Generator

[Drowned Rat]

Hi guys. Wondering if someone can tell me if it's possible to hook up a small generator, 3500watts, to a house. I know it's not enough power to supply the whole house, but can it be done? The gen. does have a 220V output 4 wire. Thanks for your help.

 

[ndemge]

Re: Generator

You will need a transfer switch. but sure, can be done. Transfer switch does a couple things: First, keeps you from killing the lineman that might be down the street when you energize the lines.... and when the power comes back on, keeps from blowing stuff up, like your genset.

 

[divo]

Re: Generator

Yep, need a transfer switch/gen panel. Can usually build your own pretty darn cheap (much cheaper than a premade) if ya have some basic electrical skills and the correct info.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Generator

As long as it is hooked directly to an appliance and not tied into your outlets then you will not need any fancy switches.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Generator

Thanks for the help guys. I had thought I could at least run the central air with this thing and nothing else, but the surge wattage FAR exceeds this generators capacity. A website I found said that a 15 ton unit uses about 15,000 watts on startup!! Does that sound right to you guys? The running wattage was only about 3200. Anyway, extension cords it is.

 

[ndemge]

Re: Generator

Get yourself a window unit to keep one room comfortable.<br /><br />Or go get yerself a big ole genny

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Generator

Dayum....Thats one he!! of an AC unit ya got there DR. That would cool 6/8 thousand sq ft. Your gonna need about 20KW to keep up with that monster.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Generator

Make sure you use an extension cord rated for the load you are putting on it. I have a 3500w & use it when the hurricanes pop through s. Florida.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Generator

Oh and yes you can hook the generator up to the house. Make sure that you pull the meter can though so that there is no backfeed through the powerlines.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Generator

Couldn't you just open the main circuit breaker going to the house and then hook up the generator "downstream" of it? There's no way it could backfeed then. Okay here's another question. If you put a multitester on each side of the main breaker bus, you get 220V. So, out of the genny, the red wire would go to one side and the black to the other. Where does the ground and white wire coming out of the genny go? The ground wire, I "a$$-u-me", could go to any ground, but what about the white wire? I know, if I have to ask... I just want to understand how this whole thing works. I have a little experience wiring 110V, but nothing with 220V.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Generator

Okay, after doing a little research, the white wire goes to the neutral bar and the ground wire goes to the ground bar. So... How do you identify the ground bar from the neutral bar? Also, some websites I found said the bars may be tied together at the main circuit panel, how would you identify that?