It definitely works. In the recent snow storm I did exactly that and everything worked. Honda eu2000i companion. Everyone that tries this... MAKE SURE YOU TURN OFF THE MAIN BREAKER FIRST!!! You could kill a lineman.
True that it can be dangerous. However, we're talking survival and emergency situations. If you flip off all the breakers in the panel then everything is isolated from the grid and you can back feed just one circuit by hooking into any receptacle on that circuit... or wire directly through a 220 volt breaker with the main switched off then switch on just the circuits you want to use. Very safe if you simply think about what you're doing. Whether or not codes allow not important to survival.
Depends on if the generator can handle the startup, Newer ac units do pretty well and do not draw as hard. Our's is a year old and kicks over pretty well, Generator jumps around a bit until it's settled down, but it works
The neutral flows back to the generator windings not to the utility transformer. Which is why you don't see 3 pole residential transfer switches. Only the hots need to be switched.
Luckily, most of our lights in the house are on the same phase as the furnace. Our fridge is not, so I simply unplug it and use an extension cord to reach a nearby outlet on the same phase as the furnace. I could move the breaker, but I want to keep normal usage somewhat balanced between the two phases. Our furnace uses 7 amps peak during startup, then settles down to about 3 amps running. I would worry about the common neutral and would not hook up a second EU on the second phase if I had one.
oh..btw.. I plan on doing the almost same install on my house. I plan on making a harness that would allow me to plug into 2 plugs that are on opposite phases. If the power goes out.. I will turn off the main and all 220 (2 pole) breakers. Then plug my harness in that I will have leading to the basement. Fire it up and I will be on my way.
Yes: they're supposed to treat every wire as if it were hot. No: nobody can be 100% perfect - especially when they've been up for 24+ hours working the storm.
Not to add to all those who are telling you how dangerous and illegal (7 years prison time in some states) it is by back feeding your house (and it is) but you might want to have a fire extinguisher close by (try attaching one to the generator) so that regardless of the reason from refueling to your generator blowing up you will be ready for that too!.
There is nothing wrong with backfeeding through an outlet as long as the main breaker is off. Yes with a larger genset supplying the same 120v to two legs with a common neutral, there is a CHANCE of overloading the neut. Of course I'm an electrician and I know what the hell I'm doing, which separates me from most of the 'experts' who comment here.
I figured as much. Just couldn't let it pass as an ex-electric company employee.... If I had it to do over, I'd have had the transfer switch installed before I bought the gennie. My bad. Wasted almost a hundred bucks on cords as it is... and now it's pretty obvious to me that I don't want tb unrolling/plugging cords in the middle of the night with freezing rain coming down....
Those 120 volts get fed back into the power system to the nearest, say, 30,000 volt transformer and get stepped up to the other side of that transformer - to kill or maim the lineman who makes a small mistake.
@mdlatour13 if the power comes back on. he can cause the whole neighborhood to not have power. that's why he should not do it. it should go in to the fuse box.
The outside outlet doesn't look like a GFCI, if it was, I wonder if back feeding would mess it up? I'm assuming that the outside circuit is rated at 20 amps, just curious what a furnace, fridge, tv, lights and fan consume?
hahaha! i'm sorry, but your so right. such a lo W gen would shutdown in seconds if it was on grid. i know this is an old thread, but i was laughing so hard at the questions, then i saw your post. i had to comment.
Actually there was not a power outage during this video. I shut off the mains to test the Honda's performance running the essentials in the house. The Honda passed with flying colors and I am sizing up transfer switches as we speak.
Yeah strange (for you) having most of the lights on the same phase there... What does that leave on the other side.. The fridge, microwave and those "240v" appliances (stove, electric? water heater, etc??) I assuming you switched off all 240v breakers as well to protect against current leaking through those to opposite phase... Or did you turn off most breakers to begin with (turning on what you wanted)? --Doug
yeah... Just really love how quiet it is. I mean I had some video some place of it running and the cars at some distance (~125feet) away was louder that the generator at 8 feet. (continued above...)
I have an EU2000i also (and love it's size and use). I understand electricity so I suspect you have to backfeed the correct phase to get the gas furnace -- what about the fridge? Do you think (if/when) you got a 2nd EU2000i would you link them on the same phase or use it to power the other phase (understand common returns now have possibility for over current). How much do you think the fan uses? Typical 3/4 HP motor right? --Doug
it looks like you just have a standard outlet that is outside and a plug going into it. :L mmmm if someone touched them terminals on that cable from your generator they could get a nasty shock
FWIW: *backfeeding* is a poor alternative to a transfer panel. You need to be knowledgeable (even certified folks make mistakes) to do this work. I will NOT suggest this to anybody. It is dangerous and possibly lethal. Issues with floating or bonded to ground neutrals, knowledge of phases, power factors a few things to consider In place of a transfer box, I've been thinking of isolated power line (in a house) w/ switches to cut over each appliance one at a time.
Generators should an could be fed to a house but the Hot needs to be disconnected from house to not back feed to utility lines………..NOTE !!! This unit supplies 60v to ground from NEUTRAL… THE NEUTRAL ALSO MUST BE DISCONNECTED AT SERVICE
Losing the POCO neutral is irrelevant. The generator neutral is still bonded to the grounding electrode system in the house at the main panel or first disconnect. Your generator will function correctly and safely. Crossed lines on the POCO will trip their circuit breakers. POCO also grounds their neutrals. The neutral to your home from the POCO is grounded at the main service panel or disconnect as well.
how about the nuetral wire going back to the transformer? its still getting back feed, and can kill a linesman!! you still need to discounect the nuetral!!!
Losing the POCO neutral is irrelevant. The generator neutral is still bonded to the grounding electrode system in the house at the main panel or first disconnect. Your generator will function correctly and safely. Crossed lines on the POCO will trip their circuit breakers. POCO also grounds their neutrals. The neutral to your home from the POCO is grounded at the main service panel or disconnect as well.
But in the spirit of "Kids: don't try this at home"..... It should be observed that if the house is still connected to the grid, you can kill somebody who is working to restore power by doing that.
Wow.. most of you guys don't know too much about electricity. First off.. the linemen ground the lines prior to working on them. Therefore.. you will trip the breaker on a honda if you back-fed the line. As for running another EU2000i for the other phase.. that would never work. Even though a house is concidered single phase power it is actually 2 phases. The two generators would not produce the proper sinewave to run 220 lines. Im not running spell check cuz I dont care.
Don't do what this guy is doing! Without proper knowledge of how to safely do the back feed you can be held liable for eletrcuting linemen trying to do repairs! Where talking negligent homicide! DON'T DO IT!
OK dildo a lot of things "work" but just power your stuff from extension cords and leave a complex system you so obviously know nothing about alone or "as is." Apart from anything by following these directions you will have completely voided your homeowner's insurance policy and could be held both criminally and civilly liable for just about anything that may happen as the result of following this very, very foolish video. Use extension cords and have a fire extinguisher handy too.
It definitely works. In the recent snow storm I did exactly that and everything worked. Honda eu2000i companion. Everyone that tries this... MAKE SURE YOU TURN OFF THE MAIN BREAKER FIRST!!! You could kill a lineman.
True that it can be dangerous. However, we're talking survival and emergency situations. If you flip off all the breakers in the panel then everything is isolated from the grid and you can back feed just one circuit by hooking into any receptacle on that circuit... or wire directly through a 220 volt breaker with the main switched off then switch on just the circuits you want to use. Very safe if you simply think about what you're doing. Whether or not codes allow not important to survival.
I think you hit it right on the head. This guy knows a little... a very, very little and as the phrase goes a little knowledge.....
Depends on if the generator can handle the startup, Newer ac units do pretty well and do not draw as hard. Our's is a year old and kicks over pretty well, Generator jumps around a bit until it's settled down, but it works
The neutral flows back to the generator windings not to the utility transformer. Which is why you don't see 3 pole residential transfer switches. Only the hots need to be switched.
Luckily, most of our lights in the house are on the same phase as the furnace. Our fridge is not, so I simply unplug it and use an extension cord to reach a nearby outlet on the same phase as the furnace. I could move the breaker, but I want to keep normal usage somewhat balanced between the two phases. Our furnace uses 7 amps peak during startup, then settles down to about 3 amps running. I would worry about the common neutral and would not hook up a second EU on the second phase if I had one.
oh..btw.. I plan on doing the almost same install on my house. I plan on making a harness that would allow me to plug into 2 plugs that are on opposite phases.
If the power goes out.. I will turn off the main and all 220 (2 pole) breakers. Then plug my harness in that I will have leading to the basement. Fire it up and I will be on my way.
Yes: they're supposed to treat every wire as if it were hot. No: nobody can be 100% perfect - especially when they've been up for 24+ hours working the storm.
And that cord he is using is pretty thin too. Also! Backfeeding without a transfer switch is a HUGE no-no!
great clip, what comfort in showing us into your home.
quite comical when people wonder if home is on grid. these people are dangerous.
Not to add to all those who are telling you how dangerous and illegal (7 years prison time in some states) it is by back feeding your house (and it is) but you might want to have a fire extinguisher close by (try attaching one to the generator) so that regardless of the reason from refueling to your generator blowing up you will be ready for that too!.
There is nothing wrong with backfeeding through an outlet as long as the main breaker is off. Yes with a larger genset supplying the same 120v to two legs with a common neutral, there is a CHANCE of overloading the neut. Of course I'm an electrician and I know what the hell I'm doing, which separates me from most of the 'experts' who comment here.
I figured as much. Just couldn't let it pass as an ex-electric company employee....
If I had it to do over, I'd have had the transfer switch installed before I bought the gennie.
My bad.
Wasted almost a hundred bucks on cords as it is... and now it's pretty obvious to me that I don't want tb unrolling/plugging cords in the middle of the night with freezing rain coming down....
Excellent, practical video. Thanks for the demo.
Those 120 volts get fed back into the power system to the nearest, say, 30,000 volt transformer and get stepped up to the other side of that transformer - to kill or maim the lineman who makes a small mistake.
@mdlatour13
if the power comes back on. he can cause the whole neighborhood to not have power.
that's why he should not do it. it should go in to the fuse box.
double ended plug, got it, and disconnect the mains to prevent death!
It wasn't clear whether the house has been disconnected from the grid.
I'm gusssing it is.
The outside outlet doesn't look like a GFCI, if it was, I wonder if back feeding would mess it up? I'm assuming that the outside circuit is rated at 20 amps, just curious what a furnace, fridge, tv, lights and fan consume?
Safe if you turn the master breaker off then backfeed. Wish people would not get so paranoid about this.
hahaha! i'm sorry, but your so right. such a lo W gen would shutdown in seconds if it was on grid. i know this is an old thread, but i was laughing so hard at the questions, then i saw your post. i had to comment.
Actually there was not a power outage during this video. I shut off the mains to test the Honda's performance running the essentials in the house. The Honda passed with flying colors and I am sizing up transfer switches as we speak.
Yeah strange (for you) having most of the lights on the same phase there... What does that leave on the other side.. The fridge, microwave and those "240v" appliances (stove, electric? water heater, etc??) I assuming you switched off all 240v breakers as well to protect against current leaking through those to opposite phase... Or did you turn off most breakers to begin with (turning on what you wanted)?
--Doug
yeah... Just really love how quiet it is. I mean I had some video some place of it running and the cars at some distance (~125feet) away was louder that the generator at 8 feet.
(continued above...)
Would a 5000 watt generator be able to run the air conditioning on a house is well?
how big is the circuit the generators hooked to
Reasons why such a cable is called a Suicide cable!!!
how do you power your house throu the outlet ?
Do you not have to remove the meter before you do this?
I have an EU2000i also (and love it's size and use). I understand electricity so I suspect you have to backfeed the correct phase to get the gas furnace -- what about the fridge? Do you think (if/when) you got a 2nd EU2000i would you link them on the same phase or use it to power the other phase (understand common returns now have possibility for over current).
How much do you think the fan uses? Typical 3/4 HP motor right?
--Doug
it looks like you just have a standard outlet that is outside and a plug going into it. :L mmmm if someone touched them terminals on that cable from your generator they could get a nasty shock
FWIW: *backfeeding* is a poor alternative to a transfer panel. You need to be knowledgeable (even certified folks make mistakes) to do this work.
I will NOT suggest this to anybody. It is dangerous and possibly lethal. Issues with floating or bonded to ground neutrals, knowledge of phases, power factors a few things to consider
In place of a transfer box, I've been thinking of isolated power line (in a house) w/ switches to cut over each appliance one at a time.
Generators should an could be fed to a house but the Hot needs to be disconnected from house to not back feed to utility lines………..NOTE !!!
This unit supplies 60v to ground from NEUTRAL… THE NEUTRAL ALSO MUST BE DISCONNECTED AT SERVICE
Losing the POCO neutral is irrelevant. The generator neutral is still bonded to the grounding electrode system in the house at the main panel or first disconnect. Your generator will function correctly and safely.
Crossed lines on the POCO will trip their circuit breakers. POCO also grounds their neutrals. The neutral to your home from the POCO is grounded at the main service panel or disconnect as well.
how did you feed the power in the whole house?
how about the nuetral wire going back to the transformer? its still getting back feed, and can kill a linesman!! you still need to discounect the nuetral!!!
Losing the POCO neutral is irrelevant. The generator neutral is still bonded to the grounding electrode system in the house at the main panel or first disconnect. Your generator will function correctly and safely.
Crossed lines on the POCO will trip their circuit breakers. POCO also grounds their neutrals. The neutral to your home from the POCO is grounded at the main service panel or disconnect as well.
But in the spirit of "Kids: don't try this at home"..... It should be observed that if the house is still connected to the grid, you can kill somebody who is working to restore power by doing that.
Wow.. most of you guys don't know too much about electricity.
First off.. the linemen ground the lines prior to working on them. Therefore.. you will trip the breaker on a honda if you back-fed the line.
As for running another EU2000i for the other phase.. that would never work. Even though a house is concidered single phase power it is actually 2 phases. The two generators would not produce the proper sinewave to run 220 lines.
Im not running spell check cuz I dont care.
@w105bks could we have a update plz??
Thru a very dangerous extension cord. This is not the proper way to power a home off a generator
@flyrock45 He cant,, i have one and barely runs just a couple small things much less all the stuff he had on...
Thats really unsafe
I love turtles.
Don't do what this guy is doing! Without proper knowledge of how to safely do the back feed you can be held liable for eletrcuting linemen trying to do repairs! Where talking negligent homicide!
DON'T DO IT!
OK dildo a lot of things "work" but just power your stuff from extension cords and leave a complex system you so obviously know nothing about alone or "as is." Apart from anything by following these directions you will have completely voided your homeowner's insurance policy and could be held both criminally and civilly liable for just about anything that may happen as the result of following this very, very foolish video. Use extension cords and have a fire extinguisher handy too.
FAKE!!!!!!! how can you run all that on a camping genset???