OT: generator for ice storm

[Ben Kelley]

I'm in no way an expert, but I have heard about several people doing
this w/o any consiquinces.
Also  From what I understand  even if you forgot to throw the main, it
shouldnt be a real problem unless a lineman happens to be working
nearby,  this is what is know as feeding the grid,  pushing power back
to the electrical grid.  Lots of off grid solar equipped people are
doing this, and in most cases get a check from their power company for
supplying power back to the grid.  Also I heard a story about the
Sprint being asked to run their generators at the campus during the
day to generate their own power, and at night connect to the grid and
feed power back to the power company.
But that is all hearsay.

So in my _nonexpert opinion_,  as long as you disconnect the main, you
shouldnt have any problems  powering your home.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Brad <brad at bradandkim.net>
Date: Tue, 04 Jan 2005 14:35:19 -0600
Subject: OT: generator for ice storm
To: kclug at kclug.org


This is way off topic, but related to a recent thread.  I have a 5500
watt generator that might see some usage tonight or tomorrow.  In the
2002 ice storm I fed the 240 out of the generator and into my ac 2 pole
breaker to feed the electrical panel in the house.  I threw the main
while doing this and had no problems.  Now, thinking about the coming
storm I was looking at the possibility of doing this again.  Everything
you read on the the Internet says you are crazy for doing this and risk
frying your generator, killing a linesman, or burning down your house.
My question for you electrical whizzes is if I absolutely, positively
remember to throw the main when doing this, what are the real dangers
then.  Is it just warned against because someone _might_ forget to throw
the main or are there dangers even if the main is thrown.

TIA,

Brad
--

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