"Toolbert" wrote in message ws.com...
"Ryan" wrote in message
news:rjVKb.89186$6b2.6340@edtnps84...
...
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?

As Eric writes the cheater plug works but is an easy way to kill or be
killed.

The cheapest and most useful transfer setup, IMO, is the 60 or 100 amp
single circuit style that consists of a small subpanel with a pair of
interlocked 240V breakers. Flip one off and the other on to switch from
utility to generator. The interlock prevents both from being on at the same
time.

You use this style by installing a separate subpanel next to the main panel
and moving the circuits you want to be "backed up" to the new panel, then
installing the manual transfer switch between the main and subpanel. You
then arent' limited by the circuit mix of the (overpriced) GenTran style
switches - like the lack of 30 amp circuits.

The attraction of the GenTran switches is you just feed this bundle of wires
into the existing panel and make connections with wire nuts.

A pricier alternative to the interlocked-breakers switch is a "double throw"
disconnect - looks like a regular 60 or 100 amp disconnect switch except it
has two "on" positions. They are expensive retail but can be found on
ebay.

Bob

If you buy these new, look for the GE brand. I put in a 200Amp switch
in front of my breaker panel and it runs in the $300-400 range. The
next closest price was around $700. Seems ridiculous for basically a
knife switch in a big empty box, but there you go. Since you only
have a 100A box, you could go for a smaller one. The price seems to
go up exponentially with amperage ratings so even a new one would
probably be around $200. For smaller setups, the GenTran switches are
the way to go. You can probably find one cheap on e-bay.

Think of it as insurance. If anyone gets hurt or killed when you're
backfeeding your panel, the cost of the switch will pale into
insignificance. It's also way more convenient.

Paul