I just got the deal of a lifetime today, I literally walked into this one,
Someone returned a generator to a local store, well the store was marking
things down to get rid of the returns as is. I asked how much for the
generator and the guy said, "I don't think it runs, so give me 50!" I
thought what the hell, I mean this thing looked just out of the box. I
bought it, turns out the people who bought it only got it to power their
house because of a prolonged outage due to storms. They just said it didn't
work right to get the money back. I got it home pulled the cord and it
purrred like a kitten, I plugged in a few things they too worked, then I put
the power demand to it and it still purred. SO I think this qualifies a a
high end gloat....
Rich
"Larry Jaques" <novalidaddress@di\/ersify.com> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Just remember that if you forget to turn off the main
> breaker and the power company can prove that it was
> you who killed their lineman (yours is the only house
> with lights on, right?) you'll go to jail for -murder-.
Actually Manslaughter, 1987 case with Louisville Gas and Electric after a
tornado
In article <[email protected]>, Searcher
<[email protected]> wrote:
> I just got the deal of a lifetime today, I literally walked into this one,
> Someone returned a generator to a local store, well the store was marking
> things down to get rid of the returns as is. I asked how much for the
> generator and the guy said, "I don't think it runs, so give me 50!"
How quiet is it?
Never mind, it could be pretty darned loud and still not drown out the
giant SUCKING sound!
Good gloat!
Kevin
On Wed, 07 Jul 2004 00:46:06 GMT, "Leon"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>You know, if you put a Clothes dryer plug on the generator, plug it in where
>the dryer would normally plug in, TURN OFF your main breakers, you have
>power anywhere in your house if there is a power failure. Just be sure to
>Turn OFF the main breaker.
no, no... leave it on... then the whole neighborhood will have power!
>
>
>"Searcher" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> I just got the deal of a lifetime today, I literally walked into this one,
>> Someone returned a generator to a local store, well the store was marking
>> things down to get rid of the returns as is. I asked how much for the
>> generator and the guy said, "I don't think it runs, so give me 50!" I
>> thought what the hell, I mean this thing looked just out of the box. I
>> bought it, turns out the people who bought it only got it to power their
>> house because of a prolonged outage due to storms. They just said it
>didn't
>> work right to get the money back. I got it home pulled the cord and it
>> purrred like a kitten, I plugged in a few things they too worked, then I
>put
>> the power demand to it and it still purred. SO I think this qualifies a a
>> high end gloat....
>>
>> Rich
>>
>>
>
Leon wrote:>>You know, if you put a Clothes dryer plug on the generator, plug
it in where
>>the dryer would normally plug in, TURN OFF your main breakers, you have
>>power anywhere in your house if there is a power failure. Just be sure to
>>Turn OFF the main breaker.
>
I had a friend that installed a plug on the hot side of a circuit... Tom
Work at your leisure!
Stephen M wrote:
> Yup, it is that simple and the posted cautions are appropriate.
>
> I *had* to do this in the aftermath of an Ice storm which left me with no
> power for 10 days in January in 10 degree temperatures. I do not consider
> that living dangerously, I consider that saving my house/family from
> catastrophic damage (a near certainty that the hot hater heating pipes would
> burst w/o power for the furnace).
>
> Absolutely, shut of the main breaker, and only turn on necessary appliances.
If you are going to back feed the panel through a 220V outlet I'd throw the
breakers off for anything not required along with the main breaker.
When the commercial power is restored shut down the generator and disconnect it
before energizing the main breakers.
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
(Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply)
I need to do the same thing. Last August we had a big storm with
straighline winds that knocked the power out to about 500,000 people. My
power was off 11 days. Went and bought a generator to power the fridge
and a few lights and a small air conditioner. Never would have made it
with out it.
I told myself I would get the house wired up when it was all over and
the electricians were back to a normal work load.
bob wrote:
> Guys, don't take chances with electricity. It can KILL you - quickly.
>
> I have a transfer switch for my generator. The switch was less than $200
> from Northern Tools and powers six key circuits (heat - gas furnace blower,
> refrigerators, microwave and some key lighting areas). You can install the
> switch and run the wiring yourself. Then hire an electrician for $75 to
> wire it into your circuit breaker panel.
>
> To hook up the generator, I bought 10 gauge wire and two male 240V plugs
> from HD and made my own extension cord - one end plugs into the generator,
> the other into the transfer panel.
>
> Very safe. Very convenient.
>
> Bob
>
>
>
On Wed, 07 Jul 2004 04:06:51 GMT, "Leon"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
><[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> On Wed, 07 Jul 2004 03:04:15 +0000, [email protected]
>> (Robert Bonomi) wrote:
>>
>>
>> snip stuff about hooking up a generator to backfeed a panel
>>
>>
>>
>> >
>> > You have an upper-limit on the load capacity, set by the 'dryer
>> > circuit' wiring, and breaker.
>>
>>
>> I was wondering about that. do circuit breakers work in reverse?
>
>Is there a reverse with Alternating Current?
>
apparently. otherwise, why polarized plugs?
In article <[email protected]>,
Searcher <[email protected]> wrote:
>No, actually I didn't know that. Is it really that easy? I do have a 240
>receptacle on the gen.
>Rich
There are a bunch of caveats:
1) it's *dangerous* *BAD*THINGS* happen if the generator is plugged in
_and_ the utility power gets connected.
2) If you're inside any sort of 'civilization', it's probably contrary
to building/electrical code.
3) Unless it's a _honkin_big_ generator, it's way too easy to overload
it with the 'household' load. This can result in no power in the house
*and* a dead generator.
*IF* you're planning for 'house power', for extended utility outages,
invest some money, and 'do it right'. That means:
1) Run a sub-panel for the 'critical' circuits.
2) Feed the sub-panel from a single big breaker in the main panel.
3) Install a 'transfer switch' between the main panel and the sub-panel.
4) Connect the generator as the 'other' input to the transfer switch.
OTOH, for those who are the 'live dangerously' type, the following
sequence of steps should be followed _exactly_, *NO*EXCEPTIONS*. There
are multiple reasons why things are in the order they are -- ranging from
a danger of burning out the house wiring and blowing the generator, to
minimizing the instabilities resulting from abrupt load changes on the
generator.
Before starting, make sure that the outlet you intend to use for 'feeding'
power to the rest of the house is the _only_ thing on the associated
breaker. If not, *DON'T*USE*THAT*OUTLET* -- find a different one.
When the power goes out:
1) turn off the main breaker -- Note: chief city electrical inspector
here says that the 'normal' 100A/150A/200A breakers are _not_
intended to be used as 'switches'; that a relatively small number
of such cycles (like in the 'low tens' of times) can render it
ineffectual as a breaker.
2) turn off _all_ the individual circuit breakers
3) *PLUG*IN* the generator to the house wiring -- unplugging the
dryer, or other device, if necessary.
4) *START* the generator, and wait for it to stabilize.
5) turn _on_ the breaker feeding that outlet. This applies power to
the entire 'bus' in the panel.
6) turn _on_, *one*by*one*, and waiting at least 10-15 seconds between
each one, the *MINIMUM* number of 'critical' circuits you need
to power.
You have an upper-limit on the load capacity, set by the 'dryer
circuit' wiring, and breaker. If your generator has a lower
'steady load' output than that, then the generator is the
limiting factor. GENERALLY, it's a good idea to keep the total
rated capacity of the 'switched on' circuits under 150% of the
"limit".
When 'utility' power is restored -- something you have *NO*WAY* of telling
about, "in house", then you:
1) turn -off- the 'critical' circuits, one by one, waiting several
seconds (3-5 is sufficient) between each one.
2) turn -off- the breaker feeding the outlet with the generator.
3) stop the generator.
4) DISCONNECT the generator from the house wiring.
5) turn -on- the main breaker.
6) turn -on- all the individual breakers, one-by-one, waiting 5 seconds
or so, between each one.
>
>"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> You know, if you put a Clothes dryer plug on the generator, plug it in
>where
>> the dryer would normally plug in, TURN OFF your main breakers, you have
>> power anywhere in your house if there is a power failure. Just be sure to
>> Turn OFF the main breaker.
>>
>>
>> "Searcher" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> > I just got the deal of a lifetime today, I literally walked into this
>one,
>> > Someone returned a generator to a local store, well the store was
>marking
>> > things down to get rid of the returns as is. I asked how much for the
>> > generator and the guy said, "I don't think it runs, so give me 50!" I
>> > thought what the hell, I mean this thing looked just out of the box. I
>> > bought it, turns out the people who bought it only got it to power their
>> > house because of a prolonged outage due to storms. They just said it
>> didn't
>> > work right to get the money back. I got it home pulled the cord and it
>> > purrred like a kitten, I plugged in a few things they too worked, then I
>> put
>> > the power demand to it and it still purred. SO I think this qualifies a
>a
>> > high end gloat....
>> >
>> > Rich
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>
My next door neighbor had his sewer back up on him yesterday. The plumber
came today and fixed the problem. My neighbor wanted to borrow my wet vac
if I hade one. I though to my self, do I want to lend him my wet vac to
suck up sewerage from his floors? Noooo.. I only have a shop vac, I told
him. Go and rent one was my answer. He went to HD and bought a wet vac,
did his work and indicated that the shop/wet vac was not to expensive and he
would "probably" keep it. "PROBABLY KEEP IT"?????? I said to my self, you
"probably" deserve what you got, backed up sewerage in you house. I wonder
how many other times he has done this.
On Tue, 06 Jul 2004 21:07:03 -0700, bridger wrote:
> I was wondering about that. do circuit breakers work in reverse?
Welllll, since any current flowing through them reverses 120 times a
second...
-Doug
--
"If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange apples
then you and I will still each have one apple.
But if you have an idea and I have one idea and we exchange these
ideas,then each of us will have two ideas" George B. Shaw
On Wed, 07 Jul 2004 03:04:15 +0000, [email protected]
(Robert Bonomi) wrote:
snip stuff about hooking up a generator to backfeed a panel
>
> You have an upper-limit on the load capacity, set by the 'dryer
> circuit' wiring, and breaker.
I was wondering about that. do circuit breakers work in reverse?
On Wed, 07 Jul 2004 13:54:03 GMT, "Sweet Sawdust"
<[email protected]> calmly ranted:
>
>"Larry Jaques" <novalidaddress@di\/ersify.com> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Just remember that if you forget to turn off the main
>> breaker and the power company can prove that it was
>> you who killed their lineman (yours is the only house
>> with lights on, right?) you'll go to jail for -murder-.
>
>Actually Manslaughter, 1987 case with Louisville Gas and Electric after a
>tornado
A rose, by any other name...
----------------------------------------------
Never attempt to traverse a chasm in two leaps
http://www.diversify.com Comprehensive Website Design
===========================================================
On Wed, 07 Jul 2004 00:18:13 GMT, "Searcher"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>I just got the deal of a lifetime today, I literally walked into this one,
>Someone returned a generator to a local store, well the store was marking
>things down to get rid of the returns as is. I asked how much for the
>generator and the guy said, "I don't think it runs, so give me 50!" I
>thought what the hell, I mean this thing looked just out of the box. I
>bought it, turns out the people who bought it only got it to power their
>house because of a prolonged outage due to storms. They just said it didn't
>work right to get the money back. I got it home pulled the cord and it
>purrred like a kitten, I plugged in a few things they too worked, then I put
>the power demand to it and it still purred. SO I think this qualifies a a
>high end gloat....
>
>Rich
>
Climate change? It's not because of global warming, it's because of
people like you creating low-pressure areas.
Good catch!
Well, since my house was built in the 1800's, I don't think that I am going
to take the chance of just pluggin in my gen, Since power outages here are
few and far between and I can live without TV I will just run the gen to the
fridge and freezer and some lighting.Maybe one day I will go to the trouble
of putting in a transfer switch.
Rich
"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Robert Bonomi" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > In article <[email protected]>,
> > Searcher <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > There are a bunch of caveats:
> >
> > 1) it's *dangerous* *BAD*THINGS* happen if the generator is plugged
> in
> > _and_ the utility power gets connected.
>
> That is why I twice indicated to not forget to shut off the main circuit
> breaker. If you don't the generator would probably quit running
immediately
> as the strain of trying to power the neighborhood would surely bring it to
a
> stop.
> >
> > 2) If you're inside any sort of 'civilization', it's probably
contrary
> > to building/electrical code.
>
> Perhaps but the use of an extension cord is against code in many cases.
>
> > 3) Unless it's a _honkin_big_ generator, it's way too easy to
overload
> > it with the 'household' load. This can result in no power in the
> house
> > *and* a dead generator.
>
> As long as everything is turned off that would be a big drain there would
be
> no problem.
>
> The whole mention of this by me was to point out that it is more
conveinent
> to energize the whole house and not have to bring extension cords to the
> generator to run things like the freezer and or refrigerator in the event
of
> a power failure plus a few lights.
>
>
"Robert Bonomi" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Searcher <[email protected]> wrote:
> There are a bunch of caveats:
>
> 1) it's *dangerous* *BAD*THINGS* happen if the generator is plugged
in
> _and_ the utility power gets connected.
That is why I twice indicated to not forget to shut off the main circuit
breaker. If you don't the generator would probably quit running immediately
as the strain of trying to power the neighborhood would surely bring it to a
stop.
>
> 2) If you're inside any sort of 'civilization', it's probably contrary
> to building/electrical code.
Perhaps but the use of an extension cord is against code in many cases.
> 3) Unless it's a _honkin_big_ generator, it's way too easy to overload
> it with the 'household' load. This can result in no power in the
house
> *and* a dead generator.
As long as everything is turned off that would be a big drain there would be
no problem.
The whole mention of this by me was to point out that it is more conveinent
to energize the whole house and not have to bring extension cords to the
generator to run things like the freezer and or refrigerator in the event of
a power failure plus a few lights.
WOW, What a lot of comments.
The best, and probably cheapest overall backup power connection is the
automatic transfer switch sold by many power companies, and maybe others.
It mounts under the meter and has a pigtail to connect to the generator.
All switching is automatic, but you still have to turn off the air
conditioner and probably the water heater. Generators over about 5KW will
pull a water heater or dryer, but not along with much else. If you manage
things, you can have hot water and run a couple of stove burners. Of course
you must turn off your 5HP air compressor!
I've done the kludge thing with the suicide plug and it works fine. I've
never forgotten to turn off the main. The real concern there is backfeeding
a transformer and zapping a lineman. I expect you would have to quite near
a transformer that has its high side disconnected for the generator to be
able to develop any voltage, but even a momentary surge on the 240V side
could cause some high voltage on the high voltage side.
Wilson
"Searcher" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I just got the deal of a lifetime today, I literally walked into this one,
> Someone returned a generator to a local store, well the store was marking
> things down to get rid of the returns as is. I asked how much for the
> generator and the guy said, "I don't think it runs, so give me 50!" I
> thought what the hell, I mean this thing looked just out of the box. I
> bought it, turns out the people who bought it only got it to power their
> house because of a prolonged outage due to storms. They just said it
didn't
> work right to get the money back. I got it home pulled the cord and it
> purrred like a kitten, I plugged in a few things they too worked, then I
put
> the power demand to it and it still purred. SO I think this qualifies a a
> high end gloat....
>
> Rich
>
>
[email protected] writes:
>On Wed, 07 Jul 2004 04:06:51 GMT, "Leon"
><[email protected]> wrote:
>apparently. otherwise, why polarized plugs?
To ensure that the device can identify the grounded (aka neutral)
conductor.
scott
I had a guy working for me that did this regularly with his portable powere
tools... I dunno, I just wasn't brought up like that.
"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My next door neighbor had his sewer back up on him yesterday. The plumber
> came today and fixed the problem. My neighbor wanted to borrow my wet vac
> if I hade one. I though to my self, do I want to lend him my wet vac to
> suck up sewerage from his floors? Noooo.. I only have a shop vac, I told
> him. Go and rent one was my answer. He went to HD and bought a wet vac,
> did his work and indicated that the shop/wet vac was not to expensive and
he
> would "probably" keep it. "PROBABLY KEEP IT"?????? I said to my self,
you
> "probably" deserve what you got, backed up sewerage in you house. I
wonder
> how many other times he has done this.
>
>
>
>
"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Larry Jaques" <novalidaddress@di\/ersify.com> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
> (yours is the only house with lights on, right?)
>
> Not in my neighborhood, ;~) there are 4 neighbors that use their
> generators when the power goes out. I still believe that the generator
> would stall if you forgot to turn the main breaker off.
>
It is possible for a switch at the transformer to isolate you. When the
switch is closed...
Not likely, but possible.
"LRod" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 07 Jul 2004 00:30:19 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >But sad in a way.
> >Your good fortune is because of some low life twit that took advantage of
> >the generous return policy of the store.
>
> Free rental army. It costs us all in the end. When there was a
> tremendous rain storm in the Chicago area about nine years ago (17"
> in 24 hours in my town), a lot of homes got flooded. A couple of Home
> Depots wound up with dozens of wet/dry vacs that clearly had been used
> once only to clean up a house and returned. To add insult to the
> process, the (ab)users didn't even have the decency to clean them up.
>
I used to be a HD vendor. They will just charge the vendor back for them,
and probably add in a few more for good measure.
Yes, we will all end up paying for them, but it doesn't hurt HD any.
Yup, it is that simple and the posted cautions are appropriate.
I *had* to do this in the aftermath of an Ice storm which left me with no
power for 10 days in January in 10 degree temperatures. I do not consider
that living dangerously, I consider that saving my house/family from
catastrophic damage (a near certainty that the hot hater heating pipes would
burst w/o power for the furnace).
Absolutely, shut of the main breaker, and only turn on necessary appliances.
-Steve
"Robert Bonomi" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Searcher <[email protected]> wrote:
> >No, actually I didn't know that. Is it really that easy? I do have a 240
> >receptacle on the gen.
> >Rich
>
> There are a bunch of caveats:
>
> 1) it's *dangerous* *BAD*THINGS* happen if the generator is plugged
in
> _and_ the utility power gets connected.
>
> 2) If you're inside any sort of 'civilization', it's probably contrary
> to building/electrical code.
>
> 3) Unless it's a _honkin_big_ generator, it's way too easy to overload
> it with the 'household' load. This can result in no power in the
house
> *and* a dead generator.
>
> *IF* you're planning for 'house power', for extended utility outages,
> invest some money, and 'do it right'. That means:
> 1) Run a sub-panel for the 'critical' circuits.
> 2) Feed the sub-panel from a single big breaker in the main panel.
> 3) Install a 'transfer switch' between the main panel and the sub-panel.
> 4) Connect the generator as the 'other' input to the transfer switch.
>
>
> OTOH, for those who are the 'live dangerously' type, the following
> sequence of steps should be followed _exactly_, *NO*EXCEPTIONS*. There
> are multiple reasons why things are in the order they are -- ranging from
> a danger of burning out the house wiring and blowing the generator, to
> minimizing the instabilities resulting from abrupt load changes on the
> generator.
>
> Before starting, make sure that the outlet you intend to use for
'feeding'
> power to the rest of the house is the _only_ thing on the associated
> breaker. If not, *DON'T*USE*THAT*OUTLET* -- find a different one.
>
> When the power goes out:
> 1) turn off the main breaker -- Note: chief city electrical
inspector
> here says that the 'normal' 100A/150A/200A breakers are _not_
> intended to be used as 'switches'; that a relatively small number
> of such cycles (like in the 'low tens' of times) can render it
> ineffectual as a breaker.
> 2) turn off _all_ the individual circuit breakers
> 3) *PLUG*IN* the generator to the house wiring -- unplugging the
> dryer, or other device, if necessary.
> 4) *START* the generator, and wait for it to stabilize.
> 5) turn _on_ the breaker feeding that outlet. This applies power to
> the entire 'bus' in the panel.
> 6) turn _on_, *one*by*one*, and waiting at least 10-15 seconds
between
> each one, the *MINIMUM* number of 'critical' circuits you need
> to power.
>
> You have an upper-limit on the load capacity, set by the 'dryer
> circuit' wiring, and breaker. If your generator has a lower
> 'steady load' output than that, then the generator is the
> limiting factor. GENERALLY, it's a good idea to keep the total
> rated capacity of the 'switched on' circuits under 150% of the
> "limit".
>
> When 'utility' power is restored -- something you have *NO*WAY* of telling
> about, "in house", then you:
> 1) turn -off- the 'critical' circuits, one by one, waiting several
> seconds (3-5 is sufficient) between each one.
> 2) turn -off- the breaker feeding the outlet with the generator.
> 3) stop the generator.
> 4) DISCONNECT the generator from the house wiring.
> 5) turn -on- the main breaker.
> 6) turn -on- all the individual breakers, one-by-one, waiting 5
seconds
> or so, between each one.
> >
> >"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:[email protected]...
> >> You know, if you put a Clothes dryer plug on the generator, plug it in
> >where
> >> the dryer would normally plug in, TURN OFF your main breakers, you have
> >> power anywhere in your house if there is a power failure. Just be sure
to
> >> Turn OFF the main breaker.
> >>
> >>
> >> "Searcher" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >> news:[email protected]...
> >> > I just got the deal of a lifetime today, I literally walked into this
> >one,
> >> > Someone returned a generator to a local store, well the store was
> >marking
> >> > things down to get rid of the returns as is. I asked how much for the
> >> > generator and the guy said, "I don't think it runs, so give me 50!" I
> >> > thought what the hell, I mean this thing looked just out of the box.
I
> >> > bought it, turns out the people who bought it only got it to power
their
> >> > house because of a prolonged outage due to storms. They just said it
> >> didn't
> >> > work right to get the money back. I got it home pulled the cord and
it
> >> > purrred like a kitten, I plugged in a few things they too worked,
then I
> >> put
> >> > the power demand to it and it still purred. SO I think this qualifies
a
> >a
> >> > high end gloat....
> >> >
> >> > Rich
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>
Larry Jaques wrote:
> On Wed, 07 Jul 2004 13:54:03 GMT, "Sweet Sawdust"
> <[email protected]> calmly ranted:
>
>>
>>"Larry Jaques" <novalidaddress@di\/ersify.com> wrote in message
>>news:[email protected]...
>>> Just remember that if you forget to turn off the main
>>> breaker and the power company can prove that it was
>>> you who killed their lineman (yours is the only house
>>> with lights on, right?) you'll go to jail for -murder-.
>>
>>Actually Manslaughter, 1987 case with Louisville Gas and Electric after a
>>tornado
>
> A rose, by any other name...
Not quite. In this state murder can get you 25 to life or in some
circumstances execution (electrocuting a lineman wouldn't do it) while
second degree manslaughter (this is probably the world they could prove for
electrocuting a lineman--first degree requires intent to do harm) gets 1 to
10 and criminally negligent homicide gets a year max.
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------
> Never attempt to traverse a chasm in two leaps
> http://www.diversify.com Comprehensive Website Design
> ===========================================================
--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
On Wed, 07 Jul 2004 03:04:15 +0000, [email protected]
(Robert Bonomi) wrote:
[massive snip of stuff not related to the point I want to make]
> 1) turn off the main breaker -- Note: chief city electrical inspector
> here says that the 'normal' 100A/150A/200A breakers are _not_
> intended to be used as 'switches'; that a relatively small number
> of such cycles (like in the 'low tens' of times) can render it
> ineffectual as a breaker.
It is my understanding that the QO series of breakers by SquareD IS
rated for use as a switch. That is a principle reason I installed
it/them for my main load center and my shop sub-panel. Not necessarily
that I will use them that way, but the main breaker in the shop sub
may be.
- -
LRod
Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite
Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999
http://www.woodbutcher.net
No, actually I didn't know that. Is it really that easy? I do have a 240
receptacle on the gen.
Rich
"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> You know, if you put a Clothes dryer plug on the generator, plug it in
where
> the dryer would normally plug in, TURN OFF your main breakers, you have
> power anywhere in your house if there is a power failure. Just be sure to
> Turn OFF the main breaker.
>
>
> "Searcher" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I just got the deal of a lifetime today, I literally walked into this
one,
> > Someone returned a generator to a local store, well the store was
marking
> > things down to get rid of the returns as is. I asked how much for the
> > generator and the guy said, "I don't think it runs, so give me 50!" I
> > thought what the hell, I mean this thing looked just out of the box. I
> > bought it, turns out the people who bought it only got it to power their
> > house because of a prolonged outage due to storms. They just said it
> didn't
> > work right to get the money back. I got it home pulled the cord and it
> > purrred like a kitten, I plugged in a few things they too worked, then I
> put
> > the power demand to it and it still purred. SO I think this qualifies a
a
> > high end gloat....
> >
> > Rich
> >
> >
>
>
You know, if you put a Clothes dryer plug on the generator, plug it in where
the dryer would normally plug in, TURN OFF your main breakers, you have
power anywhere in your house if there is a power failure. Just be sure to
Turn OFF the main breaker.
"Searcher" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I just got the deal of a lifetime today, I literally walked into this one,
> Someone returned a generator to a local store, well the store was marking
> things down to get rid of the returns as is. I asked how much for the
> generator and the guy said, "I don't think it runs, so give me 50!" I
> thought what the hell, I mean this thing looked just out of the box. I
> bought it, turns out the people who bought it only got it to power their
> house because of a prolonged outage due to storms. They just said it
didn't
> work right to get the money back. I got it home pulled the cord and it
> purrred like a kitten, I plugged in a few things they too worked, then I
put
> the power demand to it and it still purred. SO I think this qualifies a a
> high end gloat....
>
> Rich
>
>
On Wed, 07 Jul 2004 00:30:19 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>But sad in a way.
>Your good fortune is because of some low life twit that took advantage of
>the generous return policy of the store.
Free rental army. It costs us all in the end. When there was a
tremendous rain storm in the Chicago area about nine years ago (17"
in 24 hours in my town), a lot of homes got flooded. A couple of Home
Depots wound up with dozens of wet/dry vacs that clearly had been used
once only to clean up a house and returned. To add insult to the
process, the (ab)users didn't even have the decency to clean them up.
- -
LRod
Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite
Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999
http://www.woodbutcher.net
Guys, don't take chances with electricity. It can KILL you - quickly.
I have a transfer switch for my generator. The switch was less than $200
from Northern Tools and powers six key circuits (heat - gas furnace blower,
refrigerators, microwave and some key lighting areas). You can install the
switch and run the wiring yourself. Then hire an electrician for $75 to
wire it into your circuit breaker panel.
To hook up the generator, I bought 10 gauge wire and two male 240V plugs
from HD and made my own extension cord - one end plugs into the generator,
the other into the transfer panel.
Very safe. Very convenient.
Bob
"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> You know, if you put a Clothes dryer plug on the generator, plug it in
where
> the dryer would normally plug in, TURN OFF your main breakers, you have
> power anywhere in your house if there is a power failure. Just be sure to
> Turn OFF the main breaker.
>
>
> "Searcher" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I just got the deal of a lifetime today, I literally walked into this
one,
> > Someone returned a generator to a local store, well the store was
marking
> > things down to get rid of the returns as is. I asked how much for the
> > generator and the guy said, "I don't think it runs, so give me 50!" I
> > thought what the hell, I mean this thing looked just out of the box. I
> > bought it, turns out the people who bought it only got it to power their
> > house because of a prolonged outage due to storms. They just said it
> didn't
> > work right to get the money back. I got it home pulled the cord and it
> > purrred like a kitten, I plugged in a few things they too worked, then I
> put
> > the power demand to it and it still purred. SO I think this qualifies a
a
> > high end gloat....
> >
> > Rich
> >
> >
>
>
"Leon" <[email protected]> writes:
>
><[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> >
>>
>> apparently. otherwise, why polarized plugs?
>
>I think that has something to do with the ground. I could be wrong. IIRC
>you do not see male polarized plugs if equipped with the 3rd ground prong.
>I know that it does not matter how a switch or appliance operates even if
>you "force" the incorrect union of this type of plug.
>
>
The idea of a polarized plug (and yes, even three prong are polarized, it is
just not necessary to use a wider blade since the plug can only be utilized
in a single manner) is so the device can distinguish reliably between the grounded,
grounding and current carrying conductors.
This is not generally for operational sake but rather for safety sake. Consider
older Television sets, for example, where the grounded (neutral) conductor is used as
a frame ground. If you plug it in backwards, the frame becomes energized. Note
that this configuration is no longer allowed, but older devices still exist.
Or look at a lamp socket. Typically the shell is connected to the grounded
conductor and the inner button connected to the current carrying conductor. Only
the conductor connected to the 'button' is switched, so if, for example, it
were plugged in backwards (or the outlet was miswired), the shell will be
energized all the time - be careful changing that light bulb......
Moral? Don't defeat the polarization and buy a $5.00 tester to check the
polarization of all the outlets in your home.
scott
for reference:
grounded conductor == neutral == white
grounding conductor == ground == bare/green
current carrying conductor == black/red/etc.
Just remember that if you forget to turn off the main
breaker and the power company can prove that it was
you who killed their lineman (yours is the only house
with lights on, right?) you'll go to jail for -murder-.
Alternatively, get a transfer switch and hook up your
favorite circuits to it. They'll disconnect from the
mains and go live when the gen set comes on and you
hit the switch.
Ebay for "transfer switch", $50, you have 12 hours!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=56995&item=3824927032&rd=1
BTW, Searcher, you suck. That's a valid gloat.
On Wed, 07 Jul 2004 01:18:04 GMT, "Searcher"
<[email protected]> calmly ranted:
>No, actually I didn't know that. Is it really that easy? I do have a 240
>receptacle on the gen.
>Rich
>
>"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> You know, if you put a Clothes dryer plug on the generator, plug it in
>where
>> the dryer would normally plug in, TURN OFF your main breakers, you have
>> power anywhere in your house if there is a power failure. Just be sure to
>> Turn OFF the main breaker.
>>
>>
>> "Searcher" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> > I just got the deal of a lifetime today, I literally walked into this
>one,
>> > Someone returned a generator to a local store, well the store was
>marking
>> > things down to get rid of the returns as is. I asked how much for the
>> > generator and the guy said, "I don't think it runs, so give me 50!" I
>> > thought what the hell, I mean this thing looked just out of the box. I
>> > bought it, turns out the people who bought it only got it to power their
>> > house because of a prolonged outage due to storms. They just said it
>> didn't
>> > work right to get the money back. I got it home pulled the cord and it
>> > purrred like a kitten, I plugged in a few things they too worked, then I
>> put
>> > the power demand to it and it still purred. SO I think this qualifies a
>a
>> > high end gloat....
>> >
>> > Rich
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
----------------------------------------------
Never attempt to traverse a chasm in two leaps
http://www.diversify.com Comprehensive Website Design
===========================================================
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >
>
> apparently. otherwise, why polarized plugs?
I think that has something to do with the ground. I could be wrong. IIRC
you do not see male polarized plugs if equipped with the 3rd ground prong.
I know that it does not matter how a switch or appliance operates even if
you "force" the incorrect union of this type of plug.
"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Not quite. In this state murder can get you 25 to life or in some
> circumstances execution (electrocuting a lineman wouldn't do it) while
> second degree manslaughter (this is probably the world they could prove
for
> electrocuting a lineman--first degree requires intent to do harm) gets 1
to
> 10 and criminally negligent homicide gets a year max.
And you know all this because...? :)
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 07 Jul 2004 03:04:15 +0000, [email protected]
> (Robert Bonomi) wrote:
>
>
> snip stuff about hooking up a generator to backfeed a panel
>
>
>
> >
> > You have an upper-limit on the load capacity, set by the 'dryer
> > circuit' wiring, and breaker.
>
>
> I was wondering about that. do circuit breakers work in reverse?
Is there a reverse with Alternating Current?
"Searcher" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> "I don't think it runs, so give me 50!" I
> thought what the hell, I mean this thing looked just out of the box. I
> bought it, turns out the people who bought it only got it to power their
> house because of a prolonged outage due to storms. They just said it
didn't
> work right to get the money back. I got it home pulled the cord and it
> purrred like a kitten, I plugged in a few things they too worked, then I
put
> the power demand to it and it still purred. SO I think this qualifies a a
> high end gloat....
>
> Rich
Great find, I've thought about getting a generator at times, but cannot
justify it from experience with power outages. For $50 I'd grab it.
But sad in a way.
Your good fortune is because of some low life twit that took advantage of
the generous return policy of the store.
Ed
"Larry Jaques" <novalidaddress@di\/ersify.com> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
(yours is the only house with lights on, right?)
Not in my neighborhood, ;~) there are 4 neighbors that use their
generators when the power goes out. I still believe that the generator
would stall if you forgot to turn the main breaker off.
> Alternatively, get a transfer switch and hook up your
> favorite circuits to it. They'll disconnect from the
> mains and go live when the gen set comes on and you
> hit the switch.
Sounds like good advice to me.
"Eric Ryder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I had a guy working for me that did this regularly with his portable
powere
> tools... I dunno, I just wasn't brought up like that.
I can totally understand taking something back if it did not perform to its
expectations but if it does work as advertised and you use it, keep it.