OT: generator for ice storm

[Brian Densmore]

I'd have to say hooking up a generator to your house circuit is 
a pretty dangerous thing. I'm not electrical expert, but I used to 
build mainframes and the power systems that went with them. While it
is possible to do what you are doing, it can easily burn up your house
and fry the electrical worker if you do anything incorrectly. As Duane
said you need to make sure your wire is thick enough. Where he gets the crazy
Idea to drive your house off of 10 gauge wire is beyond me. While it may
be possible, it's (IMO) extremely bad to do. I wouldn't use anything less than 0
cable. Of course it also depends on the length of run from your generator to the
circuit. Anything over 3 feet you'll want to use a heavier gauge than 10 or
risk burning up your house (depending on what kind of current you draw of course.
If you have a 100AMP service and are powering everything from the big screen TV
to the dishwasher,hairdryer,vacumm, power saw, oven, microwave, washer, dryer,
furnace, water heater, 3 bedrooms, two baths, etc. - then things might get pretty
hot. Some generators are designed to do exactly what you are wanting to do.
I'd keep usage to a minimum and unplug any device that is always on (TV, VCR,
many digital electronics), and be discriminate in the use of power. You'll definitely
want do as Duane suggests and check the Hz and voltage coming out. Anything in the
range 50-60 Hz is fine and from 110-120V/220-240 (even 100/200 wouldn't be too bad). 
Be extremely careful and make sure your set up is well grounded and check, double-check
and triple-check that the main is open. Bottom line is there are so many variables that
if your aren't at least proficient with electricity you should never attempt it. It
sounds as if you have some level of competency, but then that can be dangerous in it's own
right.

Brian

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brad 
> 
> This is what I thought as well, but if you read posts on the net about
> it, people get their heads chewed off by people who obviously 
> know more
> than I do about electricity.  I am hoping there is also no danger of
> fire or anything at my home.  It is looking like I may need to do this
> given the looks of things.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Brad
> 
> On Tue, 2005-01-04 at 15:51 -0600, Ben Kelley wrote:
> > I'm in no way an expert, but I have heard about several people doing
> > this w/o any consequences.
> > Also  From what I understand  even if you forgot to throw 
> the main, it
> > shouldn't 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.
> 
> 
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