Discussion
Not being an expert in electrickery......
Is there a way of getting your (for example) 2Kw petrol generator into your regular house supply? In other words, rather than running cables/extension leads, would it be possible to wire it directly to the mains?
Somebody suggested just bunging it into a socket - but that sounds a bit wild!
The reason I ask is that apart from having fairly regular power cuts (I'm a bit off the beaten track) it's not practical to supply the cooker, fridge, freezer etc into the generator. I'm aware I would need to watch the voltage demand very carefully...
Someone here will be voltmeister.
Ta
NDA said:
Not being an expert in electrickery......
Is there a way of getting your (for example) 2Kw petrol generator into your regular house supply? In other words, rather than running cables/extension leads, would it be possible to wire it directly to the mains?
Somebody suggested just bunging it into a socket - but that sounds a bit wild!
The reason I ask is that apart from having fairly regular power cuts (I'm a bit off the beaten track) it's not practical to supply the cooker, fridge, freezer etc into the generator. I'm aware I would need to watch the voltage demand very carefully...
Someone here will be voltmeister.
Ta
2Kw is not going to supply much I'm afriad, might get a toaster out of it.Is there a way of getting your (for example) 2Kw petrol generator into your regular house supply? In other words, rather than running cables/extension leads, would it be possible to wire it directly to the mains?
Somebody suggested just bunging it into a socket - but that sounds a bit wild!
The reason I ask is that apart from having fairly regular power cuts (I'm a bit off the beaten track) it's not practical to supply the cooker, fridge, freezer etc into the generator. I'm aware I would need to watch the voltage demand very carefully...
Someone here will be voltmeister.
Ta
Simples, you turn the big switch off on the main power supply to your house. The one on the main fuse. Your house is now isolated from the rest of the electricity supply including anyone working down the road.
You can them plug your generator into any of your household main supply and it will supply your house.
If you ever let your generator see the real mains voltage either while the generator is running or otherwise there is likely to be a bit of a bang.
So if you suspect your neighbours have power again, disconnect your generator and then switch your main switch back on again.
You can them plug your generator into any of your household main supply and it will supply your house.
If you ever let your generator see the real mains voltage either while the generator is running or otherwise there is likely to be a bit of a bang.
So if you suspect your neighbours have power again, disconnect your generator and then switch your main switch back on again.
julian64 said:
Simples, you turn the big switch off on the main power supply to your house. The one on the main fuse. Your house is now isolated from the rest of the electricity supply including anyone working down the road.
You can them plug your generator into any of your household main supply and it will supply your house.
If you ever let your generator see the real mains voltage either while the generator is running or otherwise there is likely to be a bit of a bang.
So if you suspect your neighbours have power again, disconnect your generator and then switch your main switch back on again.
One teensy-weensy ikkle problem: No neighbours You can them plug your generator into any of your household main supply and it will supply your house.
If you ever let your generator see the real mains voltage either while the generator is running or otherwise there is likely to be a bit of a bang.
So if you suspect your neighbours have power again, disconnect your generator and then switch your main switch back on again.
Nor does NDA for that matter!
Edited by RedLeicester on Tuesday 1st December 17:17
RedLeicester said:
Ello NDA.... funny that you and I are thinking the same things..... again....
Got my sparky coming round next week to have a shufti so will let you know what he says....
Great. I suspect you're going to need something nuclear to generate power for the new gaff! Got my sparky coming round next week to have a shufti so will let you know what he says....
Julian, thanks for that info, how do you get the power into your domestic supply (assuming power off)?
julian64 said:
Simples, you turn the big switch off on the main power supply to your house. The one on the main fuse. Your house is now isolated from the rest of the electricity supply including anyone working down the road.
You can them plug your generator into any of your household main supply and it will supply your house.
If you ever let your generator see the real mains voltage either while the generator is running or otherwise there is likely to be a bit of a bang.
So if you suspect your neighbours have power again, disconnect your generator and then switch your main switch back on again.
You can them plug your generator into any of your household main supply and it will supply your house.
If you ever let your generator see the real mains voltage either while the generator is running or otherwise there is likely to be a bit of a bang.
So if you suspect your neighbours have power again, disconnect your generator and then switch your main switch back on again.
NO NO NO
don't rely on the mains switch on the fusebox ........... get a proper change over switch fitted that switches from mains to generator me and my mates don't appreciate your poxy 240v generator backfeeding into the mains , through the overhead or underground cables into the local 11,000 to 240v transformer and re- energising the line / cable we are working on back up to 11,000 volts
It can and does happen
read this !!!!!
http://www.justgenerators.co.uk/pages/powertransfe...
yeh they are expensive
Edited by x type on Tuesday 1st December 20:27
As mentioned previously, connecting your generator to the mains will result in it's death; it's also illegal as far as I'm aware. And potentially lethal should your genny be meaty enough to back-energise a transformer or 2 on the distribution network...
It should be connected so that it's impossible to connect the generator onto the incoming mains supply. I'd suggest mechanically interlocked MCB's so that the generator one can only be switched "on" when the incoming mains MCB is "off".
(Industrial premises having a backup diesel generator usually have an auto-changeover scheme so that, in the event of mains failure, the diesel generator is started and the mains incomer is automatcally disconnected before the generator is connected. Not likely to be doable on a domestic installation mind...)
Other consideration is to make sure your 2kW genny won't end up trying desperately to supply more load than it's designed for - easily done if it feeds the whole house and something's been left powered up. Simply solution would be to install a small consumer unit fed from one MCB of the existing one, and use this secondary unit to supply essential loads e.g. lighting, and set up a small seperate ring main tha only feeds your fridge and another socket or 2 for small loads (e.g. phone chargers, radio, laptop, maybe a small TV). Still not cheap as it'd need extra wiring and the dreaded Part P regs apply to consumer units, so officially you'd have to employ a proper sparky for that part.
... all things considered I'd stick with the extension cables!
It should be connected so that it's impossible to connect the generator onto the incoming mains supply. I'd suggest mechanically interlocked MCB's so that the generator one can only be switched "on" when the incoming mains MCB is "off".
(Industrial premises having a backup diesel generator usually have an auto-changeover scheme so that, in the event of mains failure, the diesel generator is started and the mains incomer is automatcally disconnected before the generator is connected. Not likely to be doable on a domestic installation mind...)
Other consideration is to make sure your 2kW genny won't end up trying desperately to supply more load than it's designed for - easily done if it feeds the whole house and something's been left powered up. Simply solution would be to install a small consumer unit fed from one MCB of the existing one, and use this secondary unit to supply essential loads e.g. lighting, and set up a small seperate ring main tha only feeds your fridge and another socket or 2 for small loads (e.g. phone chargers, radio, laptop, maybe a small TV). Still not cheap as it'd need extra wiring and the dreaded Part P regs apply to consumer units, so officially you'd have to employ a proper sparky for that part.
... all things considered I'd stick with the extension cables!
Edited by Jonny_ on Tuesday 1st December 20:56
Jonny_ said:
... all things considered I'd stick with the extension cables!
..... which is precisely what I shall do!I'm glad I asked the question and am amazed at the potentially dire consequences of running a generator into the home supply. Warnings received loud and clear.
Cables aren't too bad
NDA said:
Jonny_ said:
... all things considered I'd stick with the extension cables!
..... which is precisely what I shall do!I'm glad I asked the question and am amazed at the potentially dire consequences of running a generator into the home supply. Warnings received loud and clear.
Cables aren't too bad
NDA said:
Somebody suggested just bunging it into a socket - but that sounds a bit wild!
Yes, it is!x type said:
NO NO NO don't rely on the mains switch on the fusebox ........... get a proper change over switch fitted that switches from mains to generator
me and my mates don't appreciate your poxy 240v generator backfeeding into the mains , through the overhead or underground cables into the local 11,000 to 240v transformer and re- energising the line / cable we are working on back up to 11,000 volts
It can and does happen
read this !!!!!
http://www.justgenerators.co.uk/pages/powertransfe...
yeh they are expensive
don't rely on the mains switch on the fusebox ........... get a proper change over switch fitted that switches from mains to generator me and my mates don't appreciate your poxy 240v generator backfeeding into the mains , through the overhead or underground cables into the local 11,000 to 240v transformer and re- energising the line / cable we are working on back up to 11,000 volts
It can and does happen
read this !!!!!
http://www.justgenerators.co.uk/pages/powertransfe...
yeh they are expensive
Our house has all the wiring provisions for a generator based in the garage. The previous owners apparently spent a fair bit on getting it done professionally, as there's no close neighbours and the elderly gent that lived here with his carer needed a reliable supply. So, it seemingly can be done safely and is allowed (or at least, was allowed back in the mid 90s).
We were toying with the idea of getting a beefy generator and hooking it back up to the system. But, having read these posts, I think we might give it a miss! Luckily, even though we live out in the sticks, we only get a couple of cuts a year.
We were toying with the idea of getting a beefy generator and hooking it back up to the system. But, having read these posts, I think we might give it a miss! Luckily, even though we live out in the sticks, we only get a couple of cuts a year.
Edited by wiffmaster on Friday 11th December 18:49
Ganglandboss said:
Glad to see that after asking for advice you have chosen to ignore the sensible bit. As you said in your OP:
What bit have I ignored? I have taken the advice and I am not going to plug into the mains... I may at some stage have an electrician wire in the switch needed, but not at the moment.NDA said:
Ganglandboss said:
Glad to see that after asking for advice you have chosen to ignore the sensible bit. As you said in your OP:
What bit have I ignored? I have taken the advice and I am not going to plug into the mains... I may at some stage have an electrician wire in the switch needed, but not at the moment.My old boss had a genny hooked up to his house - on a modern housing estate! Don't ask he was a bit odd.
The electrician that fitted the system put something in that (automatically?) isolated the genny supply from the main suppy, sorry I don't know the full details put if you want more info I can find out.
The electrician that fitted the system put something in that (automatically?) isolated the genny supply from the main suppy, sorry I don't know the full details put if you want more info I can find out.
what I'd like on here is an explanation from an 'expert' as to how any electricity can backfeed through the main house fuse. Not talking about the one on the fusebox. Talking about the double pole switch prior to the electricity meter. The MAIN HOUSE CONSUMER SWITCH.
The switch isolates both the live and neutral, with a dirty great double pole switch.
If someone can explain how the electricity generated within the house managed to feed back then I'd be prepared to listen to the scare stories.
The switch isolates both the live and neutral, with a dirty great double pole switch.
If someone can explain how the electricity generated within the house managed to feed back then I'd be prepared to listen to the scare stories.
julian64 said:
what I'd like on here is an explanation from an 'expert' as to how any electricity can backfeed through the main house fuse. Not talking about the one on the fusebox. Talking about the double pole switch prior to the electricity meter. The MAIN HOUSE CONSUMER SWITCH.
The switch isolates both the live and neutral, with a dirty great double pole switch.
If someone can explain how the electricity generated within the house managed to feed back then I'd be prepared to listen to the scare stories.
Yup me too, because, and I paraphrase :-The switch isolates both the live and neutral, with a dirty great double pole switch.
If someone can explain how the electricity generated within the house managed to feed back then I'd be prepared to listen to the scare stories.
Me and my family don't appreciate your poxy 240v supply backfeeding into my house and killing me when I'm working on my wiring.
Now, remembering to switch if off is another matter....
I assume it's a gas cooker you'd like to keep running? You'd probably get away with a small <£100 UPS for that...assuming the cuts aren't too long. How long are they out of interest? Even here in central London we have a few hours out every year.
julian64 said:
.
The switch isolates both the live and neutral, with a dirty great double pole switch.
not every house has one of them ,some only have the main fuse , meter and consumer unit (fuse box)The switch isolates both the live and neutral, with a dirty great double pole switch.
I've come across at least half a dozen of the double pole switches you mention which have failed to isolate the supply completely when turned off
Many new houses have the isolator switch in an outside meter cabinet , which aren't exactly as waterproof as a submarine ! The cabinets tend to leak like hell .
As everyone knows water and electric don't really like each other,with dampness creeping in electricity can track across
We have main 400amp fuse units in work where even if you pull the fuse out ,you still have to disconnect 1 cable from it as they can track across enough to rattle your teeth
If your going to do it ,do it properly with a change over switch
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff