I have a 5000/6250 peak. The electrician who wired up my transfer switch asked me why I have such a big generator. I asked him what he uses and he said 2500 watt. I don't know if he is starting up a well pump or not. The gauges on my transfer switch that show watt usage, don't move to much when the well kicks in. What I have found out in the few times using it during a outage is, its probably a bit overkill. Other than an occasional well cycle, a few lights, and refrigerator is about all a person really needs. I wont plug in the freezer unless the outage is prolonged. I passed up a good deal on a Honda 2000, with only 2 hrs for $750. The last outage I wished I hadn't, they are so quiet compared to my 10hp Subaru running wide open.
Generator and sizing
- Thread starter kybaseball
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The generator I had was a 7500 watt and it did a good job but I got a deal on this one and it will do 15000 watt running and 22000 watt starting amps . The only problem with these bigger generators is that they are gas hogs !
ponyexpress976
nipple fritters
I got a military surplus MEP-003a. A guy up in the Poconos is retired army...guess what his job was? Yup, working on these generators. He goes around to all the base auctions and buys them up, refurbishes them and resells to keep himself busy on the weekends.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, this little gem hummed for 8 days straight. Only turns at about 1800 rpm so that combined with the diesel powerplant and I was only giving it fuel about every 10-12hrs. Went through about 3/4 of a tank (6 gallon) in that time. As soon as I get it's final resting place set up, I'll add the line to the auxiliary tank (home heating oil, 250 gal). In comparison, my neighbor was filling his gas genny every 4 hours (5 gallon tank). I could hear his while standing next to mine, he's 100 yards away.
That beast runs the WHOLE house. The only time we have to be careful with loading it is when the wife gets a little nuts in the kitchen (Think Clark Griswald, Christmas Vacation, turning on his lights the first time). Even then, it grunts a little then keeps going.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, this little gem hummed for 8 days straight. Only turns at about 1800 rpm so that combined with the diesel powerplant and I was only giving it fuel about every 10-12hrs. Went through about 3/4 of a tank (6 gallon) in that time. As soon as I get it's final resting place set up, I'll add the line to the auxiliary tank (home heating oil, 250 gal). In comparison, my neighbor was filling his gas genny every 4 hours (5 gallon tank). I could hear his while standing next to mine, he's 100 yards away.
That beast runs the WHOLE house. The only time we have to be careful with loading it is when the wife gets a little nuts in the kitchen (Think Clark Griswald, Christmas Vacation, turning on his lights the first time). Even then, it grunts a little then keeps going.
No offense, GM_Rummy, but you are setting someone up for a disaster. There is NO excuse for not running a transfer switch. We can play the what-if game, but eventually someone will forget to run the generator in the correct sequence and an innocent person (lineman or otherwise) will get hurt.
If I lived near you and knew you had set up your generator like that, I'd probably turn you in.
**As a side comment, it may be because I sat through a three hour presentation today at an EMS conference by a burn unit specialist and among other things, he had a few slides showing the aftermath of someone "shocked" with "only" 85 volts but enough current to end up requiring an arm and leg amputation. It's just not worth the risk to save the cost of a transfer switch and doing the electrical job properly.
If I lived near you and knew you had set up your generator like that, I'd probably turn you in.
**As a side comment, it may be because I sat through a three hour presentation today at an EMS conference by a burn unit specialist and among other things, he had a few slides showing the aftermath of someone "shocked" with "only" 85 volts but enough current to end up requiring an arm and leg amputation. It's just not worth the risk to save the cost of a transfer switch and doing the electrical job properly.
John R
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There is no law saying you have to have a transfer switch.
As I posted earlier in this thread, I don't use a transfer switch either. So I'm curious, what would you "turn me in" for?? There ain't any law or regulation requiring me to have or use one where I live. Everything past the meter belongs to me... it's mine, and I can do what I want with it. That doesn't mean I wouldn't have liability if I screwed something up, I would be held responsible for my actions... but my actions are my choice, not yours. Don't think for a minute we all live under the same heavy-handed regulation y'all have in the Pacific coast states. You may not believe this, but where I live, I can even flatuate in public if I choose.
*
If you're going to call me out, please get my name right. I work with this stuff every day, and work with stuff that's way more dangerous than residential (we go up to 13800V coming into the building) and have current carrying capabilities in the hundreds of amps per machine. I am not going to wire in, and rewire my house for something I might need once a year for a few hours. I am the only one that does the hooking up, turning on and off, so there is no one else. If I move, I will remove my setup and take it with me. You have to remember the linesmen work with live stuff all the time. When power it out, I am sure they expect both side could be hot, and that someone didn't turn their main off. There's a million scenarios. If you read my post closer, you'd see that I verify that I'm open and disconnected from the incoming line. I can bet that over 90% of the people that don't have a transfer switch, don't do that!!
If you call me in, then you'll be busy on the phone calling in a lot of people in the county. No offence, but you can keep your safety bible away from me. I'll be quite fine, as I have the right equipment to work on this stuff, and use it on a daily basis.
Safety bible 
I like that‼
Damn amazing how easily people can be fooled.
"Yup, now if'n I follow all the rules and such in this here 'bible' it'll all be good... nothin' bad can happen 'cause the guys who wrote it are real smart and such... they're lookin' out for me, protecting me from myself."
LMFAO
*
I like that‼Damn amazing how easily people can be fooled.
"Yup, now if'n I follow all the rules and such in this here 'bible' it'll all be good... nothin' bad can happen 'cause the guys who wrote it are real smart and such... they're lookin' out for me, protecting me from myself."
LMFAO
*
alleyyooper
Addicted to ArboristSite
When I was a boy in the 1950's I could walk into any store that sold ammo and buy 22LR shells by the truck load or shotgun shells. I could buy a gun of any caliber of gauge too. Today if your under the age of consent that can't happen at legal stores. But as time pasted buy and enough nut cases did the mass killings I at age 67 have to jump thru hoops to buy a gun and those who live in New York No are having to jump thru hoops to buy ammo even.
With enough line men dying due to afro engineered generator hook ups and the most important step of shutting off the main line switch laws will be passed. Some will contain wording that will allow them to come in to your house and inspect and fine you for not using a transfer switch.
About 8 years ago a line man was killed just 2 miles down the road from my home because some one had did the afro engineered the gen set hook up and didn't bother to shut down the line power. He now is in prison for up to 15 years for man slaughter.
Transfer switches are really cheap compared to a human life, They also contribute to the Jack azzes in our state capitals passing more restrictive laws. These days it is city people who are behind these types of laws.
Al
With enough line men dying due to afro engineered generator hook ups and the most important step of shutting off the main line switch laws will be passed. Some will contain wording that will allow them to come in to your house and inspect and fine you for not using a transfer switch.
About 8 years ago a line man was killed just 2 miles down the road from my home because some one had did the afro engineered the gen set hook up and didn't bother to shut down the line power. He now is in prison for up to 15 years for man slaughter.
Transfer switches are really cheap compared to a human life, They also contribute to the Jack azzes in our state capitals passing more restrictive laws. These days it is city people who are behind these types of laws.
AlOxford
ArboristSite Operative
When I was a boy in the 1950's I could walk into any store that sold ammo and buy 22LR shells by the truck load or shotgun shells. I could buy a gun of any caliber of gauge too. Today if your under the age of consent that can't happen at legal stores. But as time pasted buy and enough nut cases did the mass killings I at age 67 have to jump thru hoops to buy a gun and those who live in New York No are having to jump thru hoops to buy ammo even.
With enough line men dying due to afro engineered generator hook ups and the most important step of shutting off the main line switch laws will be passed. Some will contain wording that will allow them to come in to your house and inspect and fine you for not using a transfer switch.
About 8 years ago a line man was killed just 2 miles down the road from my home because some one had did the afro engineered the gen set hook up and didn't bother to shut down the line power. He now is in prison for up to 15 years for man slaughter.
Transfer switches are really cheap compared to a human life, They also contribute to the Jack azzes in our state capitals passing more restrictive laws. These days it is city people who are behind these types of laws.
I don't see the dark forces of gun control behind this, and your choice of description for poor installations is unfortunate at best and probably will and should result in this thread disappearing. The National Electric Code is not law, but the only way to be code-compliant with NFPA 70 as regards a generator is to have a transfer switch. My electric utility requires one and will disconnect service until you get one if they know you don't have one, and I don't blame them. Yes, linemen work with both sides hot all the time, but I don't think trying to minimize their risk by requiring a transfer switch is an unreasonable imposition, and it's not just the linemen who are at risk. I work with high voltage every day as well, and I'm not afraid of it, but it certainly commands respect.
Finally, I'm not a city person, past, present, or future, but I don't think that following the code in this case is an unreasonable requirement. Your right to do whatever you want on your own property ends at increasing the risk of killing me.
NSMaple1
Addicted to ArboristSite
With enough line men dying due to afro engineered generator hook ups
About 8 years ago a line man was killed just 2 miles down the road from my home because some one had did the afro engineered the gen set hook up
What the heck does that mean?
Shagbark
ArboristSite Guru
I have a Miller 225NT welder/generator and a transfer switch. Weld option has come in handy many times. 8kw is plenty if you are not using a double oven or electric clothes dryer.
Sawyer Rob
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stihly dan
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I may be wrong but wont a generator not work if the main breaker is open. Everyone on that line will be pulling from it over drawing it.
hseII
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Pics Please
That flat ain't so... a total misconception of "rights"... that ain't how it works at all.
"Rights" are compossible... they can not conflict.
For example you have a "right" to own property, let's say a car, and you have the "right" to operate that car... although, operating it on a public roadway is a privilege, not a right, the right to otherwise operate it still remains. When you engage in your "right" to operate that car it is "increasing the risk of killing me" because you could possibly lose control and run over me, or something on the car could malfunction causing the car to hit me, or any number of other things. Just because it "increases the risk" to me does not preclude you from exercising your "right"... but, depending on several different things, you could be held liable/responsible, legally and/or civilly, if your car does run over me. You have the "right" to life, meaning if someone illegally takes your life they will be held accountable under the law... but nowhere are you guaranteed the "right" to a risk-free life.
I in fact do have the "right" to connect my generator to my private property in any way I see fit (unless there's a local law, regulation or ordinance forbidding it). But I do not have the "right" to energize the grid lines with it by leaving the main closed (because the grid lines are not my property). Just because I could possibly forget to open the main does not preclude me from exercising my "rights"... because, the simple fact is, unless I actually do screw-up no person's "rights" have been denied. But if I do screw-up and injure or kill you, depending on circumstances, I could be held accountable under the law... because, in that case, I have denied you the "right" to life. My "right" to connect the generator has not changed, but I don't have the "right" to use the generator to kill you (deny you of your "right" to life).
nathon918
Addicted to ArboristSite
if a lineman dies from being electricuted it's on him, weather it was an accident or he was doing something he shouldnt have, should always assume its live, unless you have 100% control of any possible feed...
Thompson20398
ArboristSite Lurker
For the people who choose to not use a transfer switch. . . .Why? Is there a benefit? Cheaper? More efficient? You're lazy? Just curious.
I don't mean the people who just use an extension cord. I 'm referring to the people who are wiring their whole homes at the box to the generator.
I don't mean the people who just use an extension cord. I 'm referring to the people who are wiring their whole homes at the box to the generator.
alleyyooper
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Those same type people who made the gun control laws. will as time goes by make laws on jenny hook ups when enough heat comes their way.
Al
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