Good day all! Happy New Year! Here I go again. I do not have the cash to install a generator isolation device in my home at the moment but as we go into winter I would like to have at least the water
You may want to rethink the male plug aspect. When the circuit is normally powered, the prongs of that male plug will be hot. How about adding a receptacle to serve the pump and then when the power g
OK, I have NO idea if this would work, but it's just a suggestion. If you have you generator plugged into your panel, wouldn't just flipping the main breaker prevent it from back feeding up the line?
Hi Karl! Good catch regarding the hot plug - I probably would have arrived at that conclusion about the time I tightened up the last connection <grin> - and then again I might not have caught it unti
Hi Inch! As I understand things, what you propose is a no-no. Probably has something to do with the fact that in some installations folks have connected the grounds and neutrals together so that that
I had an electrical engineer tell me to wire up a generator just that way about 15 years ago. Never did it, no idea if it's legal or not, but have since been told not to do it that way. Dunno.
On this subject, I think Inch is pretty close. Again, the transfer box is the BEST way to go. However, in this area with the Hurricanes and Ice storms we loose power quite often in some areas. What I
This would work fine. What you would basically end up with is a pair of outlets on breakers that you would use when normal power is available. When power goes out you can either run extension cords
I've used this method to check out the wiring on homes we build for Habitat for Humanity and it works great. We don't leave it on longer than needed because we can't be sure someone won't mess with
I agree that this is not considered acceptable because it depends on you to remember to flip the main. Strictly from an educational point of view, however, I don't understand what the big risk is. If
Here's an example of a utility offering something that seems like "a better way". http://www.heartland-rec.com/semi_automatic_transfer_switch.htm Still seems too expensive, though. -Steve Trovato str
Transfer switches don't have to be that expensive anymore. Go to Home Depot's site and search on whole house generators. They are now selling a 7500 watt generator for $1888 that includes a transfer
OK, but that's still a big step up from the typical 5000 to 6000 watt portable generator for $500 to $600 or so. And you can still only serve 8 circuits.
Pat - Think about it again. He proposed adding a pigtail with a plug from the pump to allow it to be plugged into a generator. That pigtail would be connected to the pump and when the pump is regula
Hmm, I read it as the pigtail would be the wire that had been cut loose from the breaker, that was to be plugged into the socket not attached to the breaker, or into the extension cord connected to t
That should be NOW attached to the breaker, not NOT attached to the breaker! Peace, Pat Thusly spake Pat Horne: -- Pat Horne, Owner, Horne Systems (512) 797-7501 Voice 5026 FM 2001 Pat@HorneSystemsTx
You're right. I need to get back to finishing my last few 2006 jobs and not half-reading e-mails. I suggested that he do just what he was going to do in the first place. Senior moment -- SORRY to all
Northern sells a transfer switch for under $100. Probably not all that much more than buying the plugs, cords, boxes, etc. And it will be safe, legal, simple to install, and easy to use. My $99.95 Ma
No ... transformers work just fine either way. If you pump 220v into the secondary, the primary will put 4kv (or whatever) back out into the main line. They do not act as "one way" valves. Might wel
Just to echo what I think was the consensus, Preston, this sounds fine to me. Assuming of course that 12/3 is the appropriate size & number of conductors ... your pump might not need a neutral and I