Use onboard Onan to power house in emergency?
So I was thinking, hey, I got a fancy schmancy Onan, built right into the camper, so why would I need to buy some portable unit to run various things in the house during an emergency?! So I grab my...
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There are a few ways to skin this cat and be up to code standards:
1: A circuit breaker interlock. This puts the incoming generator at the top right breaker, a device that only allows the main switch or the generator switch to be on, never both, and the top right breaker goes to a -male- connector on the outside. No widow maker cable needed, ever.
2: A sub-panel as mentioned above.
3: A manual transfer switch.
4: An automatic transfer switch. This is the easiest because one can just fire up the generator, let it warm up, plug it in, and the ATS takes over from there. When power comes back on, the ATS swaps back to mains lines.
I like the sub-panel or transfer switches because it is a lot more idiot-resistant than the interlock (as the interlock can fall off), but all of these are generally approved by electrical code in all areas.
Of course, one can run extension cords from the generator inside the house as well.
Backfeeding isn't a good idea. Those step-down transformers by the house? They will step up the voltage down the power lines when backfed.
1: A circuit breaker interlock. This puts the incoming generator at the top right breaker, a device that only allows the main switch or the generator switch to be on, never both, and the top right breaker goes to a -male- connector on the outside. No widow maker cable needed, ever.
2: A sub-panel as mentioned above.
3: A manual transfer switch.
4: An automatic transfer switch. This is the easiest because one can just fire up the generator, let it warm up, plug it in, and the ATS takes over from there. When power comes back on, the ATS swaps back to mains lines.
I like the sub-panel or transfer switches because it is a lot more idiot-resistant than the interlock (as the interlock can fall off), but all of these are generally approved by electrical code in all areas.
Of course, one can run extension cords from the generator inside the house as well.
Backfeeding isn't a good idea. Those step-down transformers by the house? They will step up the voltage down the power lines when backfed.
