What’s the safest way to connect a portable generator to a house.?
Question by Fivi: What’s the safest way to connect a portable generator to a house.?
On occasion I do home repairs on houses that have no power because homes are in foreclosure etc… What’s the quickest & safest way to repeatedly connect to a portable generator to a main panel. Would like to know proper equipment & procedures if possible.Thank you in advance.
Best answer:
Answer by sensible_man
You would need an automatic transfer switch. This is required any time a generator is hooked up to a house that still has electric company lines running to it. Disconnecting the main feed would work, but be a real pain.
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Best and fastest way is to go to the main disconnect outside of home and connect to the main breaker. I would use some heavy duty alligator clips and make me a pig tail that would connect to the output of the generator and clip straight to the main. Now doing this you will have a power loss but will be able to run lights and small machines like a drill, vacuum etc. all over the house. Your generator is outside so no noise or exhaust fumes to deal with. Just make sure you use heavy enough clips and wire size. Easy
Use extension cords, do not hook to the main power panel. The only way is have a qualified professional electrician to install a temporary system. If you connect to the house panel, you need permits, inspections and a transfer panel. A portable generator in many jurisdictions is not considered to need an inspection if it is below a certain size. Contact the local AHJ for their requirements.
Buy an appropriate sized extension lead about 50 foot long.
Put generator matching plug on one end and heavy duty “alligator” clips on other. (Be sure to color code them!)
Run line to main panel IN THE HOUSE, turn OFF main breaker, remove cover.
IF there is a double “vacancy” in the breaker strip connect clips there, IF not, remove a breaker and connect. (For 110/220 you need to remove a 220 double breaker or 2-110 singles. IF singles they MUST be on different “legs”! The circuits on removed breakers will NOT have power.)
Be sure to remove connections AND replace cover whenever leaving premises.
I specified the panel INSIDE the house for 2 reasons.
1. According to code, ANY “auxiliary” power connection at the “access” panel is required to have a transfer switch to prevent power being fed back into the lines leading to the premises. (THESE switches are EXPENSIVE!!)
(THIS is ALSO why you want the MAIN breaker INSIDE OFF. FOR SAFETY!!)
2. MANY times the outside panel has a seal on the cover which you do NOT want to remove. (In SOME cases, removal is illegal if done by anyone other than the power company or electrical inspector.)
That leaves your generator OUTSIDE, and your connections INSIDE where they are protected from weather.
There is no quick and easy in SAFEST. I you connect to the main panel you have the possibility of putting LIVE electricity back down the grid … If you are asking such a question, you are Obviously not an Electrician so DO NOT MESS WITH IT … Use leads for your saws, drills etc …
Kindest John
Yeah bro–listen to the pro’s. Don’t mess with the panel. Be happy with your generator and scatterbox’s. You backfeed the main to the grid and you could kill a Lineman. Worse still, he’s up on the pole and figures out that your backfeeding–he’ll plug you back into the grid and your little generator will eat 10,000 volts whether it likes it or not!!–lol
I strongly agree with JimW and John. I’m no Electrician but I have used my generator many times. Be safe. I just run a heavy gage extension cord from the generator (outside) to inside and daisy chain a cord or two to essential appliances (sump pump, fridge, freezer, some lights, etc.).
Working in foreclosed, abandoned homes, I’d be especially worried about powering up the elec panel. There may be dangerous surprises.
If working in one particular room, you could run a cord to power the tools you will need. If you need heat, there are reasonable portable electric heaters that will let you work; also a number of “clean” kerosene heaters if there is some window venting available. If it’s too hot, hook up a fan.
In any case, the FIRST thing I would do is pull the Main Breaker before touching anything else. Be safe and don’t get in trouble.