Using camper generator to power items in house

MrWizard wrote:
The point of the warnings
Is it doesn't matter legally or morally what the lineman safety precautions are

Its illegal and just wrong
To back feed your house without disconnecting the utility power lines some how
Put in a switch, pull the meter out
Or use extension cords to different items, use table lamps, portable heat, small TV

X2

The point of the warnings
Is it doesn't matter legally or morally what the lineman safety precautions are

Its illegal and just wrong
To back feed your house without disconnecting the utility power lines some how
Put in a switch, pull the meter out
Or use extension cords to different items, use table lamps, portable heat, small TV

FlatBroke wrote:
Guess there in no such thing as a plugin auto transfer switch?

Yes, I posted about one earlier:

"I had a Generlink installed at my house. Not the cheapest thing to do, but about as idiot proof as you are ever going to get with electricity, and recommended by the electric company for generators - needs to be installed by an electrician to conform to code (as far as I know). It basically plugs into your electric meter. It is a fancy shut off switch with a generator socket. When there is a power outage, the Generlink isolates the house from street power. You plug in your generator, start it up, and you are running off the generator. When street power comes back on, Generlink stops it from feeding your house until you shut down your generator and unplug. Then you are back to normal street power.


http://www.generlink.com/ "

Guess there in no such thing as a plugin auto transfer switch?

Dave H M wrote:
i don't think you folks that are aware of the safety ground requirement for linemen will ever dispel the back feed killer urban legend.

That sounds more reasonable to me.

wnjj wrote:

drsteve wrote:

wnjj wrote:
Any time the lineman have worked on the wires near my place, they ground the lines out by connecting a jumper before they touch anything.

Even then, accidents can happen...

Lineman killed by backfeeding generator.

Not even then. In the case you posted, they didn't use the ground, which is one of the things the company was fined for.

oshrc.gov article wrote:
Item 1b of citation no. 2 alleges a willful violation of 29 C. F. R. § 1910.269(n)(3) for failing to ensure temporary protective grounds were placed at such locations and arranged in such a manner as to prevent each employee from being exposed to hazardous differences in electrical potential.

The last storm when I lost power, a tree had come down on the lines feeding my house along with 2 neighbors. You could clearly see the blown open fuse at the main connection. The tree cutting crew didn't leave their truck until the line truck showed up to completely remove the fuse holder and ground the wire.

Yeah, I read the report before I posted it. The point is, sometimes safety measures are not properly followed, for whatever reason. In this case it sounds like the crew was unaware that there was another line involved. Which is why they don't want people energizing their lines with jury rigged generator hookups.

i don't think you folks that are aware of the safety ground requirement for linemen will ever dispel the back feed killer urban legend. :h

Just why would a lineman who is getting paid by the hour show total disregard for his personal safety plus violate company procedures big time? Yo Darwin!

Don't get me wrong on the subject. i would never advocate endangering or showing disregard for electrical workers or anyone else.

drsteve wrote:

wnjj wrote:
Any time the lineman have worked on the wires near my place, they ground the lines out by connecting a jumper before they touch anything.

Even then, accidents can happen...

Lineman killed by backfeeding generator.

Not even then. In the case you posted, they didn't use the ground, which is one of the things the company was fined for.

oshrc.gov article wrote:
Item 1b of citation no. 2 alleges a willful violation of 29 C. F. R. § 1910.269(n)(3) for failing to ensure temporary protective grounds were placed at such locations and arranged in such a manner as to prevent each employee from being exposed to hazardous differences in electrical potential.

The last storm when I lost power, a tree had come down on the lines feeding my house along with 2 neighbors. You could clearly see the blown open fuse at the main connection. The tree cutting crew didn't leave their truck until the line truck showed up to completely remove the fuse holder and ground the wire.

time2roll wrote:

wnjj wrote:
Any time the lineman have worked on the wires near my place, they ground the lines out by connecting a jumper before they touch anything.

Of course. This is because there are unthinking homeowners and other hazards out there.

The primary protection of back feed is a transfer switch or approved lock-out device.
Not the jumper.

Never was implying it was meant to be the sole device. I'm just surprised there are still lineman who work on "cold" wires using only faith or a one time test.

wnjj wrote:
Any time the lineman have worked on the wires near my place, they ground the lines out by connecting a jumper before they touch anything.

Of course. This is because there are unthinking homeowners and other hazards out there.

The primary protection of back feed is a transfer switch or approved lock-out device.
Not the jumper.