My electricity is still on in Middle TN, no worries. But that may not always be the case in the future!If I have a transfer switch properly installed, is there any reason I can't use the RV generator to power my house?Water heater and range are gas. City water supply, no well pump. Gas furnace with (and this is the critical thing) an electric blower. 1 refrigerator, 1 small chest freezer. Lighting is mostly LED. Google tells me that the furnace blower uses around 400 Watts. I'm going to check with the HVAC dude.The only downside is having the generator running fairly close to the house, but I have multiple CO detectors, and probably would be able to leave it off most of the night.Any input?

How many watts is your genset set?You could run some of the items using a simple extension cord.Furnace is the problem child. If motor is 120 volt, you could install a double pole/ double throw motor switch. Center contacts would be to motor, one input from house panel and one set from short extension cord with 15/20 amp cord body. If motor is 240 then odds are your genset will not handle it.As often as many areas have power issues it would not be cost effective to rewire house system to add transfer panel for a few circuits.

use mine every time powers drops for a long time. I just use ext cords.

You certainly can use an RV generator as a generator backup for a house, of course within the limits of the generator's capacity and so forth. Of course, that does require having appropriate connections and interlocks (which could be as simple as running a couple extension cords to specific things you want to run).A great many, though not quite all, RV generators are not wired for 240V power. It doesn't sound as though you have any 240V loads you're looking to supply with it, so that probably would not be a big difficulty.

3000 watts should run that house fine. Electrician will probably put the critical items on a 120v sub panel in addition to installing a switch and a power inlet to connect power.

Be aware many RV generators do not provide 240 volts, so you won't be able to run any appliances that call for it, such as most deep well water pumps, etc.

Using RV generator as backup for house? | Good Sam Community

red31
Explorer
Feb 25, 2021
interlock (all double breakers OFF)

Power Inlet 30 Amp Twist Lock Nema 3R L14-30

AC WORKS brand orange locking adapter (ADTTL1430) is very durable with a new sleek design. It is a NEMA TT-30P to NEMA L14-30. The NEMA TT-30P is a 30 Amp, 3-prong RV male plug. The NEMA L14-30 is a 30 Amp, 125/250 Volt, 4-prong locking female connector and has two hots bridged. This product contains nickel-plated pins and terminals to prevent rusting and a power indicator light. The maximum operating power is 3750 Watts.

TT30 RV extension cord

generator (3500/4000 or single or paralleled 1800/2000 inverter gens)

possible upgrade to 30A 240v gen or dual 50A breakers/input with larger generator
stevenal
Nomad II
Feb 25, 2021
Veebyes wrote:
Make sure that the switch is OFF when on your genny. Trying to back feed the whole grid won't go well at all.

Making sure by telling folks to make sure does not meet code. An interlock can physically make sure in a code compliant way. See https://www.amazon.com/Challenger-Generator-Interlock-Anodized-Aluminum/dp/B086Q1PBXS/ref=asc_df_B086Q1PBXS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=459726133897&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16156014348599320472&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033005&hvtargid=pla-945755535038&psc=1 for an interlock that will fit one brand of panel.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Feb 25, 2021
No reason why not. Treat the house like a big RV & be aware of what is on & what is not.

You will need to run a sizeable guage line from the genny to house panel. Connect on the house side of the main panel switch. Make sure that the switch is OFF when on your genny. Trying to back feed the whole grid won't go well at all.

A 3000W genny should power the average home no problem but turn big power hogs such as A/C or electric heat circuits off to be sure. My 3000W portable genny runs everything in my hose just fine, two smallish water heaters & a shallow well pump included. It has been put to good use during hurricane power failures a number of times.
ktmrfs
Explorer II
Feb 25, 2021
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Jeezo
High current starting
Split phase

Most of the higher efficency gas furnaces (>75% or so) have gone to variable speed digital controlled motors. starting currents are way down from the old single or two speed split phase used in past years.

So.... depends on how new your furnace is.

On our furnace with variable speed fan and two stage gas total running current varies between 250W and 695W depending on fan speed, 1st or 2nd stage gas and static pressure. Don't know what the starting current is.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Feb 24, 2021
Jeezo
High current starting
Split phase
2112
Explorer II
Feb 24, 2021
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Having never lived with 200-amp service

Furnace fans for gas...

Are they 240 vac?
Mine has 2 blowers, both 120V.

The typical squirrel cage blower to move the warm air into the living area takes 30A to start and runs at about 6A. The draft inducer blower to create negative pressure in the unit uses 6A to start and a little over 2A to run.
ktmrfs
Explorer II
Feb 24, 2021
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Having never lived with 200-amp service

Furnace fans for gas...

Are they 240 vac?

well, it depends. Most gas furnaces run on a dedicated 120V circuit per code. Usually a 20A. However there are exceptions. The "gas pack" external combined furnace/AC unit are usually 240V input, since that is what is needed for the AC side.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Feb 24, 2021
Having never lived with 200-amp service

Furnace fans for gas...

Are they 240 vac?
BruceMc
Explorer III
Feb 24, 2021
You got your white wire...
You got your black wire...
You got your green wire...

Uh... what's this red wire for????

B^)
Mike134
Explorer
Feb 24, 2021
2oldman wrote:
I don't know how you hook a furnace up to an extension cord.

You've never seen the magic we can do to keep our a** warm when we are building a house. Really quite simple for an electrician.

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