On Wed, 07 Jan 2004 15:10:15 GMT, "Ryan"
wrote:

We have an rural machine shed (100 amp single phase) mostly used to store
farm vehicles and also is our workshop where we have the mill, lathe,
welder, etc. It is prone to power outages more and more these days and at we
seem to be working in there everyday so it obviously becomes very
inconvenient when the power is out. As it turns out, we are one of three
properties in a rural area that has "easily tripped" power. We are always
the first to lose power, and the last to get it back up. I'm not sure what
they call it, but the part they always have to fix is on a power pole a few
miles up the road from us, and it looks kind of like a paper clip. Anyways,
usually the power flickers for a bit, then poof, it is off until they send a
service truck out to repair it.

So last month we bought a 7500 watt generator to make life smoother and at
least keep the heat and lights on Here is where my question comes in. Some
of the people around here say you can go to the breaker panel and turn off
the main breaker (from the grid) and make a "cheater plug" to back-feed the
breaker panel thru a 240volt outlet (of which we have several "welder" plugs
that would be ideal for this). What are the thoughts of the group to do
something like this? I understand it is a shortcut, but if one was sensible
about it is this a viable temporary option over the "transfer switch" the
local electrician wants 1000 bucks to install?

Thanks in advance to all helpful posters, Ryan

A bad idea Ryan. Way bad. You can buy and install your own transfer
switch for lots less than $1000.00 if you are able to wire up a plug.
My neighbor wired his up the cheater way. I told him this is really
stupid, someone could get shocked. Months later, he is at work and his
wife calls me to start the generator because the lights were
flickering and she wanted to be ready. When I got there the cheater
cord was not plugged in to the generator. She said it wouldn't fit. I
looked at the end and one prong was bent in a little. I grabbed this
prong to bend it back and got one hell of a jolt. Seems she had
already plugged the other end into the 220 volt receptacle on the
panel. I should have checked but it didn't occur to me that anyone
would plug the cord in when there was power. If she had been able to
get that plug into the generator it would have ruined it. I could have
been killed by stupidly grabbing a prong that I assumed was dead. And
I know better. My neighbor's wife doesn't. And my neighbor had told
his wife how to hook everything up. She just didn't get it. And if the
power is out and someone hooks up your cheater without throwing the
main breaker first your generator might be hooked up to other houses
or it might electrocute someone working on the line. Save yourself a
headache and do it right. I'll bet you could find a transfer switch on
ebay. Yup, 88 items found. Harbor freight has one for $340.00. Twelve
circuits. Item 90813-0VGA. Also see item 38521-4VGA. This will also
work for you and is $260.00. Cheap insurance against someone getting
killed. And cheap insurance protecting your generator.
Eric R Snow