Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
What's the switch called that you use to cut a circuit over from street
'lectricity to a generator? And do they come in a little 15- or 20-amp version? I just lost most of today's opportunity to work to a power outage (big windstorm today), and spent my down-time buying a generator. I can just toss an extension cord through the window of my office to the generator, but it'd be nice to connect it to my office plugs instead. -- www.wescottdesign.com |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
Tim Wescott wrote: What's the switch called that you use to cut a circuit over from street 'lectricity to a generator? And do they come in a little 15- or 20-amp version? I just lost most of today's opportunity to work to a power outage (big windstorm today), and spent my down-time buying a generator. I can just toss an extension cord through the window of my office to the generator, but it'd be nice to connect it to my office plugs instead. Transfer Switch. -- Anyone wanting to run for any political office in the US should have to have a DD214, and a honorable discharge. |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On Wed, 12 Nov 2014 16:08:01 -0600, Tim Wescott
wrote: What's the switch called that you use to cut a circuit over from street 'lectricity to a generator? And do they come in a little 15- or 20-amp version? I just lost most of today's opportunity to work to a power outage (big windstorm today), and spent my down-time buying a generator. I can just toss an extension cord through the window of my office to the generator, but it'd be nice to connect it to my office plugs instead. It is known as a "Transfer Switch" Eric |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
Tim Wescott wrote: What's the switch called that you use to cut a circuit over from street 'lectricity to a generator? And do they come in a little 15- or 20-amp version? I just lost most of today's opportunity to work to a power outage (big windstorm today), and spent my down-time buying a generator. I can just toss an extension cord through the window of my office to the generator, but it'd be nice to connect it to my office plugs instead. Transfer switch. Not something I recommend to anyone these days in most cases. Look for an interlock kit to match your electrical panel. Interlock kits are available for most panels now, in many cases OEM interlock kits, and they are less expensive and more versatile than a traditional transfer switch. I use a Square D interlock kit on my 200A QO panel with a 30A generator feed breaker. It works very well and the OEM interlock kit was ~$60. |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On 2014-11-12, Pete C. wrote:
Tim Wescott wrote: What's the switch called that you use to cut a circuit over from street 'lectricity to a generator? And do they come in a little 15- or 20-amp version? I just lost most of today's opportunity to work to a power outage (big windstorm today), and spent my down-time buying a generator. I can just toss an extension cord through the window of my office to the generator, but it'd be nice to connect it to my office plugs instead. Transfer switch. Not something I recommend to anyone these days in most cases. Look for an interlock kit to match your electrical panel. Interlock kits are available for most panels now, in many cases OEM interlock kits, and they are less expensive and more versatile than a traditional transfer switch. I use a Square D interlock kit on my 200A QO panel with a 30A generator feed breaker. It works very well and the OEM interlock kit was ~$60. Ditto, I have a whole house generator and interlock kit, works great for me. i |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On 11/12/2014 6:26 PM, Pete C. wrote:
.... I use a Square D interlock kit on my 200A QO panel with a 30A generator feed breaker. It works very well and the OEM interlock kit was ~$60. Umm ... the GE's that I found were $150. Why should they be so much more? Anyhow, I just use the old turn-off-the-main-breaker & back feed through the welder circuit. |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
Bob Engelhardt wrote:
On 11/12/2014 6:26 PM, Pete C. wrote: ... I use a Square D interlock kit on my 200A QO panel with a 30A generator feed breaker. It works very well and the OEM interlock kit was ~$60. Umm ... the GE's that I found were $150. Why should they be so much more? Anyhow, I just use the old turn-off-the-main-breaker & back feed through the welder circuit. Be prepared to catch a ration of **** for doing it that way . I do it the same thru the shop subpanel , and every time it comes up I get accused of trying to fry a lineman or something . Hmm , I was just thinking , if a guy wired them up right a set of lights could not only tell when the power came back on but could let you synchronize with the grid for uninterrupted service . -- Snag |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
"Bob Engelhardt" wrote in message
... On 11/12/2014 6:26 PM, Pete C. wrote: ... I use a Square D interlock kit on my 200A QO panel with a 30A generator feed breaker. It works very well and the OEM interlock kit was ~$60. Umm ... the GE's that I found were $150. Why should they be so much more? Anyhow, I just use the old turn-off-the-main-breaker & back feed through the welder circuit. Even the cheaper ones are an awful lot of money for a small sheet-metal stamping. |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
Terry Coombs wrote: Bob Engelhardt wrote: On 11/12/2014 6:26 PM, Pete C. wrote: ... I use a Square D interlock kit on my 200A QO panel with a 30A generator feed breaker. It works very well and the OEM interlock kit was ~$60. Umm ... the GE's that I found were $150. Why should they be so much more? Anyhow, I just use the old turn-off-the-main-breaker & back feed through the welder circuit. Be prepared to catch a ration of **** for doing it that way . I do it the same thru the shop subpanel , and every time it comes up I get accused of trying to fry a lineman or something . Hmm , I was just thinking , if a guy wired them up right a set of lights could not only tell when the power came back on but could let you synchronize with the grid for uninterrupted service . They can spew that nonsense, but that's all it is. It is physically impossible for your little generator to "fry a lineman" unless that lineman violates his safety procedures. They *must* test and ground every circuit conductor before they are allowed to handle it without insulating gloves, so it is simply not possible for them to be harmed by your generator unless *they are at fault*. |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
Pete C. wrote:
Terry Coombs wrote: Bob Engelhardt wrote: On 11/12/2014 6:26 PM, Pete C. wrote: ... I use a Square D interlock kit on my 200A QO panel with a 30A generator feed breaker. It works very well and the OEM interlock kit was ~$60. Umm ... the GE's that I found were $150. Why should they be so much more? Anyhow, I just use the old turn-off-the-main-breaker & back feed through the welder circuit. Be prepared to catch a ration of **** for doing it that way . I do it the same thru the shop subpanel , and every time it comes up I get accused of trying to fry a lineman or something . Hmm , I was just thinking , if a guy wired them up right a set of lights could not only tell when the power came back on but could let you synchronize with the grid for uninterrupted service . They can spew that nonsense, but that's all it is. It is physically impossible for your little generator to "fry a lineman" unless that lineman violates his safety procedures. They *must* test and ground every circuit conductor before they are allowed to handle it without insulating gloves, so it is simply not possible for them to be harmed by your generator unless *they are at fault*. I can agree they must violate safety procedures to be harmed . Beside the fact that if the line is still intact to other's houses my genset will trip out immediately on overload if I'm still connected to the line feed . -- Snag Oh , and I like cats as well as dogs ... |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On Thu, 13 Nov 2014 07:15:50 -0500, "Pete C."
wrote: Terry Coombs wrote: Bob Engelhardt wrote: On 11/12/2014 6:26 PM, Pete C. wrote: ... I use a Square D interlock kit on my 200A QO panel with a 30A generator feed breaker. It works very well and the OEM interlock kit was ~$60. Umm ... the GE's that I found were $150. Why should they be so much more? Anyhow, I just use the old turn-off-the-main-breaker & back feed through the welder circuit. Be prepared to catch a ration of **** for doing it that way . I do it the same thru the shop subpanel , and every time it comes up I get accused of trying to fry a lineman or something . Hmm , I was just thinking , if a guy wired them up right a set of lights could not only tell when the power came back on but could let you synchronize with the grid for uninterrupted service . They can spew that nonsense, but that's all it is. It is physically impossible for your little generator to "fry a lineman" unless that lineman violates his safety procedures. They *must* test and ground every circuit conductor before they are allowed to handle it without insulating gloves, so it is simply not possible for them to be harmed by your generator unless *they are at fault*. Correction to the end of that last statement: "so it is simply not possible for them to be harmed by your generator unless *both they and you are at fault*." People are still liable for their actions, so charging a dead power line with their generator is strongly recommended against. -- I started out with nothing and I still have most of it left! --anon |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On Thursday, November 13, 2014 8:09:38 AM UTC-5, Terry Coombs wrote:
Pete C. wrote: Terry Coombs wrote: Bob Engelhardt wrote: On 11/12/2014 6:26 PM, Pete C. wrote: ... I use a Square D interlock kit on my 200A QO panel with a 30A generator feed breaker. It works very well and the OEM interlock kit was ~$60. Umm ... the GE's that I found were $150. Why should they be so much more? Anyhow, I just use the old turn-off-the-main-breaker & back feed through the welder circuit. Be prepared to catch a ration of **** for doing it that way . I do it the same thru the shop subpanel , and every time it comes up I get accused of trying to fry a lineman or something . Hmm , I was just thinking , if a guy wired them up right a set of lights could not only tell when the power came back on but could let you synchronize with the grid for uninterrupted service . They can spew that nonsense, but that's all it is. It is physically impossible for your little generator to "fry a lineman" unless that lineman violates his safety procedures. They *must* test and ground every circuit conductor before they are allowed to handle it without insulating gloves, so it is simply not possible for them to be harmed by your generator unless *they are at fault*. I can agree they must violate safety procedures to be harmed . Beside the fact that if the line is still intact to other's houses my genset will trip out immediately on overload if I'm still connected to the line feed . -- Snag Oh , and I like cats as well as dogs ... I've never liked dogs. |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On Thursday, November 13, 2014 7:15:53 AM UTC-5, Pete C. wrote:
Terry Coombs wrote: Bob Engelhardt wrote: On 11/12/2014 6:26 PM, Pete C. wrote: ... I use a Square D interlock kit on my 200A QO panel with a 30A generator feed breaker. It works very well and the OEM interlock kit was ~$60. Umm ... the GE's that I found were $150. Why should they be so much more? Anyhow, I just use the old turn-off-the-main-breaker & back feed through the welder circuit. Be prepared to catch a ration of **** for doing it that way . I do it the same thru the shop subpanel , and every time it comes up I get accused of trying to fry a lineman or something . Hmm , I was just thinking , if a guy wired them up right a set of lights could not only tell when the power came back on but could let you synchronize with the grid for uninterrupted service . They can spew that nonsense, but that's all it is. It is physically impossible for your little generator to "fry a lineman" unless that lineman violates his safety procedures. They *must* test and ground every circuit conductor before they are allowed to handle it without insulating gloves, so it is simply not possible for them to be harmed by your generator unless *they are at fault*. I do the same thing. (Ducks head as people scream at me.) And if I didn't turn off the mains power wouldn't my generator be trying to power up the entire neighborhood? What I'd really like is a little light to come on and tell me when mains power is back on. George H. |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
|
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On Thu, 13 Nov 2014 07:43:45 -0800 (PST)
wrote: snip What I'd really like is a little light to come on and tell me when mains power is back on. Mount a handy-box right next to the breaker box. Use a short or offset nipple. Get a fused outlet cover for the box: http://www.buyhardwaresupplies.com/?...emNumber=30727 Try assembling the two first. That combination doesn't always fit together well. The fuse hot lead/wire likes to bump into the nipple. So look over the clearance good before taking a knock-out out. It can be done with the right combination :) Very carefully route a 12 gauge wire from the new fuse cover/outlet over to one of the mains cable lugs. This has to be someplace before the main breaker. Route/attach a neutral over to the neutral bar. When you have the new cover/box all assembled, ready to go carefully loosen the main lug and slip the #12 wire in along with the main lead. BE REALLY CAREFUL IF YOUR MAINS ARE STILL HOT! I did this for a living, not a big deal to me. Either that or you'll have to wait for a power failure, pull the meter off... Tighten the lug back up and then tug on the leads some to make sure they aren't loose. It will most likely go poof if something ever goes wrong with the #12 wire (pinched, rub through...). So you don't want that to happen. Put in a 20amp fuse. Now this plug will always be connected to the outside line, even when the main breaker is off. Plus you get a handy little outlet by the breaker panel. Plug something into the outlet, light, noise maker, radio... whenever you have the main off and want to know when the main line comes on again... -- Leon Fisk Grand Rapids MI/Zone 5b Remove no.spam for email |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On 11/13/2014 8:09 AM, Terry Coombs wrote:
... Beside the fact that if the line is still intact to other's houses my genset will trip out immediately on overload if I'm still connected to the line feed . That's my take on it. And it's not only the 5 or 6 houses sharing the pole pig with you, but the pole pig itself. You'd be trying to energize the pole pig secondary, which would energize the primary and try to energize all the pole pigs on that 1200v (?) line, etc. In other words, the service line to your house would look like a dead short to your generator. Also, with the internal impedance of the generator, its output voltage would drop way down during the time it takes to trip its breaker. Not that I'm going to be complacent about opening my main breaker, but the risk if I don't is minimal. Bob |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On 11/13/2014 6:59 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
Even the cheaper ones are an awful lot of money for a small sheet-metal stamping. That's all it is? It just prevents your back-feed breaker from being on unless the main breaker is off? |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On Thursday, November 13, 2014 12:31:08 PM UTC-5, Leon Fisk wrote:
On Thu, 13 Nov 2014 07:43:45 -0800 (PST) wrote: snip What I'd really like is a little light to come on and tell me when mains power is back on. Mount a handy-box right next to the breaker box. Use a short or offset nipple. Get a fused outlet cover for the box: http://www.buyhardwaresupplies.com/?...emNumber=30727 Try assembling the two first. That combination doesn't always fit together well. The fuse hot lead/wire likes to bump into the nipple. So look over the clearance good before taking a knock-out out. It can be done with the right combination :) Very carefully route a 12 gauge wire from the new fuse cover/outlet over to one of the mains cable lugs. This has to be someplace before the main breaker. Route/attach a neutral over to the neutral bar. When you have the new cover/box all assembled, ready to go carefully loosen the main lug and slip the #12 wire in along with the main lead. BE REALLY CAREFUL IF YOUR MAINS ARE STILL HOT! I did this for a living, not a big deal to me. Either that or you'll have to wait for a power failure, pull the meter off... Tighten the lug back up and then tug on the leads some to make sure they aren't loose. It will most likely go poof if something ever goes wrong with the #12 wire (pinched, rub through...). So you don't want that to happen. Put in a 20amp fuse. Now this plug will always be connected to the outside line, even when the main breaker is off. Plus you get a handy little outlet by the breaker panel. Plug something into the outlet, light, noise maker, radio... whenever you have the main off and want to know when the main line comes on again... -- Leon Fisk Grand Rapids MI/Zone 5b Remove no.spam for email Thanks Leon, Since this only happens once every few years it's not that big of a deal. I've got a big knife switch on the side of my house where the mains comes in and this is where I switch it off. George H. |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
Bob Engelhardt fired this volley in
: Not that I'm going to be complacent about opening my main breaker, but the risk if I don't is minimal. Yeah... I have 'basic' mains on the line and the genset, and clear labels and written instructions hanging inside the breaker box. There's more to cut off besides JUST the main... the generator can't handle the entire load (like AC, water heater, etc). Some items are 'optional', depending upon what else is on. It's all there in the sheet -- just like "Green Acres" G. Even if one were to cut over the genset before switching off the main, all it would do is trip (either the specific main, or the breaker on the genset). shrug LLoyd |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
Bob Engelhardt fired this volley in
: That's all it is? It just prevents your back-feed breaker from being on unless the main breaker is off? That's all... just a purely mechanical interlock. L |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On 2014-11-13, Lloyd E. Sponenburgh lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote:
Bob Engelhardt fired this volley in : That's all it is? It just prevents your back-feed breaker from being on unless the main breaker is off? That's all... just a purely mechanical interlock. L And it is worth the money, considering all the trouble that lack of it can create. Not having it is unsafe for linemen, neighbors, and to the generator itself. i |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
Ignoramus10705 fired this volley in
: Not having it is unsafe for linemen, neighbors, and to the generator itself. yeahbut... (My life is dedicated to the "Yeah, But!") I live in a place and a space where linemen only ever come if you call. They do not touch our service without a call; hell, they don't even come when you call! (We're talking "deep rural" here). The genset has its own breaker, and it will trip long before any damage can be done. I have not tried it on _this_ genset, but have done before on others. My neighbors are all on different pole pigs. And my 'folks' are all and well trained in the emergency procedure. It is, after all, just one breaker off and one breaker on, before starting the generator. After that, if you don't cut off the other appropriate breakers, it'll just trip the one on the generator, or, if it's 'smart', it'll just quench, and not deliver. Lloyd |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
on 14/11/2014, Lloyd E. Sponenburgh supposed :
Ignoramus10705 fired this volley in : Not having it is unsafe for linemen, neighbors, and to the generator itself. yeahbut... (My life is dedicated to the "Yeah, But!") I live in a place and a space where linemen only ever come if you call. They do not touch our service without a call; hell, they don't even come when you call! (We're talking "deep rural" here). The genset has its own breaker, and it will trip long before any damage can be done. I have not tried it on _this_ genset, but have done before on others. My neighbors are all on different pole pigs. And my 'folks' are all and well trained in the emergency procedure. It is, after all, just one breaker off and one breaker on, before starting the generator. After that, if you don't cut off the other appropriate breakers, it'll just trip the one on the generator, or, if it's 'smart', it'll just quench, and not deliver. Lloyd This dumb argumentative thread reocurs more often than the seasons change. :-[ -- John G Sydney. |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
Bob Engelhardt wrote: On 11/13/2014 8:09 AM, Terry Coombs wrote: ... Beside the fact that if the line is still intact to other's houses my genset will trip out immediately on overload if I'm still connected to the line feed . That's my take on it. And it's not only the 5 or 6 houses sharing the pole pig with you, but the pole pig itself. You'd be trying to energize the pole pig secondary, which would energize the primary and try to energize all the pole pigs on that 1200v (?) line, etc. In other words, the service line to your house would look like a dead short to your generator. Also, with the internal impedance of the generator, its output voltage would drop way down during the time it takes to trip its breaker. Not that I'm going to be complacent about opening my main breaker, but the risk if I don't is minimal. Bob If you go to powerlineman.com I think it is, they have an archive of accident reports. While a few can be attributed to equipment failure or external forces, most are the result of errors on the part of the lineman. I recall reading one particularly interesting case where a DWI driver plowed a pad mount transformer off the pad. The lineman showed up and looked over the scene of what was left of the pad before picking up one of the HV "elbow" connectors and starting to clean it with a rag. Needless to say he got something like a 13KV surprise. Clearly he didn't follow *any* of the safety procedures such as testing with a meter on a hot stick, disconnecting and grounding the other end, etc. The DWI driver may have setup the opportunity for the lineman to fry himself, but to claim the driver was somehow responsible for such egregious failures to follow safety procedures is absurd. |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On Wed, 12 Nov 2014 18:26:54 -0500, Pete C. wrote:
Tim Wescott wrote: What's the switch called that you use to cut a circuit over from street 'lectricity to a generator? And do they come in a little 15- or 20-amp version? I just lost most of today's opportunity to work to a power outage (big windstorm today), and spent my down-time buying a generator. I can just toss an extension cord through the window of my office to the generator, but it'd be nice to connect it to my office plugs instead. Transfer switch. Not something I recommend to anyone these days in most cases. Look for an interlock kit to match your electrical panel. Interlock kits are available for most panels now, in many cases OEM interlock kits, and they are less expensive and more versatile than a traditional transfer switch. I use a Square D interlock kit on my 200A QO panel with a 30A generator feed breaker. It works very well and the OEM interlock kit was ~$60. I only bought as much generator as I need to keep working, so I really only need (or want) to supply one or two circuits. I could do a whole-panel switchover, but then I'd need to shut off everything but the office lights & plugs before I started up the generator. -- www.wescottdesign.com |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On 11/12/2014 5:32 PM, Michael A. Terrell wrote:
Tim Wescott wrote: What's the switch called that you use to cut a circuit over from street 'lectricity to a generator? And do they come in a little 15- or 20-amp version? I just lost most of today's opportunity to work to a power outage (big windstorm today), and spent my down-time buying a generator. I can just toss an extension cord through the window of my office to the generator, but it'd be nice to connect it to my office plugs instead. Transfer Switch. I thought it was a transvestite switch. |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
Tim Wescott wrote: On Wed, 12 Nov 2014 18:26:54 -0500, Pete C. wrote: Tim Wescott wrote: What's the switch called that you use to cut a circuit over from street 'lectricity to a generator? And do they come in a little 15- or 20-amp version? I just lost most of today's opportunity to work to a power outage (big windstorm today), and spent my down-time buying a generator. I can just toss an extension cord through the window of my office to the generator, but it'd be nice to connect it to my office plugs instead. Transfer switch. Not something I recommend to anyone these days in most cases. Look for an interlock kit to match your electrical panel. Interlock kits are available for most panels now, in many cases OEM interlock kits, and they are less expensive and more versatile than a traditional transfer switch. I use a Square D interlock kit on my 200A QO panel with a 30A generator feed breaker. It works very well and the OEM interlock kit was ~$60. I only bought as much generator as I need to keep working, so I really only need (or want) to supply one or two circuits. I could do a whole-panel switchover, but then I'd need to shut off everything but the office lights & plugs before I started up the generator. Spend $60 on an interlock kit for your panel and $30 on an inlet box, or spend only a little less to rework those circuits to feed single receptacle boxes next to the panel and put plugs on the circuit conductors so you can unplug them from the panel feed and plug them into an extension cord from the generator. Don't forget to factor in the cost of the extension cords. Basically, doing it half-ass will cost about $75 and doing it right will cost about $100 and give you the flexibility to power whatever circuits are needed at the time. |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On Wed, 12 Nov 2014 16:08:01 -0600, Tim Wescott
wrote: What's the switch called that you use to cut a circuit over from street 'lectricity to a generator? And do they come in a little 15- or 20-amp version? I just lost most of today's opportunity to work to a power outage (big windstorm today), and spent my down-time buying a generator. I can just toss an extension cord through the window of my office to the generator, but it'd be nice to connect it to my office plugs instead. ===================== try one of these @26.82$US w/free shipping. http://tinyurl.com/knh8rrx -- Unka' George "Gold is the money of kings, silver is the money of gentlemen, barter is the money of peasants, but debt is the money of slaves" -Norm Franz, "Money and Wealth in the New Millenium" |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On Fri, 14 Nov 2014 14:04:40 -0500, "Pete C."
wrote: Tim Wescott wrote: On Wed, 12 Nov 2014 18:26:54 -0500, Pete C. wrote: Tim Wescott wrote: What's the switch called that you use to cut a circuit over from street 'lectricity to a generator? And do they come in a little 15- or 20-amp version? I just lost most of today's opportunity to work to a power outage (big windstorm today), and spent my down-time buying a generator. I can just toss an extension cord through the window of my office to the generator, but it'd be nice to connect it to my office plugs instead. Transfer switch. Not something I recommend to anyone these days in most cases. Look for an interlock kit to match your electrical panel. Interlock kits are available for most panels now, in many cases OEM interlock kits, and they are less expensive and more versatile than a traditional transfer switch. I use a Square D interlock kit on my 200A QO panel with a 30A generator feed breaker. It works very well and the OEM interlock kit was ~$60. I only bought as much generator as I need to keep working, so I really only need (or want) to supply one or two circuits. I could do a whole-panel switchover, but then I'd need to shut off everything but the office lights & plugs before I started up the generator. Spend $60 on an interlock kit for your panel and $30 on an inlet box, or spend only a little less to rework those circuits to feed single receptacle boxes next to the panel and put plugs on the circuit conductors so you can unplug them from the panel feed and plug them into an extension cord from the generator. Don't forget to factor in the cost of the extension cords. Basically, doing it half-ass will cost about $75 and doing it right will cost about $100 and give you the flexibility to power whatever circuits are needed at the time. Generally speaking I've found if doing it half-assed costs $100 , doing it right, if you can do it yourself like you do the half-assed job, can be done for $80 |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On Fri, 14 Nov 2014 13:05:13 -0600, F. George McDuffee
wrote: On Wed, 12 Nov 2014 16:08:01 -0600, Tim Wescott wrote: What's the switch called that you use to cut a circuit over from street 'lectricity to a generator? And do they come in a little 15- or 20-amp version? I just lost most of today's opportunity to work to a power outage (big windstorm today), and spent my down-time buying a generator. I can just toss an extension cord through the window of my office to the generator, but it'd be nice to connect it to my office plugs instead. ===================== try one of these @26.82$US w/free shipping. http://tinyurl.com/knh8rrx If you didn't have to satisfy an inspector, it would definitly do the job. One of those "doing it "right" costing less than half-assed" examples. |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On Fri, 14 Nov 2014 12:29:43 -0600, Tim Wescott
wrote: On Wed, 12 Nov 2014 18:26:54 -0500, Pete C. wrote: Tim Wescott wrote: What's the switch called that you use to cut a circuit over from street 'lectricity to a generator? And do they come in a little 15- or 20-amp version? I just lost most of today's opportunity to work to a power outage (big windstorm today), and spent my down-time buying a generator. I can just toss an extension cord through the window of my office to the generator, but it'd be nice to connect it to my office plugs instead. Transfer switch. Not something I recommend to anyone these days in most cases. Look for an interlock kit to match your electrical panel. Interlock kits are available for most panels now, in many cases OEM interlock kits, and they are less expensive and more versatile than a traditional transfer switch. I use a Square D interlock kit on my 200A QO panel with a 30A generator feed breaker. It works very well and the OEM interlock kit was ~$60. I only bought as much generator as I need to keep working, so I really only need (or want) to supply one or two circuits. I could do a whole-panel switchover, but then I'd need to shut off everything but the office lights & plugs before I started up the generator. And then have to go all around the house changing the flashing 12:00 on clocks everywhere? That's painful. -- I started out with nothing and I still have most of it left! --anon |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On Fri, 14 Nov 2014 13:32:49 -0500, Tom Gardner
wrote: On 11/12/2014 5:32 PM, Michael A. Terrell wrote: Tim Wescott wrote: What's the switch called that you use to cut a circuit over from street 'lectricity to a generator? And do they come in a little 15- or 20-amp version? I just lost most of today's opportunity to work to a power outage (big windstorm today), and spent my down-time buying a generator. I can just toss an extension cord through the window of my office to the generator, but it'd be nice to connect it to my office plugs instead. Transfer Switch. I thought it was a transvestite switch. You little slut. You thought they named it after you, didn't you? titter -- I started out with nothing and I still have most of it left! --anon |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
Larry Jaques wrote:
On Fri, 14 Nov 2014 13:32:49 -0500, Tom Gardner wrote: On 11/12/2014 5:32 PM, Michael A. Terrell wrote: Tim Wescott wrote: What's the switch called that you use to cut a circuit over from street 'lectricity to a generator? And do they come in a little 15- or 20-amp version? I just lost most of today's opportunity to work to a power outage (big windstorm today), and spent my down-time buying a generator. I can just toss an extension cord through the window of my office to the generator, but it'd be nice to connect it to my office plugs instead. Transfer Switch. I thought it was a transvestite switch. You little slut. You thought they named it after you, didn't you? titter Tranny too ? Hell , I thought he was just a cross-dresser . Nice pumps ... -- Snag |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On 11/14/2014 9:17 PM, Terry Coombs wrote:
Larry Jaques wrote: On Fri, 14 Nov 2014 13:32:49 -0500, Tom Gardner wrote: On 11/12/2014 5:32 PM, Michael A. Terrell wrote: Tim Wescott wrote: What's the switch called that you use to cut a circuit over from street 'lectricity to a generator? And do they come in a little 15- or 20-amp version? I just lost most of today's opportunity to work to a power outage (big windstorm today), and spent my down-time buying a generator. I can just toss an extension cord through the window of my office to the generator, but it'd be nice to connect it to my office plugs instead. Transfer Switch. I thought it was a transvestite switch. You little slut. You thought they named it after you, didn't you? titter Tranny too ? Hell , I thought he was just a cross-dresser . Nice pumps ... I may be a lesbian but none of that perverted stuff! |
Crossover switch? Cutoff switch?
On 11/12/2014 2:08 PM, Tim Wescott wrote:
What's the switch called that you use to cut a circuit over from street 'lectricity to a generator? And do they come in a little 15- or 20-amp version? I just lost most of today's opportunity to work to a power outage (big windstorm today), and spent my down-time buying a generator. I can just toss an extension cord through the window of my office to the generator, but it'd be nice to connect it to my office plugs instead. Smallest I've seen for code-compliant installation in the US is 60 amps: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Reliance-Controls-60-Amp-Utility-Generator-Transfer-Switch-TCA0606D/202216483 We installed one of these and a separate sub-panel to feed the essential circuits (computers, furnace, stove, refrigerator, freezer, etc.) for about $140 and worth every penny. Prior to that we had a 50A range plug on the generator and a range plug fed from a 2-pole breaker in the main panel and a range cord feeding the sub-panel. Manually changing over was not a problem but the transfer switch makes it a 1/2 second task even in the dark. Carla If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons? |
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