question for electricians

[chad]

judging from the union thread, it sounds as if we have a few on here. i didn't want to derail that thread, so i am posting this:

i want to wire my house to be able to switch over to a generator if possible. the main thing i want to be able to run is the blower on my gas furnace. i don't really care about lights, tvs, etc. if the power goes out in northern wisconsin in the winter though, i want to be able to fire up the propane furnace and live.

what should i expect an honest electrician to charge me to do this? $500? more? less? i have a 2,000 watt/16.7 amp generator that should be able to handle the blower, i just need to get it tied in.

[Awoke]

Much more. The transfer switch alone will cost you more than $200.

Installation is never cheap, plus the electrician will have to re-wire the starting wiring for the generator and install a battery backup to provide the automatic starting circuit with power to get the generator fired up. (Your generator must have electric start)

When I was an apprentice, my boss installed an autostarting generator and I think he charged about $2000, but that was also because we had to dig out the trench and lay pipe in a remote shed, etc.

[chad]

holy shit, had no idea it would cost that much. still, better than freezing to death...

[Cebu_4_2]

I back feed mine and pull the elec meter, very clean but messed up if you dont know when the power is back up.

This is simple stuff, to pay thousands is crazy, if ready to drop that load then get a stand by generator that senses when the powers out, runs on propane or nat gas... installed here mid Mich is 3800 and that's with 10k wattts.

[Spectrism]

Who needs an autostarting generator?

For the number of times you will use it, flip the switch manually.

[Awoke]

You're better off just putting the generator in the same room as the blower you want to power, and just get a pulg installed so you can plug it into a receptical OR the generator as required.

Any electrician should be able to help you out for a little coin.

[Dogman]

judging from the union thread, it sounds as if we have a few on here. i didn't want to derail that thread, so i am posting this:

i want to wire my house to be able to switch over to a generator if possible. the main thing i want to be able to run is the blower on my gas furnace. i don't really care about lights, tvs, etc. if the power goes out in northern wisconsin in the winter though, i want to be able to fire up the propane furnace and live.

what should i expect an honest electrician to charge me to do this? $500? more? less? i have a 2,000 watt/16.7 amp generator that should be able to handle the blower, i just need to get it tied in.


Does your gen have a 2 phase? 220v outlet , 2kva I'm thinking not. There is a way but it has its hazards and that is to make up a power cable with grounded male plugs on both ends.(3 prong if 120v) and when the power goes out flip the main breaker in the electrical panel so you do not feedback power to the supply pole.

Then plug one side to the gen set and the other side to a house receptacle. that is on the same electrical side your furnace blower is on. Most all houses have 220 single phase coming in and it is split up in the electrical panel that is why there is 2 rows of breakers in the panel.

Then you can run your furnace and also some lights in the rooms that are on that electrical circuit .

The hazard is exposed prongs on the male hot end. Need to use caution!

This is the way I do it here , except having 230v 2 phase I plug the gen set power cord into my dryer outlet.
So the whole house is powered.

This is not the recommended way , but it does work and all you are out is the cost of the cable and plugs.

Edit: for 120v minimum wire size for the cable would be 12ga. And keep the run (length) as short as possible.

[horseshoe3]

Who needs an autostarting generator?

For the number of times you will use it, flip the switch manually.


Best answer. The transfer switch will cost some money, but installation can be done in less than an hour if you go this way.

I also like the idea of plugging directly into the generator and forgetting the house wiring. It's free and easy, but you will want to have the generator outside and use extension cords. (carbon monoxide)

Chad's advice would work, but I would not do it for two reasons. 1. The exposed prongs are hot as he mentioned 2. You might forget to turn off the mains and then you run the risk of electrocuting a lineman working on the grid.

[Dogman]

Who needs an autostarting generator?

For the number of times you will use it, flip the switch manually.


Best answer. The transfer switch will cost some money, but installation can be done in less than an hour if you go this way.

I also like the idea of plugging directly into the generator and forgetting the house wiring. It's free and easy, but you will want to have the generator outside and use extension cords. (carbon monoxide)

Chad's advice would work, but I would not do it for two reasons. 1. The exposed prongs are hot as he mentioned 2. You might forget to turn off the mains and then you run the risk of electrocuting a lineman working on the grid.



Hurrump!


Cough!

:ROFL:

[Awoke]

You can just run steel tubing from the exhaust to a port outside, and still run the generator in your basement. Very cheap and easy.

[hoarder]

Whatever you do, make sure the power source is disconnected from the generator when it's running because you could electrocute a power company repairman by energizing a line they have disconnected somewhere else.

[Ash_Williams]

Get a wood stove!

[chad]

Get a wood stove!


next year, next year. this year i am all tapped out from fixing roads, fixing the house, & massive prep/ammo aquisitions. ;)

[Awoke]

....ahh yes. I love the feeling of having boxes upon boxes of ammo. ;D

[horseshoe3]

Hurrump!


Cough!

:ROFL:


Sorry, I got a little confused there!