^ that's a really good point, I never thought about that. I exercise my generator approx. monthly, I guess I'll plug in some loads from now on, maybe a couple of 500w work lights, one on each leg.
Home standby generator recommendations?
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Tapage
Club 4X4 Panamá
I'm looking this thread and wonder if it's too crazy just have one of this
http://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/models/eu2000i
It will do just a few tasks as my garage door motor couple of lights ( LED ) and refrigerator which have all the energy saving stars on the sky ..
My main question is .. if I plug the Honda on wall plug at home ( main breaker off ) start it .. that's it .. it will work like DC ( in cars electrical systems ) it will provide with power to home ..
Sure I will take care of what's connected and turned on .. or do I need to do more additional panel stuff .?
http://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/models/eu2000i
It will do just a few tasks as my garage door motor couple of lights ( LED ) and refrigerator which have all the energy saving stars on the sky ..
My main question is .. if I plug the Honda on wall plug at home ( main breaker off ) start it .. that's it .. it will work like DC ( in cars electrical systems ) it will provide with power to home ..
Sure I will take care of what's connected and turned on .. or do I need to do more additional panel stuff .?
not at all..that's all I use...plus a set of cables to join them together. One Companion, one regular, an outside 30 amp twist lock(on the generator side) and a dryer 220v plug on the other. Goes to a subfeed panel in the laundry room.
Ran the circuits for the sump pump, furnace (and zone valves), fridge, xbox and TV, and a few lights into the panel. Power goes out, I have the option of running either one or both (one generator will handle the furnace or fridge, but don't like to run both at the same time on one), tie into the outside plug, shut the breaker off the main panel, and I'm golden.
The Honda's are super quiet, run a long time on one tank, and are light and easy to start. Plus I use one for camping most times.
Tapage
Club 4X4 Panamá
So basically what I do need it's a 2 plug cord, shut the main off and I'm ready to roll ... nice !
just to verify...it (the Honda)does put out 12v (I think around 8 amps)...what you want to do is figure out what circuits you want to run..then wire those into either a separate panel, or figure out a way to isolate them, and then always shut off the main so you don't "backfeed" into the electric company's power grid, and take a chance on something happening to an electrical worker.
If you want to run a 40-45 amps of DC 12v...then get yourself an Iota converter...awesome unit for charging deep cycle batteries, and puts out a nice bit on 12vdc
http://www.solar-electric.com/dls-45.html?gclid=CLKe2vvPnLkCFY6k4AodKQ0Asg
When I use the two Hondas...it's for powering house current..110v..
Tapage
Club 4X4 Panamá
that's what I want to do .. we are suffering these days lot's of current failures at home .. company said they will solve it in 15 min and take usually about 4 hours to do so ..
Lots of new apartment buildings being build around us lately ..
My plan it is making as simple as I can ..
1. shut of main
2. shut off circuits I'm not gonna need / use at house panels
3. start the honda
4. connect to the wall outlet ..
I'd research this more. I am not an electrian and know little about this, but I read somewhere that simply cutting off the main doesn't always prevent back-feed, depending on the type pf system you have. Why not call an electrician and spend a few bucks to make sure you don't hurt someone.
Like I said, I know very little about this, I just read somewhere when I was looking at doing this that in certain systems it can be a problem. Doesn't seem to make common sense to me, but might better be safe than sorry.
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very cool. I'm looking into it.
the way some people wire them is to feed off a plug in the garage to a breaker, by opening the main you are not back feeding the electrical service just feeding the panel for your house.
Basicly the way it works, dropping the main isolates your house and the power is back fed into the pannel off one of the breakers hooked to the plug in the garage or where ever. not the right way but it is done..
Now the proper way to do it is with a transfer switch, this drops the main feed to the house and only feeds the circuits you want fed off the generator, usually only the important stuff, this allows a smaller generator and controls the circuits with one switch, this can also be automatic so when power goes off it starts the generator automaticly and then switches over.. without you having to do anything.
Before you wire any of this I would consult a Licensed Electrician. They will know the best way to do it for your situation. Even if you only pay him to double check what you did and help with the setup its worth it..
Basicly the way it works, dropping the main isolates your house and the power is back fed into the pannel off one of the breakers hooked to the plug in the garage or where ever. not the right way but it is done..
Now the proper way to do it is with a transfer switch, this drops the main feed to the house and only feeds the circuits you want fed off the generator, usually only the important stuff, this allows a smaller generator and controls the circuits with one switch, this can also be automatic so when power goes off it starts the generator automaticly and then switches over.. without you having to do anything.
Before you wire any of this I would consult a Licensed Electrician. They will know the best way to do it for your situation. Even if you only pay him to double check what you did and help with the setup its worth it..
Found it:"The main breaker does not interrupt the grounded conductor(neutral). This allows for backfeeding, even with the main breaker cut off. Back feeding a panel can kill an unsuspecting lineman. If you can afford a generator to run your home in an outage, you can afford a transfer switch. Have it installed by a compentent electrician."
LAMBCRUSHER
SILVER Star
the grounded conductor and grounding conductor do not carry amperage between the two... the ungrounded conductors are what carry current either to each other or to the grounded conductor....opening the mains will effectively bypass the grid when using a generator this way- I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS, however, for numerous safety concerns....best thing is to either add an emergency sub panel that has 2 mechanically interlocked main feeds- one from utilities mains, one from gen feed...or to do the interlock at the mains themselves. Personally, when my power is out for more than about 6 hours, I'll fire up the little 2 stroker to run the fridge and a light or 2 via an extension cord. otherwise, I'm happy to enjoy the weather. Cobbler kids wear no shoes, eh?
The newer generation of home standby units are all being built with every component of logic needed to sense, start, excite and monitor into one out of country built circuit board/controller. The Kohler units tend to be of particularly high quality in this arena, however, they have had trouble with their controllers frying, and the units only have 2 year warranties, and the boards for these things lists for about 1000 bucks. I have taken one out of commission recently after it has fryed its fourth board in about 3 years. I am having alot of trouble recommending any of these type of units to any clients at this point due to their unreliability. Just finished sprucing up a 40 year old Onan to take over for the Kohler. it is big and clunky- and any one component can be replaced or repaired at considerably less expense than a newer unit. The BIG Cummins liquid cooled gaseous fueled gensets are still very reliable, although at about 14K, not so affordable. An old weldernator with some TLC given it might be a very good option for those who don't NEED auto start and transfers- much more usable than just a genset, too.