Generator suggestion

[Frank Magdefrau]

What size/type generator would you recommend that will start up and run a home that is equipped up to a 5 ton air conditioning system for a period long enough to perform a full home inspection?

[Larry D. Kage]

Somewhere around 18kw to 20kw for the 5 ton AC plus whatever else the home requirements are.

http://www.allworlddieselgen.com/faq.htm

[Jim Port]

How do you plan to make the connections between the genset and the house panel?

[Frank Magdefrau]

Originally Posted by Jim Port

How do you plan to make the connections between the genset and the house panel?

Back feed through the dryer plug.

[Michael Roberson]

Another idea: Hook right into the panel through a breaker, Bring your own if you have to. Be sure the main disconnect is off.

[Frank Magdefrau]

Originally Posted by mroberson

Another idea: Hook right into the panel through a breaker, Bring your own if you have to. Be sure the main disconnect is off.

Allot of the homes have fuse panels.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Sounds sort of risky to me. What if the power is off at the house for a valid reason and you come along and energize it. Better put 911 on speed dial!

[John Onofrey]

This is an idea that could very likely end very badly so let's give Frank all the help we can. JK, lol

Frank are you seriously gonna lug a 20 kva generator around and try to back feed it into service panels? If so, pass me some of what you are smoking because I'm having trouble visualizing this.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by fmagdefrau

Back feed through the dryer plug.

If the house AC and all other needs for the inspection happen to hit teh suggested 18 kW, that will be a draw of 75 amps @ 240 volts.......hopefully the 30 amp dryer breaker works as some dryer wire may get fried.

My advice: don't do it!!

Hire an electrician to do this so he will have the liability when something goes wrong!!! Have the electrician remove the meter from the meter box also......can't be too safe......the linemen will respect you!!

[Robert Meier]

Back feeding a dryer plug is a horrible idea not to mention illegal. Forget to turn off the main and your 120/240 volt generator is sending 7200 volts back over the primary line that someone may be working on to restore the power. A transfer switch or some sort of breaker interlock is what you should use. When using an automatic transfer switch (ATS) the generator is required to be large enough to carry the entire connected load. A manual transfer switch allows the user to select loads as he chooses.

As others have advised I would suggest consulting a licensed electrician before you open yourself up to a huge amount of liability.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by Robert Meier

Back feeding a dryer plug is a horrible idea not to mention illegal. Forget to turn off the main and your 120/240 volt generator is sending 7200 volts back over the primary line that someone may be working on to restore the power. A transfer switch or some sort of breaker interlock is what you should use. When using an automatic transfer switch (ATS) the generator is required to be large enough to carry the entire connected load. A manual transfer switch allows the user to select loads as he chooses.

As others have advised I would suggest consulting a licensed electrician before you open yourself up to a huge amount of liability.

I didn't mention that as everyone on this thread should know that.......but it appeared that it was going to happen anyways......so I tried to protect the linemen.....remove the meter socket as a disconnect!!

[Robert Meier]

Originally Posted by Brian A. MacNeish

I didn't mention that as everyone on this thread should know that.......but it appeared that it was going to happen anyways......so I tried to protect the linemen.....remove the meter socket as a disconnect!!

Yes your idea will offer protection to the linemen but IMO cutting the seal or lock off of the meter enclosure is also a poor idea when you should be installing the system correctly to begin with. Also plugging the meter back live when the utility power is restored isn't such a great idea either.

[Stephen W. Stanczyk]

I thought Forest Gump was from Alabama. I guess dumb ideas transcend state borders.

Stupid is as stupid does.

[Jim Port]

I understood that this was only for while the inspection was in progress but, there is no way to run that kind of load thru the dryer plug even if it were legal to do. Find another way to do this or disclaim it.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by Robert Meier

Yes your idea will offer protection to the linemen but IMO cutting the seal or lock off of the meter enclosure is also a poor idea when (1) you should be installing the system correctly to begin with. Also (2) plugging the meter back live when the utility power is restored isn't such a great idea either.

(1) How much will it cost to install a generator transfer switch for a 3-4 hour inspection?

(2) if the house disconnect is in the "off" position, no current will be drawn. I've seen a meter replaced by the utility with the triplex still intact at the masthead. I did not see them disconnect the triplex at the transformer.