Attn: Engineers- Best way to create 120v alarm for outages?

I've got a knife style breaker out in the greenhouse. I love it's simplicity & indestructible construction. Wish everything was still built that way.

As of right now, my plan is to wire up a buzz bulb - http://www.amazon.com/Audible-Alarm-Mot ... B0054DY3WY .

But, there's still that whole hooking up to live wires while standing over my soaking wet sump thing. I suppose I could hit the big allens with the impact while wearing rubber gloves. Only live once, right?

Well...... forgiveness is easier to get than permission..... Make what ever you want for an alarm. Make it fused, make it safe & legal. When you are ready to install it, go outside, cut the tag, removed your electric meter. Your panel is now dead. After the installation, put the meter back in & call the electric company & tell them what you did. They will have a hissy fit, but the job is done.

This thread scares me. This sort of thing is what gets people hurt. I'd stick with the safe thing and install either an automatic or manual transfer switch.

Sure, this last power outage sucked and near the end I wanted a nice hot shower. But I didn't want it bad enough I was willing to backfeed my main panel. Sure, I was considering wiring a circuit into the generator panel with a few disconnect switches but I still wasn't backfeeding my main panel.

Freddy wrote: When you are ready to install it, go outside, cut the tag, removed your electric meter. Your panel is now dead. After the installation, put the meter back in & call the electric company & tell them what you did. They will have a hissy fit, but the job is done.

Replace the meter head up side down, then it will run backwards I would bet they have broken seals all the time, I wouldn't say a word, as a kid I remember twisting the seal round and round. If you ever have a house fire, it's good to remember you can shut off the electric this way.

I'm On Fire wrote:This thread scares me. This sort of thing is what gets people hurt. ...

People get hurt when they don't use their head. There is nothing wrong with backfeeding the panel, provided:

A. You flip the main to OFF.

B. You don't try to run the dryer ... while cooking a turkey and all the fixings on the electric range.

C. You keep you fingers OUT of where they don't belong.

Just as safe as a transfer switch when you use a little common sense.



I think I'm gonna do the Buzz Bulb. I thought about breaking the meter open, but I don't need the electric co. sniffing around here, so that's not gonna happen. I'll get the wiring in there one way or the other.

If I were you, I'd get the stuff all ready for the next outage. It seems like you get them quite frequently. Then when it does happen, quick install the alarm system before the power comes back on.

A fused wire coming off the main to a box mounted by your panel should do the trick

http://www.platt.com/platt-electric-sup ... zpid=10542




Rick

I'm On Fire wrote:This thread scares me. This sort of thing is what gets people hurt. I'd stick with the safe thing and install either an automatic or manual transfer switch.

Sure, this last power outage sucked and near the end I wanted a nice hot shower. But I didn't want it bad enough I was willing to backfeed my main panel. Sure, I was considering wiring a circuit into the generator panel with a few disconnect switches but I still wasn't backfeeding my main panel.

Dude, I totally understand your apprehension..
I was very leery of back feeding my panel.
But after some research and understanding, I ain't skeert

Its pretty simple, but like posted above, ya gotta be selective about what breakers to have on so you don't burden the genny too much. The wife would go live at the motel before taking a cold shower

I'm On Fire wrote:This thread scares me. This sort of thing is what gets people hurt. I'd stick with the safe thing and install either an automatic or manual transfer switch.

Sure, this last power outage sucked and near the end I wanted a nice hot shower. But I didn't want it bad enough I was willing to backfeed my main panel. Sure, I was considering wiring a circuit into the generator panel with a few disconnect switches but I still wasn't backfeeding my main panel.

I have a FAIL proof manual transfer switch I trained the misses to use for the essential needs. But I do have a cheater plug (double male ends to 2 50 amp welder recepticles) that only I have control of. Just as long as I remember to turn off the main Kids are spoiled, my daughter asked me to wait to turn off the generator til she was done straightening her hair.

Square D makes a main breaker interlock which allows for safe and legal backfeeding of a main panel. All it is is a formed piece of sheet metal that mounts to the top right corner of the elect. box panel cover which you then have to turn off the main breaker to turn on a 240V breaker in the top 2 breaker positions on the righ side of the panel. It costs about $50 for the kit plus the cost of the breaker but it is a lot cheaper and just as safe as a double throw transfer switch. Also in my case I had a bsement window next to my panel which made the large 200Amp transfer switch just about impossible to fit into the space I had availible.

Smitty, I would just direct wire in a buzzer and light that would sound when there was power coming in from the line. Put a normal switch in the line and shut it off until the power goes out. Go down with flashlight and flip switch and it will sound when power comes on. Can't get more simple. You can hook up anything that makes sound with 110. Even run a wire up to the kitchen and put a light on it.

Kevin

You guys, this took me a second to find, and I'm gonna get one..

Edit to add it's no longer avil...

http://www.nooutage.com/thp108.htm

Those are still available at Amazon ... but if you read the reviews you'll understand why that place decided not to sell them anymore. I guess they suck! I was going to buy one until I read the reviews.

I ordered up a Buzz Bulb. http://www.buzzbulb.com/index.html

I already have a light fixture, a wall switch, and box to mount it in. Now, the challenge is to wire it up to the mains without getting LIT up ....

Pull your meter, it's easy to do and your safe.

I just didn't want to get the electric co.involved. Back in the day, we could just have a buddy re-tag it ... but now they're all numbered ... and if they're cut they suspect fraud, then the town or state gets involved and starts snooping. Don't need any of that!

You forget where I live, Grumpy .... NOTHING in this state is easy.

I Hear that Smitty, I don't think it's a big deal, I pulled my meter years ago and they still have not re tagged it even thou I told them too.. Don't mess with the mains, there is pretty much unlimited current there, ever short out a 12 volt battery with a wrench by mistake. Once you get a short going you will not stop it.. be safe..