Safe way to hook up portable genny to house...
 

....this guy seems to have the Right Stuff, properly explained:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkbBt8hv8mQ



Oh, and Herring...just plug it into the dryer outlet.

Safe way to hook up portable genny to house...
 

On 4/4/14, 12:24 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 04 Apr 2014 10:53:34 -0400, F*O*A*D wrote:

...this guy seems to have the Right Stuff, properly explained:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkbBt8hv8mQ



Oh, and Herring...just plug it into the dryer outlet.

Basically correct even if the guy is a yacking man. This could have
been a 3 minute show.

This all works if your AHJ is not s prick about how he reads the NEC.


Another issue is the generator is not capable of driving the total
connected load in the first 2 examples he gives and maybe not even
with the sub panel. That violates code if there is not a "qualified"
person doing the load management. (a technicality but still code)



I have a feeling guys who do this don't bother with getting a permit or
an inspection. I know my near neighbor up the street didn't. The guy
across the street got a unit similar to mine, professionally installed.

We sized our unit so it would run the important stuff in the
house...well, fan on gas hot water heater, one heat pump (gas fired with
electric fan for heat), refrigerators, washer but not electric dryer,
dishwasher, igniters on fireplace and gas stovetop, garage, and various
lights and switches, but left off the ovens, about half the light
circuits and switches. The generator panel simply doesn't include
breakers for what wasn't brought over.

Safe way to hook up portable genny to house...
 

On 4/4/14, 1:13 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 04 Apr 2014 12:42:11 -0400, F*O*A*D wrote:

On 4/4/14, 12:24 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 04 Apr 2014 10:53:34 -0400, F*O*A*D wrote:

...this guy seems to have the Right Stuff, properly explained:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkbBt8hv8mQ



Oh, and Herring...just plug it into the dryer outlet.

Basically correct even if the guy is a yacking man. This could have
been a 3 minute show.

This all works if your AHJ is not s prick about how he reads the NEC.


Another issue is the generator is not capable of driving the total
connected load in the first 2 examples he gives and maybe not even
with the sub panel. That violates code if there is not a "qualified"
person doing the load management. (a technicality but still code)



I have a feeling guys who do this don't bother with getting a permit or
an inspection. I know my near neighbor up the street didn't. The guy
across the street got a unit similar to mine, professionally installed.

We sized our unit so it would run the important stuff in the
house...well, fan on gas hot water heater, one heat pump (gas fired with
electric fan for heat), refrigerators, washer but not electric dryer,
dishwasher, igniters on fireplace and gas stovetop, garage, and various
lights and switches, but left off the ovens, about half the light
circuits and switches. The generator panel simply doesn't include
breakers for what wasn't brought over.

What size is it?
I think my BIL has a 25KVA propane at his house. I know it is a big
honking Generac with auto start. It is usually online in about 15
seconds.

I have a 6,5 KVA that still has the factory seals on it. I never
started it in 3 years, nor did the guy who had it for 3 years before
he sold it to me. I also have a propane kit, still in the box.
I have only had one storm in the last 10 years that kept the lights
off for a day (Charlie) and that was still just one night. By lunch
time the next day they were back on.

I have an inlet and a breaker interlock system.



Ours is about 25% smaller than your brother in law's, but it is a
Generac. Popular brand around here...the firehouse uses 'em, too.

Safe way to hook up portable genny to house...
 

On 4/4/14, 1:35 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 04 Apr 2014 13:17:25 -0400, F*O*A*D wrote:

On 4/4/14, 1:13 PM, wrote:


Ours is about 25% smaller than your brother in law's, but it is a
Generac. Popular brand around here...the firehouse uses 'em, too.

Did Stacey sell it to you? (my niece) ;-)

She is mostly commercial but you are in her territory.


I bought the generator from Home Despot and hired the electrical
contractor separately. Company was a union contractor somewhere on the
other side of Annapolis towards Baltimore. His was the middle bid and he
had really good local references, including some commmercial installs.

We have a big generator contractor up the road, but it doesn't like to
deal with homeowners, and its prices reflect that. They're sky high, and
they subcontract out the work. The electrician who showed up to estimate
said if I had called first, the bid would have been about $3000 less.

The gas install is handled separate from the electric around here. My
local propane dealer gave me by far the best price for all the plumbing
work. I paid about $720 and that included the permits, digging a 24"
deep trench 110 feet or so, the wrapped copper piping, the fittings and
valves, connections, test runs, standing around while the inspector
signed off, et cetera, and a hefty discount on the refill of our
500-gallon tank. I already owned the tank. The next lowest bid
was...$2100. And the local guys were union plumbers. The $2100 guy was
not. :)

Safe way to hook up portable genny to house...
 

On Friday, April 4, 2014 1:54:13 PM UTC-4, F*O*A*D wrote:
On 4/4/14, 1:35 PM, wrote:

On Fri, 04 Apr 2014 13:17:25 -0400, F*O*A*D wrote:



On 4/4/14, 1:13 PM, wrote:





Ours is about 25% smaller than your brother in law's, but it is a

Generac. Popular brand around here...the firehouse uses 'em, too.



Did Stacey sell it to you? (my niece) ;-)



She is mostly commercial but you are in her territory.





I bought the generator from Home Despot and hired the electrical

contractor separately. Company was a union contractor somewhere on the

other side of Annapolis towards Baltimore. His was the middle bid and he

had really good local references, including some commmercial installs.



We have a big generator contractor up the road, but it doesn't like to

deal with homeowners, and its prices reflect that. They're sky high, and

they subcontract out the work. The electrician who showed up to estimate

said if I had called first, the bid would have been about $3000 less.



The gas install is handled separate from the electric around here. My

local propane dealer gave me by far the best price for all the plumbing

work. I paid about $720 and that included the permits, digging a 24"

deep trench 110 feet or so, the wrapped copper piping, the fittings and

valves, connections, test runs, standing around while the inspector

signed off, et cetera, and a hefty discount on the refill of our

500-gallon tank. I already owned the tank. The next lowest bid

was...$2100. And the local guys were union plumbers. The $2100 guy was

not. :)

NO ONE GIVES A ****, ****