Edit: I was not expecting a sticky and such an outpouring of support. I've decided to try and find an electrician after much suggestion. Thank you for the love and support. You guys are awesome!
Weird question.
My fusebox is in my basement, where I've pretty much stocked up for Armageddon. I'm wary of letting an electrician into my home to install fuses and switches for my power generator so I'm thinking about doing the install myself.
I was wondering if anyone might be able to assist or provide a step by step with my set up?
Thank you
I know we have some handy fellas here… stick for exposure
Their is an easier route, just plug stuff directly into the generatior. That what I do,it's much simpler,and works better as I have a small generator.
I hire off of friends with the same thought process . If that fails hire Amish if they are around! They are smart hard working people that want no parts of our government! I received lots of compliments from the Amish on my homestead and they love Trump! Great discussion between us all!
This comment strangely made me very happy. Amish seem to be the most understated people in this discussion!
The Amish seem ok, I'd love to have them help out if I were trying to build a barn... But electricity?
Haven't you seen those amish made electrical fireplaces?
I suspect that's what OP will get if they try to install his generator...
They will complete a house start to finish, and yes that includes electrical!
Lost a coworker in a storm to this. Do not back feed transformers!
^This. I made a similar yet much less technical response. Could also kill kids with downed lines sitting in streets after a hurricane or ice storm.
damn I wish I could have you do some electrical work at my house. I have one room without power. Prob just need to replace the breaker for the room but im scared
A breaker was never designed to be tripped repeatedly. To put this delicately, if you use a breaker as you would a light switch, after about 20 uses; it isn't a breaker any more. It de-rates quickly. The first dozen trips at 20 AMPs at say, 15 seconds
They depend upon heat deforming a bi-metal component, under a spring load. Ideally, they only trip a half-dozen times in their life. If it's tripping often, it's pretty easy and quick to replace. They sell them in the hardware section of most stores. I'm just a digital design Electrical Engineer, this is NOT my specialty. They are designed such that a home owner can swap one out for another. I would talk to an electrician and get an opinion on your use case, but I would swap that breaker out if it's tripping often. i would also look at what my load on that circuit is, and do what I could to split that load up.
Yea the breaker isnt tripping at all, just no power to a room in a 4 bedroom house. No other room affected.. no power to all outlets in that one room. Breaker never tripped really, I just noticed one day it lost power. I have tried resetting entire panel to no avail. Could me using excess power in another room cause this?
Ive seen utility company workers at my electrical box outside and noticed they put the new smart home shit on it. Nothing I can do about that.
You probably have a GFCI outlet that feeds that room. If your breaker hasn't tripped and there is no power to the outlets in that room, there is probably one GFCI outlet up stream that has tripped and has cut off all the outlets downstream. Check for a GFCI outlet that needs to be reset. GFCI outlets can and do go bad, so it may need to be replaced.
I have seen this with a Ground Fault that tripped in my Garage.
I would strongly suggest looking into this, as this could be a very bad thing. You have 20 Amps at 120 Vac (2,400 Watts of power) going "somewhere" and you don't know where, or how it's ending. It could be something as innocuous as a wire nut that came loose. Or, it could be a wire that has been somehow cut, and may be intermittently sparking - and set your home on fire.
It could be a lose wire at the fuse box, but this is something I would dig into. Uncontrolled power is a disaster waiting to happen.
Embarrassed to admit this but it was an unplugged smoke detector that was the culprit :/ issue fixed after 4 months
Nothing to be embarrassed about. Power flowing, and accounted for. That's much better than an unknown sparking behind drywall, just waiting to set a 2x4 aflame.
Umm... did you try turning the breaker back on?
Yea i think the breaker needs to be replaced but not sure I use a ton of power in one room so that may be it.
It is possible that you cooked the breaker, more likely it's just too much current for the one breaker. Just as well to do some tests, and see how much can be plugged in before the breaker trips.
Might save some cash over an electrician.
yea the room im using "a lot" of power in isnt having issues
I bought some testing equipment to prod around but need a digital voltmeter
The room is tied to the smoke alarms on the circuit breaker board...wonder if their connection is the issue.
Edit: Solved my own problem. unplugged smoke detector in one room.
Here's a nice site for resources https://www.geninterlock.com/
You know, for 'not an electrician' this is a surprisingly complete and, AFAICT, accurate description.
Most places, if you're connecting a generator along the main, will require you to install an interlock so that the main can ONLY be powered by the grid or the generator at any given time. There's a range of reasons for this, and you covered the important ones.
It’s dangerous to attempt this if you don’t have a working knowledge of electricity, basically a shock, or electrocution issue, also a fire hazard if shorting or using the wrong gauge wiring. I’d personally hire an electrician an stay with him. Cover things in your basement with sheets that you don’t want him to see.
A bigger issue in addition to electrocution or fire is that insurance will screw you over for any DIY that may cause a fire.
This right here... just cover everything up with sheets.
He should get it professionally done. Either move and/or cover the rations. I know it’s inconvenient, but for a variety of reasons he shouldn’t be messing around with the electrical box.
Electricity is not a hobby.
Get a licensed electrician.
(Get a referral from someone that you know)
This is why I got into ham radio.
I do my own electrics, always have. However, due to 'regulations' I have to get a certified electrician to sign off my work as safe.
That saves me a shed load of money, I know it's done right (and clean) and insurance isn't affected as it's been inspected and signed off.
This is the way for me too. I have thought about just getting my electricians license anyway. Quite simply, I don't trust anyone else's workmanship. I do work with electricity professionally, just not as an electrician. I also use better materials than most electricians have access to due to the military grade shipboard connectors, breakers, boxes and cabling. All connectors have to defeat vibration and shock and must be built to ruggedized standards. All switchboxes and powerpanels have to be water resistant or watertight. They do cost a lot more money, but i work with the vendors we buy from for work and they will generally give me a discount when I explain what I am trying to do.
Yes I would like to help. Would need few pictures and would need to talk on the phone
You guys are a bunch of wimps advising him to get a pro. My dad is not an electrician, but he has rewires 3 different houses. It’s not rocket science. Just do some research.
There are laws, unfortunately with building codes that kind of get in the way.
Are you talking about a dedicated diesel generator, or something like a portable petrol generator?
If it's the latter, it's possible to just plug it into your mains ring (after ensuring the primary link to the grid is disconnected at your fusebox).
If it's the former, you need expert advice - but there are plenty of forums out there - just don't go on to them until you have enough knowledge that you are 'clarifying' some points - because they will likely just tell you to get a professional in otherwise :)
The transfer switch can be installed outside but it still requires access to the main panel and if you still have fuses and not breakers thats a whole other issue.
Another simpler way is to shut off the main breaker for your house and then use a dryer plug to back feed into the 240v receptacle. JUST MAKE SURE YOU TURN THE MAIN BREAKER OFF.
I wouldn't recommend doing it unless you have no other choice. Putting in a transfer switch would be a good way to go, but yes, an interlock panel is a less expensive, albeit safer alternative.
This is especially important to remember if you are in the middle of a power cut.
Not only will you be powering your neighbours house, you will get a nasty surprise when the grid comes back online :)
And light up the lines needing service, possibly killing a lineman. Transformers work in both directions.
Don't they have breakers in the transformers before it gets to the high voltage lines to prevent just a scenario?
No. The generator would only produce a small amperage and never trip their fuse, but high line voltage still the same. 7200,13500 your a dead man.
Also, the amount of current needed to induce a deadly heart attack is barely enough to light a single tiny LED (like the one in your computer showing the power is on). As in, the LED will hardly light up enough to see (and some won't even turn on at all).
1 milliamp for one second across the heart is all that is needed to stop beating. Anything greater than 60Vdc can penetrate the skin and cause a shock. AC requires even less voltage to penetrate the skin, due to capacitive reactance. Not much less, but enough to be aware of.
No
[Transfer switch](Reliance Controls 31410CRK Pro/Tran 10-Circuit 30 Amp Generator Transfer Switch Kit,Gray https://a.co/d/8idEa8s)
Easy to install yourself. Just follow simple YouTube videos. Just installed mine a month ago
Most electricians I know are based patriots. Most working men seem to be, well around where I live anyway.. And the ones who install backup generators already have seen what a prepper is. Our electrician said they had installed a ton of backup generators in the past few years. Also, if they happen to not be awake yet, maybe seeing your stockpile and preparedness will get the old gears going and they’ll start to pay attention.
Fuck a permit
exactly^ if anything goes wrong because of his 'stubbornness' conservative people would be the ones cleaning up the mess.
happens all the time, people making foolish decisions, taking time and resources away from others.
The electrician doesn't care bro
the electrician probably has more stuff in his own house.
Get an electrician take care of it. If you don't know what you're doing it's better to let an expert do it. They're licensed and insured and if something goes wrong it's on them. I had mine done be a local guy and told me that he can't keep up with business because everyone wants a generator. He was very based and hates BidAn with a passion. Parts like inter-lock's are i high demand and are back ordered. Pay the money to have it done by a professional.
If you have an incoming service isolator you may be able to do it, but if you have nothing but incoming fuselinks you would have to pull them to make dead the wiring between the incomer and your first fuseboard, because that is where your changeover switch will need to go. In the UK you are not permitted to remove the fuselinks (they have anti-tamper tags) yourself. You will need the changeover switch (automated or not) to integrate the generator so you can swap to generator power if/when the grid goes off, or when you choose to run on generator only. This is inserted prior to that first fuseboard, so the issue is making the feed to the fuseboard dead first.
You can pull the fuselinks but need to take precautions as you will be getting close to and exposing live terminals while they are removed. Rubber gloves, eye protection for the possible sparks (turn everything off first), a rubber mat and boots, and then refitting the covers being careful not to get close to the live terminals.
The thing is with those live terminals, they are not fused and the shock you get will be long lasting and will only go off when the distribution fuses go, which will take a long while, enough to potentially melt your branch of the network. Plenty of hazards, not like mistakes after your fuseboard which will disconnect quickly thanks to your fuses (still bad) or your RCD (quite quick and relatively safe to make a mistake)
so, watch out, know the risks.
Why do you still have fuses? Circuit breakers work better and you don't have to find outdated fuses from a supply chain that is dying. don't do this yourself. For safety purposes you need special switches to make sure you are not powering downed lines that could kill an electrical line worker. I am sure there are many people here that know the in's and outs.
I am a licensed electrical contractor in the State of Oklahoma. I would be more than happy to help you. I can give you my phone number if you like.
I did mine myself. Get a generator interlock kit. It allows you to back feed generator electricity safely to your panel. Basically it is a switch that will allow only one thing… main breaker on and generator feed off, or generator feed on while main breaker off. Purpose for this is so that no elec. feeds back into the street and electrifies a pole worker. You can find tons of install vids online (mujoo tube) on how to do safely. You just need to install a spare 30amp (or 50 depending on generator size) in slot right next to your main breaker so that both switches will toggle on/off in tandem. I bought my interlock kit for $70 online, the inlet box to install on the side of the house was another $50, and the six gauge wire which was around $18. 5$ for the 30 amp breaker. Aside from that, the rest was tools i already owned.
You can also go the transfer switch route, but the switch alone can run you up to $500 and you would still need the wire, and inlet box+ instsll which requires more wire swapping….
Good luck
Just pay the electrician. If you are that scared of spies... You'd probably already been taken out..
Are you installing a outlet to connect a portable generator to run the house or a permanent setup with auto transfer switch?
The portable route is the easiest to install. You basically need an interlock for your panel so you cannot have the generator feed on at the same time as the main breaker.
I am an Electrical Contractor and hold 2 licenses. Where do you live? I’ll fly out, do the install, and won’t tell anybody about your stash.
Don't do it yourself. Just go to home depot, lowes, ace etc. And go to the painting section, there are huge rolls of paper for each. Use that or a tarp and cover it all. Hire an electrician, and watch over hi., you can just act curious, maybe get him a drink.
There are a lot of people experienced enough to do this themselves without a professional. The fact that you are asking this question tells me that you are most likely not one of these people. Do not do this yourself...hire a pro.
Have a pro install. Installing incorrect can allow power to backfeed in the power lines, which can risk repair personnel down the line in the event of an outage.
Haven’t done review research but this seems like a fairly simple install.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/GenerLink-30-Amp-Meter-Mounted-Transfer-Switch-MA23-N/301961623#overlay
Could be an option for almost plug and play.
Buy some of the cheap medium canvas from the painting area at home depot/Lowes, ACE Hardware, etc..
If you are concerned about a stranger seeing what you have stockpiled, cover it with the canvas and set some crap on the canvas. It' s cheap, and canvas can be used later for band-aids, filtering water, making bags to haul stuff, window or door screens to let a breeze through - you get the idea.
Having a professional do the heavy duty electricity is a good idea, I strongly support it. Won't do you any good if it fails when the SHTF, or worse, it catches fire. Thumbs up for having the testicular fortitude to ask, when you weren't sure. That is a hallmark a real man.
I can help walk you through it.
First things first.
What are you trying to install, what do you want it to do, and when you say fuse box....are you takking breakers or actual fuses?
You are "wary" for a reason. If you have no more knowledge of generators and electricity than you are presently demonstrating, my advice is DO NOT install a generator yourself. There are way too many bad things that can happen, to you and to others. Everything involved from sizing the generator and wiring, to interfacing with the electrical service and distribution panel NEED to be done correctly. Is there anything involved that you can't do? No, it's just that all of it needs to be right. Hire a licensed electrician for your safety and peace of mind.
He could do all of the legwork himself (pour the pad, set the generator, pull lines) and then bring in electrician for the balance. Just offhand tell the guy that your college daughter is moving apartments and you're storing her extra furniture/stuff (under the sheets) until she gets settled. So long as he doesn't see bunches of ammo boxes stashed in plain sight, regular re-used boxes from toilet paper, booze and cereal on the front row wouldn't arouse any suspicion.
You have to have a "switch over" box between your meter and your house box. I would get a qualified electrician to install everything. If your house burns down your insurance will not cover unless it was installed by someone with a license. Just a word of caution.!