Portable generator advice

4x4van wrote:

Ski Pro 3 wrote:

pnichols wrote:
Well ... I guess the master panel (the one with the power meter on it) in most homes don't have a master breaker to disconnect the main power company line the meter is in ... from the house circuits??

Mine does, so I just turn off this breaker and then backfeed our 4400 watt roll-around house backup generator .... using a male-plug-on-each-end 240V heavy duty cord ... plugged into a 240V receptacle I had installed in the master panel. The 240V receptacle then makes hot all 120V house circuits. The electric-start 4400 generator runs about 10 hours on a tank of gas. Our master panel for the house is a 200 amp one and is actually outside the house kindof like the power pole on farms and ranches, such that the house is getting treated like an "out-building". Of course this means that when powered by our small 4400 watt generator we have to be careful with what house appliances are turned on at all times - including the water tank pump. County codes allowed our home to be set up this way when be built, so we went this route for more flexibility.

This setup couldn't be simpler - and safe for us and the power company - since I use the master breaker to switch the house off-line from the power company feed during power outages before I connect, and start up, the generator.

I do the same thing except I installed a Male outlet off the panel within a small disconnect lock box. That way I use a male/female extension cord.
I disconnect the main breaker, connect my genny to the male outlet, fire up the genny and let it warm up, then close in the male outlet breaker. I reverse the process once the utility company comes back on line. I have a 'smart' meter and it displays when power is restored. I'd like to figure some way for it to notify me when power does come back instead of having to check every once in a while though.

In order to stay 'legal', I hang a 'Lock Out/Tag Out' on the main breaker. And before anyone says something about risking backfeed, this is all that the electric company requires. I worked for one for over 30 years. There's protocol to always test lines that should be off for genny back feed. Grounds are placed on either side of what ever the utility worker is attending to. If a line becomes hot while he's on it, the grounds will keep him safe. (And trip your genny if it is attached to the grid.)

While what you both (SkiPro3 and pnichols) are doing "works", it is also illegal here in CA (yes, I currently work for an electric company). Why? Because it is still possible for your generator to feed back into the lines. It requires that YOU remember to disconnect from the grid using the main breaker; there is nothing that prevents you from starting the generator while still hooked up to the grid. Legally, you MUST have a transfer switch (manual or auto) that will only allow feed from EITHER the grid OR the generator; Sorry, but a Lock Out Tag does not satisfy that requirement, and for good reason.

My manual approach does require me to be responsible ... but I'm old enough to be used to that approach in how one should live.

P.S. But yep ... you're most likely correct regarding CA regulations. CA does tend to hover over us on a whole bunch of things.