Last winter we got hit by a huge ice storm and we were without power for a week. People flooded the area and bought up all the generators in the three county area. They were even buying them off Home Depot and Lowes trucks on the side of the road.

Now I see a bunch of generators being sold on-line: craig's list, local want adds... that were only "used once" during the ice storm last winter.

I'm looking to capitalize on this glut of portable generators in the area. The one I'm looking at right now is a 10 HP Craftsman 5600 W, 8600 W starting, with a B&S engine, 4 120V outlets, and 1 240V locking outlet)

I know that you can power your whole house off the 240 by plugging the generator into your dryer outlet but from my research, I've gotten mixed signals.

Now to my question.

Do I actually need a transfer switch installed (the "to code" method) or can I do the DIY way and run a 20 ft, 240V, 10 gage extension cord (male plug on both ends) from the generator to the dryer outlet.

Info that you might need.

1) OF COURSE I'D THROW THE MAIN BREAKER to get me off the grid.

2) OF COURSE the generator will be outside and not near any open windows (it's the winter we're talking about).

2) My house was built in 2006 so the wiring is to modern code.

3) I have a 4 prong outlet for my dryer 240/30.

4) I'll only be running the essentials: Oil fired furnace (burner and blower), fridge and some lights, well pump, maybe TV and computer. Unessential circuits will be turned off (hot water, stove, microwave -- we can cook on the gas grill or camp stove).

5) Although I'm not a licensed electrician, I know the general rules. I've run many electrical lines and circuits while renovating my previous older house and projects at work. All have passed inspection from inspectors (I always over-do the wire gauge and terminations in the spirit of safety).

Anyway back to the question. What do you think about a 240V, 10 gage extension cord (male plug on both ends) from the generator to the dryer outlet?

- Do I wire it just as is?

Hot 1 to Hot 1

Hot 2 to Hot 2

Neutral to Neutral

Ground to Ground

I figure the last two are a given, just a question on Hot 1 and Hot 2 and if there are any "gotch ya's" that I should be aware of or make me rethink my thoughts.

P.S. Sorry about the jpotts-like post.

Not an electrician but the problem with what you are talking about is not from the generator to the "dryer outlet" it's from the dryer outlet to the panel.

Just pay an electrician to do it right and have the peace of mind to know that you’re not going to burn your house down. YMMV

Im always agin the dryer outlet method.

Im sure you can operate this rig but how bout wifey?

I am always at work when a hurricane hits so I installed the transfer box. My wife can wheel the gen (same one you are looking at, but a Honda) out of the garage, plug the ready cord into the transfer box and then into the gen, throw the transfer switch, start the thing and go back inside. All lights and outlets will be hot. I only power the inside panel and that eliminates any 220 volt except for the hot water which she knows to cycle by eliminating the window AC load.

I say do it right and you will be safe and happy.

Installing the power transfer is work but not complicated. If you can rig your dryer outlet then you can do it.

I also ground the gen right at the power-pack ground rod.

A 5600 W gen will handle just about anything you have AS LONG AS YOU ARE PRUDENT. Remember, you're in an emergency type situation which calls for reduced power usage because you don't know if you have enough gas to get you through 4-5 days of running your generator 24/7. Limit the use of TVs and consolidate reefers if you can and only run the washer/dryer seperately.

Installing an E-panel will take out the guess work. It will switch automatically to the circuits that you want fed and all you have to do is connect the generator to it. It will give you power anywhere in the house and is muich easier than running cables like I do now.

I run cables to a TV, referigerator, a power strip or two and to a reefer in my garage. I have POWER TO SPARE and my gen is 5600w. Bought it at Home Depot.

Get the e-board for your distribution. You'll spend $$ on it, but you'll be glad you did.

BB93,

Hire a gaddam electrician, o.k.? Be smart, here.

everyone around here just uses suicide cords.

^Are those different from death panels?

ScottHar

Yes you can backfeed through a dryer plug. It is illegal in many if not all states. If you don't throw the breaker you will also backfeed the transformer, the neighbors, and maybe kill a lineman.

A 5000w won't power anywhere close to a whole house because motor start drains a lot of power. ACs and frigs are brutal.

My hurricane kit has a 5000W John Deere with a Honda engine. It is pricy but will last forever. Many of the Home Depot/Lowes ones will burn up components under prolonged use. The alternator is the weak spot.

"Do I actually need a transfer switch installed (the "to code" method) or can I do the DIY way and run a 20 ft, 240V, 10 gage extension cord (male plug on both ends) from the generator to the dryer outlet."

Craig,

You're a engineer too, please stop making us look bad.

Get the transfer switch.

Is there a way to siphon off HockeyDad's power?

Re #4

I'm not worried about the wife being able to operate it. I'll be the one to fire it up and get it going. Since it'll only be used for coverage during extended times of power outage - more than a day or two - an hour or two or three or four is no big deal to me.

If we will be out for and extended time or a during a state of emergency, she's a nurse manager and is the one who gets called in or mandated to stay. If she can't get in they call the National Guard to huck them into the hospitals.

That's fine by me, there are folks out there that need her more than me and my kids for the time being.

During that last years ice storm, I ran long extension cords from the neighbors generator, over the snow/ice about 150 ft to my house. A real Tool Time Tim Taylor project. It was probably a electrician's nightmare but it powered our essentials for half a week until the line crews could get here and fix the power.

I know the basics of electricity and I tend to over engineer everything I do. I'm an on hands engineer but not an electrician. Just wondering if there is some "gotcha's" that I should know about.

I also have some really smart licensed electrician acquaintances that might be willing to do it for a case of beer or two.

Just tossing out the question.

Gerbil,

Stop being my conscience

Re Scott

I''m not siphoning ANYTHING off of Hocky Dads "power." Call Victor for that maybe

Get a stationary system. Have it powered off of gas, propane, etc. if you have any of those gases delivered. Have it wired into the house professionally. Check with Home Depot. They let us do 12 months same as cash, no interest.

We don't even have to think about it. Runs once a week to keep everything moving, charged up, etc. Power goes out and 15 seconds later, the power for our home is back on. We have it serviced once a year, checked out, etc.

Best money we've ever spent on the house, and we're in an area prone to power outages.

One "Gotcha" the comes to mind is a manslaughter charge for your negligent back feeding the grid and killing a lineman. Worse yet he be burned and survive to testify in court agin you.

You know the deal, "My sex life is ruined cause my balls are burned", "He DID IT, YEA THAT ONE!!!"

Most on that jury will toast yer ass.