Will This Work?

I used to run my chinese generator to power the computer without any issues ... surprisingly. That thing had scary voltage spikes that did damage some ballasts and motion lights - probably as dirty a power supply as can be had.

Sorry IOF for adding to the thread-wander ... But I agree with doing it simple - that's the way I roll. I there's an easy way to do something without torching my hard-earned goods, then I will find it. If it were me, I'd just grab a heavy-gauge extension cord (10awg or better), cut the plugs off it & wire it right into the box. I'd probably install jumper-cable clamps on one end for a quick and easy shower .....

....... like I did when I had a weeks worth of wet clothes and needed to get a pile of work finished. Might be scary, but if done properly, using a little common sense it gets the job done. My house is still standing:

OMG!! The black suv's are rolling Smitty. You are in a Mass. and there has to be at least 100 rules against that! You'll never need to worry about heat or lights or meals again! Good luck with the reeduction folks. Probably shock treatment for sure. That would seem appropriate with that lash up!!

Kevin

I do the same kind of things. Just don't post pictures!!!

Smitty... Luv ya like a coal burnin brother But thats killin me Wow

Either way, backfeeding the main panel just for the hot water or hooking it up to my Gen panel is going to require a wire run.

Backfeeding the panel will require a 75' cable run to the generator or I'd need to lug the generator to the other side of the house, drill a hole through the wall then run 8' of cable, or I could back feed through my washer and dryer Which again would require a 30' run and another 30 plug. Or I could make a straight run from the hw heater to the Gen panel Which is 10' and would be a direct run. Like I said, there is one disconnect switch already in place for the service already that allows the hw heater to be shut off so it can very worked on. The second disconnect switch would be so I could isolate it from the generator panel when I'm not using it.

I wasn't asking about how to isolate the neutrals, or how to backfeed the main panel.

Yes, there is a lot of good info in this thread. But not specifically what I'm asking about. I just wanted to know if the wiring diagram I made looks like It'll work.

It'll work.
And use lots of gasoline too.

That DS Machine could easily do the task Even when the power's on.

The hooking the hot water heater to the generator wouldn't be on all the time. Just when I want to make a little hot water. I went to Lowes today, had the 30 amp disconnect switch in my hand and I didn't feel like buying it. So, I put it back. We got an invite to my sister in law's house for hot showers. I think my wife is planning on heading up there after she runs to the store for food. I may tag along. If not, I'll just take a cold shower again.

I did consider a HW coil for the DS but didn't peruse it due to plumbing issues at the time. Maybe in the future.

Lightning wrote:There is mixed opinions on powering sensitive electronic stuff with a generator

A friend ran his furnace and well pump and refrigeration and lights on generator after an electrical storm last fall. Afterward he said the storm had damaged his furnace controls. My suspicion is that bad power from the generator is what really killed his furnace.

I'm On Fire wrote:Wow, this thread has degraded and my original question on my wiring diagram has been ignored.

working with this crew is like trying to herd cats!!

Since wiring your HW is only 10' from the gen panel I would do that. Can your gen panel accept a breaker for the HW to turn it off when you don't want it to be 'on'?

titleist1 wrote:

I'm On Fire wrote:Wow, this thread has degraded and my original question on my wiring diagram has been ignored.

working with this crew is like trying to herd cats!!

Since wiring your HW is only 10' from the gen panel I would do that. Can your gen panel accept a breaker for the HW to turn it off when you don't want it to be 'on'?

No, the Gen panel is full and I've even added a second panel and that's full. Which is why I figured a disconnect switch would work. It'd certainly be cheaper than buying another 60 amp panel and breakers.

I.O.F,

Depending on where you connect the line of the added switch...don't overlook over current protection, i.e., fuses or breaker @ 30 amp.

The breaker for the generator is 30 amp. The breaker in the main panel for the hot water heater is also 30 amp. What I was going to do was come off the generator panel, go to a disconnect switch and then go to the hot water heater. I'd turn everything on the generator off then flip the breaker and the disconnect switch to make hot water. Then when it's hot shut it off. I don't need the hot water on all the time, tank stays warm for two days without power as long as it's not always used. So, a quick shower or two.

Most electric HWHs are 4500 watts...just so you know...and at that rate, it will suck down the gas for as long as it is on.

McGiever wrote:Most electric HWHs are 4500 watts...just so you know...and at that rate, it will suck down the gas for as long as it is on.

Which is why it was never added to the generator when I planned it to be installed. But, this cold shower thing is wearing thin. I took a hot shower yesterday at my sister-in-law's place. I stood under the shower for about 15 minutes. It felt good. But, she lives 45 minutes away and gas is a rare commodity so I can't do that but more than a couple of times.

I may just forgo the adding the HW heater to the generator. Doesn't honestly seem worth it.

Wow man, how soon they anticipate you getting power restored??
Thats gotta be a nightmare for the ones without a generator

Lightning wrote:Wow man, how soon they anticipate you getting power restored??
Thats gotta be a nightmare for the ones without a generator

LOL. They don't.

They say maybe by Wednesday. But I'm not anticipating it. I personally don't care that I don't have power since we lose it so often; we're keeping warm with coal and having fun playing with the kids and their toys. Yesterday my little girl and I were building things with her big Lego blocks. She made a car and I built a garage, then she proceeded to crash into the garage with the car. It is however a pain in the ass finding gas for the cars and the generator when we need it. Which is every two days. We run it for a few hours in the morning then a few in the evening. Everyone has been taking cold showers. The only reason we ended up going to the in-laws last night was to give the two year old a bath. She wasn't going to tolerate a cold bath. And to do laundry, we were running out of clothes.