Power failures
I've been reading here about a some peoples problems with power failures, so I thought I'd post the method I used during the many power failures I had before I got a whole house generator. I ...
Forum Discussion
The only caveat I would add is that, if someone is going to do this, they install, or have installed, an interlock switch. Though remembering to turn off the main is something that has to be done, people forget things, and accidentally powering the generator while the main is still on could cause considerably injury to a linesman or someone else working on the mains.
A nifty trick, though. I've known people who have connected their portable generators with a cord like this in order to keep their refrigerators/freezers powered, as well as a few other things.
GabeU wrote:
The only caveat I would add is that, if someone is going to do this, they install, or have installed, an interlock switch. Though remembering to turn off the main is something that has to be done, people forget things, and accidentally powering the generator while the main is still on could cause considerably injury to a linesman or someone else working on the mains.
Like I said to birdog, the utility companies are well aware of all the generators around, and take precautions.
I think the most likely occurrence would be that your running generator would try to pick up all the loads between you and the fault on the line. If the generator was down and the power came back on with the main and dryer breakers closed, the utility power would try to motorise your generator. Neither situation would be good for the generator even though a breaker would probably trip somewhere.
My dryer receptacle was actually located in a detached pole barn about 70 feet from the house with a hundred amp service feeding a separate panel from the main house. Installing any sort of interlock would have been tricky to say the least.
Well like I said, I don't have to worry about it any more.
