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James Sweet[_2_] James Sweet[_2_] is offline
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Default Wiring a furnace to run off an extension cord.

Mark1 wrote:
On Dec 12, 11:49 am, "John Grabowski" wrote:
wrote in message

...





My gas furnace is hard wired to the main panel. In the event of an
extended power outage in winter, I'd like to have the option to run it
off my small Honda generator. The only real electrical draw is the
small 110V blower motor.
If we were in for an extended outage right now, I would probably just
jury-rig it with wire nuts and a sacrificed 12ga extension cord. I'd
like something a little more... sophisticated, something that is ready
on a moment's notice.
What if I:
1. Cut the existing hard line above the furnace and install a box with
an L5-20 twistlock socket.
2. Continue the hard line to the furnace from a second box adjacent to
the first.
3. Bug a short piece of 12-3 flexible cord to the hard line in the
second box.
4. Terminate the flexible cord with an L5-20 twistlock plug.
Is this kosher with NEC? Would running flex cable from the socket
clear to the furnace be a more acceptable solution?

A better way is using a flanged inlet such as this:http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibeCC...ex=10021:22372...
and the double pole double throw switch that Bud suggested:http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibeCC...ex=10021:22372...

The flanged inlets are also available in twistlock if you prefer. Mount the
flanged inlet in a box right on the furnace and change your existing shut
off switch to the double throw.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


most importantly..
do not even THINK of running the generator in the basement or near an
open window...or
anyplace the CO can get sucked into the furnace.

How will you route the cable in but keep the CO out?

Mark




That part is easy, the generator should be outside, period. Run the cord
in under a door, through a window, and use a strip of tape to seal the
rest of the gap from drafts, through a pet door, etc.

The furnace won't suck in CO, the air it sucks comes from the return duct.