Genset discussion from Podmod>television thread

 

I took one of the other options. 

 

If you know enough to identify if you have MWBCs and/or 240 volt loads on whatever panel you will be powering, a simple/cheap option is to just turn those circuit breakers off while the genset is the power source.  If the 2 circuit breakers that feed a MWBC aren't tied together (sometimes they are), you can turn off one of the two breakers and safely use just one circuit.  Put this on your checklist so you are sure you don't miss it.

 

Speaking of checklists, they are a must.  No matter how much you think you'll remember everything or how competent you are, under the stresses of the hurricane blowing outside coupled with your now-dark house, you will forget a step, or do a step out of order.  Such as plugging in the generator, then starting it, then waiting 20 seconds, before finally flipping the transfer switch.  In that order.

 

I've done it.  One of the first times I powered my house using my Prius I forgot to turn off the Prius' A/C system.  I remembered to turn off the screen and the radio, but I used 25% more fuel because I forgot the A/C.  Now it is on my checklist.  My father did something worse.  His genset feeds his house through a backfed 30 amp twist-lock outlet (NOT recommended for multiple reasons!), and the first time he had an outage he wondered why the genset kept stalling.  I knew why the second he called me - he forgot to turn off the main utility breaker!  So he was dangerously trying to backfeed the entire grid... and if that grid had come back on at this point it would have blown up his $4000 generator.  Now he has a checklist.

First read made my head explode. Second read was only mildly painful. Third read and I think I'm starting to get it.

I hope the test is going to be multiple choice!

Really, thanks Doug. That was exceptionally kind of you. Of course, now I have visions of exploding heads.

fred