EG question

[T77911S]

here in myrtle beach waiting on hurricane.
i have a 5kw gen
take a look at my plan.
i have a disconnect panel to isolate commercial power.
turn off all brkrs that are 240v
turn off everything in the house but leave the single phase brkrs on.
the EG has 2 120v outlets. (you know where i am going)
connect one outlet to one phase of the panel and the other outlet to the other phase.
that way i can turn on what i need without trying to figure out which leg it is on.

[1990C4S]

Make sure you turn off the incoming breaker, the line workers don't like to be shocked.

You should be able to connect one of each 120 V phases to two breaker legs, with the 240V off.

Be careful....

[schwarz633]

In your house wiring the neutral conductor can be shared between 2 circuits that are on opposite hot legs. A shared neutral only needs to carry the amperage difference between the loads on the 2 circuits. If both circuits are drawing 15 amps the neutral carries 0 amps. If 1 circuit draws 15 amps and the other draws 5 amps the neutral carries 10 amps.

If you power both legs from the same source (EG) and load 2 circuits that are sharing a neutral, the neutral will need to carry the combined amperage of the 2 circuits. Proceed with caution, you could overload (overheat) some house wiring.

[id10t]

You must have a proper transfer switch, etc.

I disconnect my dryer vent hose, run an extension cord into the kitchen, and selectively plug various things in. Wanna use the microwave? Shut everything else off. Fridge and fans and a light can run at once. Computer, DSL, wireless, fans, light at once (until POTS network dies ~96hrs in...). Various combos thereof.

Also have a 400w inverter that I can run off my gas sipping car or lawn mower... VERY handy to have, and at this point, you can probably still get one if you can find an open walmart or car stereo store....

You can also direct wire a lighter plug to a lawn mower batter and use that w/ a car charger to charge phones, tablets, etc.

One thing you may need to be aware of is generator theft. Can't really hide 'em, and they will be worth lots.... Out in the country where I am no problem, but in urban areas - even nice subdivisions - watch out.

[T77911S]

Originally Posted by schwarz633

In your house wiring the neutral conductor can be shared between 2 circuits that are on opposite hot legs. A shared neutral only needs to carry the amperage difference between the loads on the 2 circuits. If both circuits are drawing 15 amps the neutral carries 0 amps. If 1 circuit draws 15 amps and the other draws 5 amps the neutral carries 10 amps.

If you power both legs from the same source (EG) and load 2 circuits that are sharing a neutral, the neutral will need to carry the combined amperage of the 2 circuits. Proceed with caution, you could overload (overheat) some house wiring.

yes, thought of that. BUT, the EG does a have CB on it and the power source is the common single outlet on the EG.

I look at it as running 2 extension cords from the EG to 2 separate sources.
each leg will have its own neutral.
running 2 plugs at EG, 2 12/2 SO chords to 2 separate CB's at the disconnect.

its only a 20amp EG. cant run much.
figure each refrigerator once or twice a day by itself.
TV at night
fan if needed for sleeping.
lights for going to bed or eating.

looks like it is headed my way but hopefully only a cat2.
not much I can do about the house but I can get the 930 out of town.

[T77911S]

no power loss during the hurricane so I did not need it.

I did do a test run on my garage before the hurricane.
I do not suggest this for most as even though I am an electronics tech it was a bit scary powering it up.
when wiring the 2 plugs you need to be 110% sure both are wired the same and they are wired correctly. if you wire one backwards you WILL connect the hot leg and neutral together.

it worked as I planned.
I turned off all 240 brkrs and I was able to power anything on either leg, even at the same time.