Re: Using my genny for power outage at home


"Nate" <nsaptaemcpcrnonof@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:FSWng.53743$fb2.43935@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Gordon" <gordon5056@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:pan.2006.06.26.18.28.22.209396@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Mon, 26 Jun 2006 17:32:27 +0000, Nate wrote:

We had 5 hours of power outage on Saturday at home. I headed to Home
Depot
to pick up a couple 50 amp plugs to splice together so I could plug the
house into the genny in the RV. I was going to turn off the main
breaker
so
as not to run voltage back into the supply and zap the guys working on
restoring power. I figured I'd just plug into the outlet that the RV
plugs
into to feed power back to my main panel.

Got home and the power was restored. Cool!

Then I examined my plan further. I forgot that my plug in is a 30 amp
plug
and I use a dog bone 30 to 50 amp adapter. If I were to set this up
and
plug my 50 amp 7500 genny into the 30 amp adapter...what happens? My
thinking is that A.) I only power half the house. And B.) I am
running
two
phase power into single phase...which could potentially blow things up.
Am
I right?

I think I will have an electrician wire in a 50 amp plug so my male to
male
adapter will work. If my adapter were long enough I could run this to
the
dryewr plug and acheive what I am trying to do. I only have one AC
unit
so
I don't really need 50 amp service for the RV. Am I just being silly?

Nate

I would respectfully suggest a transfer switch. As one of the guys that
works on restoring power after an outage, transfer switches tend to
give me a little peace of mind. :)


Can you explain how a transfer switch gives you a little peice of mind
that
flipping the main would not? Is it just the issue that I might forget to
flip the main? I can understand that...people do stupid things. But I am
wondering...is there something else that a transfer switch does other than
keeping me from forgetting.

Nate



A transfer switch makes it impossible to have the electricity coming from
the generator going out from your house down the power lines and through a
transformer getting boosted to thousands of volts and then off to other
houses and the substation. Flipping the main breaker will not do this
because all you have to do is forget once to unplug the generator to see if
power has been restored.

If you have so many power failures that you need to connect the generator to
the house wiring then a transfer switch would be money well spent. If you
only have occasional, short-term outages then just get a couple of good
extension cords.


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Using my genny for power outage at home
    ... Depot to pick up a couple 50 amp plugs to splice together so I could ... plug the house into the genny in the RV. ... You run 1/2 the house. ... When you run your generator you are using power from one side of a stator, ...
    (rec.outdoors.rv-travel)
  • Re: Newbie question re power
    ... I know that when I'm at a campsite with a set up, I can plug the house part of the coach into the camp's power through a BIG extension cord in my motor home. ... Can I plug in from the motor home to this outlet as long as I keep my heater, A/C, and refrigerator off while doing this? ...
    (rec.outdoors.rv-travel)
  • Re: Using my genny for power outage at home
    ... I was going to turn off the main breaker so ... I figured I'd just plug into the outlet that the RV plugs ... into to feed power back to my main panel. ... I forgot that my plug in is a 30 amp plug ...
    (rec.outdoors.rv-travel)
  • Re: Newbie question re power
    ... I know that when I'm at a campsite with a set up, I can plug the house part of the coach into the camp's power through a BIG extension cord in my motor home. ... Can I plug in from the motor home to this outlet as long as I keep my heater, A/C, and refrigerator off while doing this? ...
    (rec.outdoors.rv-travel)
  • Re: Using my genny for power outage at home
    ... Depot to pick up a couple 50 amp plugs to splice together so I could ... plug the house into the genny in the RV. ... You run 1/2 the house. ... When you run your generator you are using power from one side of a stator, ...
    (rec.outdoors.rv-travel)