Wow, there's so much bull here it's almost amazing.

"Pete C." wrote in message
...
....
:
: There is nothing improper or unsafe about a temporary generator
hookup
: when done **by a competent person**. "
=== If that's the basis of your comments, it's silly - these
posts aren't about a vague descrition of a "competent" person.

Throwing the main breaker" is exactly
: what some approved transfer switches do,
=== No, it is not. They connect to or disconnect power from/to
a predetermined path. The main breaker is not "thrown" by the
transfer switch.

they have two very ordinary
: circuit breakers mounted opposite each other and a link bar
between the
: handles. The only difference between this arrangement and the
"turn off
: the main and back feed the dryer circuit" temporary connection
is the
: link bar.
=== Guess you're making apoint here, but not sure what it is.

:
: A competent person
=== Meaningless term again. Vague, not useful or meaningful.
You mean a licensed electrician or more from the sound of it.

switches off and tags the main breaker before they
: even haul out the generator, double checks it again after
turning off
: the dryer circuit breaker and connecting the "suicide cable",
starts the
: generator and then finally reviews the main breaker once more
before
: turning on the dryer circuit breaker to power the panel.
=== Oh, but they don't notify/chase out the neighborhood kids,
pets and others?
:
:
: The fact that the NEC requires generators to be connected
: with isolation switches seems to go right over their heads.
=== No, I haven't seen much evidence of that. Pooly stated
comment and not what I think you meant to say.

: They apparently think it's ok for them to bypass code
: requirements because 'they know what they're doing' and
=== But, if they "know what they're doing", wouldn't that make
them a "competent person"?

: neither them, nor someone else trying to use their generator
: will ever make a mistake! Pretty arrogant attitude if you
: ask me.
=== Yabut, it sounds just like your attitude earlier in this
post.
:
: The NEC requires double throw transfer switches or approved
equivalents
: for permanent generator installations.

A temporary hookup of a portable
: generator in an emergency situation is not within the scope of
the NEC.
: Nothing "arrogant" about not not following code that is not
applicable.
=== True, but ... there are a couple sections of the NEC you're
apparently not familiar with, plus you totally ignore any local
codes in that statement.
:
:
: Bottom line - if you're going to use a generator to energize
: your home do it right! Use an isolation switch! The code
: requires it for the safety of everyone involved!
=== No, use a Transfer Switch. An "isolation" switch in this
context is meaningless.
:
: It is asinine to claim that you should always install a
transfer switch
: in order to connect a generator,
=== No, it is assinine to make the ego-centric statements you've
made, though. Something tells me you only -think- you are a
"competent person". Else you wouldn't try to make most of these
statements.

transfer switches only make sense in
: permanent installations.
=== No, they make a tremendous amount of sense. They make it
easy, quick to do, and about as close to foolproof as you can
make the situation. If Mom's the only one home and the pipes are
freezing, all she has to do is start the generator by pusing the
button, then turn on the power with the transfer switch.
We'd be up and running before your "competent" guy even found
his cordsets.
Our situation isn't quite as neat: Here, you first have to
roll the generator out of the garage and over to the porch, about
5 feet from the garage door, and plug it into the house first.
Quite a hardship, but ... it's reliable and works.

Ice Storm Survivor
Pop

:
: Pete C.