quote:

Originally posted by jeep olllllo:
....snip....

To let you know what risk you are taking: Many people think that if you hook a generator up wrong, you are going to hurt a line worker down the road. I deal with line workers all day long. They treat every line like it is live. Even more so when they hear a generator running in the area. There is little to no danger of hurting a line worker.

....snip....

Please consider that all who work storm reatoration are not necessarily line workers. Many crafts converge after a storm to restore many things.

Generator feeds to the grid shouldn't be so quickly brushed off as harmless. They can and have killed. Transformers work in both directions. Stepping 120v up to distribution voltages can be dangerous.

Consider downed wires on a metal fence. Downed limbs on the same fence. Add a backfeed, and this is a dangerous mix. Someone trying to clear debris gets electrocuted because they didn't hear the generator several houses away. They thought the downed wire was phone or cable.

Do it right or chance killing someone. What does your conscious allow?

quote:

Originally posted by ffips:

quote:

Originally posted by jeep olllllo:
....snip....

To let you know what risk you are taking: Many people think that if you hook a generator up wrong, you are going to hurt a line worker down the road. I deal with line workers all day long. They treat every line like it is live. Even more so when they hear a generator running in the area. There is little to no danger of hurting a line worker.

....snip....

Please consider that all who work storm reatoration are not necessarily line workers. Many crafts converge after a storm to restore many things.

Generator feeds to the grid shouldn't be so quickly brushed off as harmless. They can and have killed. Transformers work in both directions. Stepping 120v up to distribution voltages can be dangerous.

Consider downed wires on a metal fence. Downed limbs on the same fence. Add a backfeed, and this is a dangerous mix. Someone trying to clear debris gets electrocuted because they didn't hear the generator several houses away. They thought the downed wire was phone or cable.

Do it right or chance killing someone. What does your conscious allow?

This x 100.

DO NOT FOLLOW HIS ADVICE. First it's a code violation. Second do you really trust yourself to be perfect? What about your wife and/or children? Will they remember the correct order to connect, switch on loads, and disconnect? Wouldn't it feel much better if you knew there was no way for you or them to make a mistake that could lead to bodily injury or death be it a family member, lineman, or neighbor?

Do it safe and legal or not at all.

Hell I'm a Master electrician and I wouldn't risk it in my own house. I know at 3AM there's a chance I'd forget to kill the main, or forget and leave inlet box breaker on leaving live 240v male plug sitting there waiting to shock or electrocute a curious child.

quote:

Please consider that all who work storm reatoration are not necessarily line workers. Many crafts converge after a storm to restore many things.

After a hurricane there is the factor of human fatigue out of state workers etc.

I've been involved in storm restoration many times over the years . I've seen Engineering Assistants and even Meter Readers patrolling lines . Not to mention all of the sightseers looking at the damage .

None of those fears are a reality if he just follows step #1.......

the only problem with any of the solutions mentioned... it how do you know when the power is restored to your home... you actually need a plug on the feed side of the main breaker.

quote:

Originally posted by Blume9mm:


the only problem with any of the solutions mentioned... it how do you know when the power is restored to your home... you actually need a plug on the feed side of the main breaker.

Street lights come on . All of the air conditioners in the neighborhood start up at the same time ...

quote:

Originally posted by Blume9mm:
None of those fears are a reality if he just follows step #1.......

snip....

Well shucks!! I am glad every home/electric panel has a main disconnect. I am also totally satisfied with your assurance no one will ever skip step #1.

Good day sir.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:

Main disconnect?

Sorry, been away from the computer. Here is the main disconnect;



One thing to note. The breaker panel is in my garage, centered on the back wall, which is on the right side of the house. The main disconnect is on the outside of house, on the left side. These two panels are separated by the kitchen, living room and a cinder block wall.

Here is link to the generator I bought;

https://www.costco.com/Firman-...oduct.100417697.html

I know my neighbor has been able to run his central A/C off his 5,500 running watt generator, so I assumed this Firman would be plenty. But of course, I did plan to verify that with an electrician.

Here is picture of the label on my A/C.



This generator will not be used on a regular basis. I will make up a to do / in order list specifically because of this. In the 14 years we have lived in this home, I think it has been 5 times we have lost power due to a hurricane. Sometimes as short as 12 hours. Sometimes as long as 6 days. And if you have been without power in Florida, in August, you completely understand why A/C is so important.

The whole point of coming here was to get options and knowledge. I DO NOT have any plans to do this myself. I can wire a ceiling fan. I can replace a light switch. But I know better than to tackle something like this myself. But I want to have some knowledge for when I do speak to an electrician. I do not want to spend $1,000 on a bunch of stuff I do not need when a $400 job would have worked just as well for my limited needs. So I do appreciate all of the advice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa1ez7yL_T4

thank me later

You have four options:

1) Contact InterLockKit.com they may make something for your disconnect. Not likely they make one, but worth checking. Then you put interlock at disconnect and run inlet box just below or to side of disconnect.

2) Same as above but you replace your disconnect with something like this or this the second one has inlet box included. You also canreplace it with double throw, service rated, 3R rated switch.

3) Install a 10 space MTS to right or left of panel. This would require building out wall a few inches and putting up some kind of door. The transfer switch is thicker than a standard 2x4 wall.

4) Build your own transfer switch using a 20 space subpanel and breaker interlock made for whatever brand panel you use. This will sit flush and not require any door's or anything

Can't give you good cost estimate because you are not a standard install. You will need to have someone come and give you an estimate. Least costly will depend largely on where you want to run generator and relationship to inlet location (near new subpanel or disconnect).

A fifth option is call your electric provider and see if they allow it and/or will rent/sell you a meter socket collar style transfer switch.

quote:

Originally posted by holdem:
The whole point of coming here was to get options and knowledge. I DO NOT have any plans to do this myself. I can wire a ceiling fan. I can replace a light switch. But I know better than to tackle something like this myself. But I want to have some knowledge for when I do speak to an electrician. I do not want to spend $1,000 on a bunch of stuff I do not need when a $400 job would have worked just as well for my limited needs. So I do appreciate all of the advice.

I hope you'll reconsider.

I am neither an electrician nor an electrical engineer. The first time I lived in Houston, I went through Hurricane Ike with electric cords run everywhere and decided I wanted to feed the panel. I'm in oil & gas so I went and chatted with our electrical engineer who brings back oil & gas facilities with huge generators (greater than a megawatt) after hurricanes. He recommended installing this (I'm linking the newer version), and then proceeded to convince me that I could do it myself.

My breaker panel was outdoors and the more I looked into it I began to realize that with the help of 1 person (A lady friend helped and trust me it was unskilled labor) I could do this myself. In less than 3 hours on a Saturday, I had a code compliant transfer switch for 10 circuits and it passed inspection when I sold the house 4 months later (that's another story). Here are some pics:





I bought a 40 ft power cord for 2 reasons:

it gets the generator far enough away from the house that there is zero danger of asphyxiation

it gets the generator next to a big tree in the back yard so I can chain the generator to the tree. Generators are some of the most desirable items for thieves to steal. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, one creative thief started the homeowner's lawnmower in the middle of the night so that the homeowners would still hear an engine running after they stole the generator.

---

Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

This comment isn’t directed to the OP.

Anyone in this thread who has suggested a whole house “hillbilly” cord or other solutions should keep your advice to yourself.

If you are running a generator and plugging extension cords in to power a few things (fridge, lights), that’s different.

A whole house hack is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, both inside and outside.

Just don’t do it. It works fine until someone in or outside your home gets electrocuted.

Lots of nervous people here. I find it interesting to find it on a Sig website of all places. For those not in the know, Sigs two most popular guns are the 226 and 229. They do not have a safety on them. How are you going to responsibly own/carry a Sig while there are other manufacturers out there who have guns with a frame/slide mounted thumb safety. That gun could go off and hurt someone!!!!!!

I'm sure all the people here telling you to call a licensed electrician are the same people who take their gun to a licensed gunsmith to have the springs replaced.

To the OP, the only way to affordably do it right is to install a manual transfer switch like this https://www.lowes.com/pd/Relia...VEAQYBCABEgISL_D_BwE

I'm sure Skins2881 could quote you an approx install price.

quote:

Originally posted by jeep olllllo:
Lots of nervous people here. I find it interesting to find it on a Sig website of all places. For those not in the know, Sigs two most popular guns are the 226 and 229. They do not have a safety on them. How are you going to responsibly own/carry a Sig while there are other manufacturers out there who have guns with a frame/slide mounted thumb safety. That gun could go off and hurt someone!!!!!!

I'm sure all the people here telling you to call a licensed electrician are the same people who take their gun to a licensed gunsmith to have the springs replaced.

To the OP, the only way to affordably do it right is to install a manual transfer switch like this https://www.lowes.com/pd/Relia...VEAQYBCABEgISL_D_BwE

I'm sure the master electrician a few posts above me and quote you an install price.

Your post is reckless. There is no correlation between 'rigging' a generator to work with a house and carrying a pistol DESIGNED without a safety.

You are giving potentially unsafe advise. Mock the master electrician if you choose, but he's not soliciting business, he is stating his credentials.

quote:

Originally posted by jeep olllllo:
Lots of nervous people here. I find it interesting to find it on a Sig website of all places. For those not in the know, Sigs two most popular guns are the 226 and 229. They do not have a safety on them. How are you going to responsibly own/carry a Sig while there are other manufacturers out there who have guns with a frame/slide mounted thumb safety. That gun could go off and hurt someone!!!!!!

It's not even noon and I know that that's the stupidest shit I'm going to hear all day long. Congratulations.

quote:

Originally posted by jeep olllllo:
Lots of nervous people here. I find it interesting to find it on a Sig website of all places. For those not in the know, Sigs two most popular guns are the 226 and 229. They do not have a safety on them. How are you going to responsibly own/carry a Sig while there are other manufacturers out there who have guns with a frame/slide mounted thumb safety. That gun could go off and hurt someone!!!!!!

I'm sure all the people here telling you to call a licensed electrician are the same people who take their gun to a licensed gunsmith to have the springs replaced.

To the OP, the only way to affordably do it right is to install a manual transfer switch like this https://www.lowes.com/pd/Relia...VEAQYBCABEgISL_D_BwE

I'm sure Skins2881 could quote you an approx install price.

Being a licensed electrician, I will just tell you that only fools take a lackadaisical attitude toward electricity. Everything in the NEC and OSHA regs. are written in blood.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by jeep olllllo:
Lots of nervous people here. I find it interesting to find it on a Sig website of all places. For those not in the know, Sigs two most popular guns are the 226 and 229. They do not have a safety on them. How are you going to responsibly own/carry a Sig while there are other manufacturers out there who have guns with a frame/slide mounted thumb safety. That gun could go off and hurt someone!!!!!!

It's not even noon and I know that that's the stupidest shit I'm going to hear all day long. Congratulations.

Classy post.

quote:

Classy post.

quote:

Originally posted by jeep olllllo:

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by jeep olllllo:
Lots of nervous people here. I find it interesting to find it on a Sig website of all places. For those not in the know, Sigs two most popular guns are the 226 and 229. They do not have a safety on them. How are you going to responsibly own/carry a Sig while there are other manufacturers out there who have guns with a frame/slide mounted thumb safety. That gun could go off and hurt someone!!!!!!

It's not even noon and I know that that's the stupidest shit I'm going to hear all day long. Congratulations.

Classy post.

At least my post makes sense, which puts me one up on you. As you've already been told, your comparison is flawed from jump.

quote:

Originally posted by jeep olllllo:

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
It's not even noon and I know that that's the stupidest shit I'm going to hear all day long. Congratulations.

Classy post.

This is going to be interesting.