Loss of power wiring.

[WormWiggler]

So I have this recurring idea and am looking for the reason why it is not a good idea or feasible.

When the power goes out, we have a small generator. So far power has not been out long enough to worry. But my scheme would be create a stand alone circuit with an outlet by the refrigerator, and outlet by the furnace, and a "male" outlet or inlet on the exterior of the house. So when the power goes out, start the generator, plug into house, move furnace and fridge to that circuit, and stay warm. Any thoughts?

 

[2400]

It would be a pain in the butt but as long as you have enough generator it should work fine.

 

[( deleted account )]

We just wired two circuits from the main panel with a crossover switch so if the power went off it would run the circuit for the furnace so we could keep,warm plus one 15 amp circuit of your choice - the one powering the boob tube and computer and a few lights in our case. Everything else we decided we could live without even in the event of a prolonged power outage. My little Honda 2000E did the job well for a week during,the ice storm a few years back. Basically sort of what you are proposing but done at the panel fairly easily, but still requiring one wire to the outside to plug in the generator.
if you are rural and on a well that needs 240 volts, you’d need a bigger 240 V generator. Ranches are wired for BIG heavy generators, enough to power the whole place but that’s a different story.

Pretty well anything you do you’ll need a qualified electrician to do it safely unless you are pretty handy and know what you are doing and willing to skirt wiring laws. Codes and legality are there for your own protection and broken can affect the future sale ability of your house.
It’s highly illegal to plug your generator into for example a welder outlet and throw the master switch. I know people do this but the power companies will string you up on a power pole if they catch you! Dangerous for the poor lineman trying to fix things down the line!

One caveat - Be sure your generator has nice sine wave regulated voltage/current output or you might blow the electronics in your deep freeze, furnace, etc. Everything is digital nowadays and cheap inexpensive generators are more meant to power lights, skill saws, construction sites and stuff like that. Some might be OK, but you never know. Some everyday home electronics are sensitive to V fluctuations and expensive to fix.

 

[Petras]

Honestly, I would rather install a transfer switch than do what your thinking about doing WW. A transfer switch would be super easy to install and use. Power goes out, flip transfer switch, start generator, go about your business. a transfer switch would power your entire panel. It'd be more expensive to install as it would require you to hire an electrician, but to me it'd be worth it.

 

[eyexer]

If you have a 220 volt generator this is really easy. You probably do have. If so just throw in a 220 volt breaker in your panel. Wire to a 220v outlet outside where your gen will sit. When power goes off shut off the main breaker in your panel. Then fire up your gen and it will back feed and power up your whole panel. Leave what breakers you need to run the bare essentials on and shut the rest off. I usually keep in the circuits with fridge, microwave, furnace and tv on. Those things won’t pull much power.

 

[Achucker]

Make sure whatever you do you have it inspected. It's the law

 

[sweeney]

We call what you are talking about doing suicide cords for a reason for what that is worth. If you want generator backup do it correctly and hire an electrician. If you do it yourself have an electrician check it out and get it inspected. Go the way of a transfer switch and use the proper size wire and breakers for the load you plan to power.

 

[Allen]

If you have a 220 volt generator this is really easy. You probably do have. If so just throw in a 220 volt breaker in your panel. Wire to a 220v outlet outside where your gen will sit. When power goes off shut off the main breaker in your panel. Then fire up your gen and it will back feed and power up your whole panel. Leave what breakers you need to run the bare essentials on and shut the rest off. I usually keep in the circuits with fridge, microwave, furnace and tv on. Those things won’t pull much power.

I think this is EXACTLY what BobKat was talking about being illegal. Granted, I am no electrician.

Bob is right, go the route of a "transfer" switch and use a qualified electrician. If someone powers up the power company's wiring and kills a lineman, it seems right that they go spend some time with pedophiles and other assholes. It ain't that expensive to do it right.

 

[WormWiggler]

Thanks for all the advice, my little generator probably wouldn't power much, pretty sure there is no 220v on it.

 

[sweeney]

What’s the wattage on it 2000-4000 will power quite a few things.

 

[Allen]

Thanks for all the advice, my little generator probably wouldn't power much, pretty sure there is no 220v on it.

Doesn't need to be 220V to use a transfer switch and power up a couple of ciruits on 120V. The key here is that a good electrician installs the transfer switch, to the switch goes the generator, and from it the selected circuits that your generator is capable of supplying enough juice. What the tranfer switch does is it disconnects power from the pole at the same time as powering up whatever circuits are supplied supplemental power. This way there's no concerns about backfeeding the main power coming into the home. No need to rip apart sheetrock to install the new wires as it's all done within a couple feet of the panel itself, plus whatever incoming line from your generator.

 

[Davy Crockett]

Every need is different, my back up plan is to run a heavy extension cord through my office window to my surge protector and run electronics off that and another extension cord to the garage freezer and fridge if need be. I don't know a lot about codes but I don't think there is a code against running a temporary UL certified extension cord inside your house in case of an emergency. I wonder if there is there any special reason a furnace is hard wired in ? Could you legally put a plug in on a furnace in new construction rather than hard wiring it ?

Any law against pulling the circuit breaker on your furnace and putting a plug in in case of an emergency ? The chances you will ever need it is slim but you never know.

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We have backup heat otherwise I'd be thinking along your lines with a switch box .

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And lanterns , I have many a fond memory when I was a kid and there was a big storm coming the old man would fire up the lanterns to make sure they worked , mantle white gas and kerosene lanterns and a 6 volt square battery box type flashlight.

 

[( deleted account )]

Every need is different, my back up plan is to run a heavy extension cord through my office window to my surge protector and run electronics off that and another extension cord to the garage freezer and fridge if need be. I don't know a lot about codes but I don't think there is a code against running a temporary UL certified extension cord inside your house in case of an emergency. I wonder if there is there any special reason a furnace is hard wired in ? Could you legally put a plug in on a furnace in new construction rather than hard wiring it ?

Any law against pulling the circuit breaker on your furnace and putting a plug in in case of an emergency ? The chances you will ever need it is slim but you never know.

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We have backup heat otherwise I'd be thinking along your lines with a switch box .

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And lanterns , I have many a fond memory when I was a kid and there was a big storm coming the old man would fire up the lanterns to make sure they worked , mantle white gas and kerosene lanterns and a 6 volt square battery box type flashlight.

Hey Davey, you showed your age with that lantern post! As a kid in the late 40’s and 50’s power outages were common, winter and summer. My mother kept a collection of old hurricane coal oil lamps, and stuff like lamp wick and cans of coal oil were available in every hardware and grocery store. I wonder if “coal oil” even exists any more?!? When
I see some original lamps in antique stores I get a heart warming deja vu feeling. To keep warm during a power outage when 20-30 below, we’d shovel coal into the huge old basement furnace by hand, the stoker wouldn’t work of course, and open all the doors in the house and let the heat go where it may without the blower. No nice little portable generators back then, and flashlights were really crude!
Oops, now I’m showing MY age!

 

[WormWiggler]

I want to avoid the extension cord through the window method, and avoid messing with the panel. There would be ripping drywall as the furnace room is unfinished and the kitchen is directly above. The question about having your furnace equipped with a plug in is likely the fatal flaw.

 

[TFX 186]

Worm,
I would strongly suggest getting a good consult from a reputable electrician for your questions and a cost estimate. I don't think you would regret hiring a pro to accomplish your needs. Also, your insurance company will like things done professionally and legally inspected. No questions on your coverage if something bad would happen later.

Fish On!

 

[Achucker]

I want to avoid the extension cord through the window method, and avoid messing with the panel. There would be ripping drywall as the furnace room is unfinished and the kitchen is directly above. The question about having your furnace equipped with a plug in is likely the fatal flaw.

No need to RIP sheetrock out and still be able to have ability to turn on any circuit in your house. Talk to an electrician to help you out.

 

[eyexer]

Doesn't need to be 220V to use a transfer switch and power up a couple of ciruits on 120V. The key here is that a good electrician installs the transfer switch, to the switch goes the generator, and from it the selected circuits that your generator is capable of supplying enough juice. What the tranfer switch does is it disconnects power from the pole at the same time as powering up whatever circuits are supplied supplemental power. This way there's no concerns about backfeeding the main power coming into the home. No need to rip apart sheetrock to install the new wires as it's all done within a couple feet of the panel itself, plus whatever incoming line from your generator.

notice I said to make sure you turn the main breaker off. Then you can’t back feed to your meter. Transfer switches are the ultimate way to go.