next outage.
On a side note, anyone tried one of the little hf two stroke setups? I was thinking it might be nice for power on the cheap at less than $90. And easily portable.Rich
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After spending big dollars to install a 17 KW back up generator at my home last Summer, I decided it was really over kill for all but the most dire circumstances.
For my Mom's home (next door) I went the less expensive route with a manual transfer switch and a 4KW (electric start) generator to power up essential circuits at her house.
It runs pretty much the whole house except for A/C, water heater and electric cook top... and does it for about 10% of the cost of the larger Generac System I have at my house.
mardynComment
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The easiest way to do something quickly would be to back feed the buss, through a breaker, after you've shut off the main. For example, you could shut off the main (or pull your meter if you don't have a main), pull the wires off of a larger 2-pole breaker...like a range/oven breaker (turn it off first) and attach the wires from the gen. (Neutral to the ground/neutral bar)...fire up the generator, then turn the breaker on that you connected it to. Leave the main off. This is a very temporary fix...To do it correctly, you need a transfer switch...I'll be happy to draw it out for you and answer any questions you have.
Edit...I just noticed that your gen is a 1500w...that's not much. What I said applies to a 120/240v gen (hitting a 2-pole breaker)...with what you have, you'd be better off using it to run your fridge with a cord, or something like that.Comment
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I had a power failure here years ago. I ran most of one 120v side off of a 5200 watt generator on the RV. I am lucky enough to have a main breaker to the grid. I did just like the op suggested, 2 male 120v plugs. I turned all the double (220V) breakers and found the ckt to the fridge. I backfed one side of the buss. and ran my gas heater, fridge, freezer, a few lights, the dsl modem and my computer. it was about 12 hours till the power was back onOriginally posted by STANGGT40 View PostDon't worry about what you can't change.
Do the best you can with what you have.
Be honest, even if it hurts.
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy; Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery" ... Winston ChurchillComment
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