Power Outage

cool hand · Aug 28, 2016

Had a power outage this evening--thunderstorms in the area. Usually these are resolved in a relatively short time. This went on for a couple of hours. Then, already dark, I decided it may be wise to bring on the generator. So, with improvised lighting, I make my way to the barn, in the rain, to bring the generator to the house. I fill it with gas, bring it to the house, make all the necessary connections, go to the basement to the breaker panel to make the necessary disconnections, and what do I see?!! the dehumidifier is running! I go back up the steps and flip the switch--voila! It's back on! I predicted to my wife that this would be the result. Ain't life on the farm just tons of fun?!!!

Ted in NE-OH · Aug 28, 2016

Next time do it right away and the power outage will be over faster. LOL

Tx Jim · Aug 29, 2016

Running generator inside home could cause carbon monoxide poisoning to you & your family.

Brendon-KS · Aug 29, 2016

Had a very similar experience years ago during a winter ice storm. Our power had been off for a few days and at the time I didn't have a generator. My in-law's, who live a few miles away, got their power restored before ours so they offered us their generator. So, I went over to get it, got stuff plugged in with extension cords, and before I could even fire it up the power came back on.

gene bender · Aug 29, 2016

Brought gen into house not good

ohiojim · Aug 29, 2016

re-read, he said bring it to the house not into!!!

showcrop · Aug 29, 2016

To Jim and Gene: while many of us have a place to store our generator near to where the plug in point is, many people have to keep them further away and then when needed bring them TO a point where the twelve foot cord will reach.

Tx Jim · Aug 29, 2016

No problem my reading comprehension failed me this AM

Billy Shafer · Aug 29, 2016

We lost power for ten hours Saturday night. I have four generators at the shop. All waiting on parts. But I know if I fix them. We will never lose power again.

Butch(OH) · Aug 29, 2016

Ya it works that way now and then. We have a diesel set that sits in it's own shed. All permanently wired but manually switched and interlocked. The wife is mechanical enough to know what to do but in all my brilliance I never thought about the effort to move that 200 Amp main breaker and the wife cant budge it. Couple weeks ago an overnight storm had the power out and I could see the coop working on it just down the road. I had to go to work. Woke the wife up and ask, you want on generator all day? Or do you want no power until they get it back up? She chose no power which ended up being the right one as it was back up by 10AM.

FBH44 · Aug 29, 2016

Yes, take CO poisoning very seriously. Local woman went out to check on the generator, they had it running simply inside a barn, not the house, and she walked into the barn to check and never came out. Overcome by fumes instantly, keeled over and collapsed died instantly.

FBH44 · Aug 29, 2016

"in it's own shed?" Might be very dangerous, read my post above. My opinion, maybe under it's own roof might be OK, but never inside its own building.

Russ from MN · Aug 29, 2016

Many folks have there generators in a separate shed with the exhaust piped out, very safe.

jimg.allentown · Aug 29, 2016

CO poisoning does NOT kill "instantly." It takes a while. While she may have been overcome by the fumes, death would have taken more time.
CO poisons by displacing the oxygen in the blood's hemoglobin. Basically suffocation in a more "chemical" manner.

D beatty · Aug 29, 2016

I run mine in my barn - workshop 40 X 60 with doors closed and throw overhead doors wide open and wait a few minutes before I service generator.Building sets a little over 100 foot from house so no worry about fumes .

JMS/.MN · Aug 29, 2016

You really should get a transfer switch, instead of hooking up connections, and then throwing breakers off. That usage would get you disconnected from our REA, and with very good reason. I wouldn"t want to be your lineman.

buickanddeere · Aug 29, 2016

Find somebody with a Draeger and measure the CO in your shed. You will be surprised how high it will be and will drag the generator outside .

Harold Melius · Aug 29, 2016

When I built my present home a couple of years ago, I installed a whole house generator with an automatic transfer switch. Best 5 grand I ever spent.

Texasmark1 · Aug 29, 2016

Before I added a permanent Generac with the transfer switch, I used portables for 30 years but ran extension cords from the gen. to the necessities so that I didn't have to worry about killing somebody via back feed.

My "best spent money" came from the great prices I got for my herd when I retired and downsized......like $3200 for a 3 year old (grade) Brangus bull, and similar deals for the cows and calves.

FBH44 · Aug 29, 2016

That's exactly the set-up that killed that wife.

K Effective · Aug 29, 2016

I've got an older Gillette generator, 9K peak, 7500 normal load, powered by a single cylinder Briggs. Having multiple vehicles I never worry much about the battery- I figure I can always jump start it. Heavy beast, I load it on the truck with the FEL. Three years ago, power was out at Mom/Dad's for several days over the Fourth of July, so after the first night, they wanted to use my generator. I obviously obliged, but getting there, I backed up to the garage with the generator on the back of the truck- both their vehicles inside facing forward, not enough jumper cable to reach the truck engine. Certainly not lifting that off the truck by hand! Some plans just never come together. Dad had a big 240V recept in the garage I wanted to use to back feed from the driveway, but it was unhooked at the breaker box. Ended up running the SO cord from the generator 30A outlet through the hole in the wall into the basement and wired up to the dryer breaker to back feed with the main open. Neighbors all had tiny Honda generators running, I fired that big dog up and showed them what making electricity is all about! Muffler glowing red in the dark and all!

Billy Shafer · Aug 29, 2016

A generator can be in it's on shed. As long as it has plenty of fresh air intake and the exhaust is piped to the outside. I prefer ones that have a fan blowing the air out. This creates a flow of air that can rid the shed of any fumes.A generator should never be run in a garage attached to a house. No matter how big the doors are.They should never be run closer than ten feet from house. I know people that say I have done it many times with no problems. But remember it only takes one time.To kill someone.

showcrop · Aug 29, 2016

(quoted from post at 09:08:23 08/29/16) You really should get a transfer switch, instead of hooking up connections, and then throwing breakers off. That usage would get you disconnected from our REA, and with very good reason. I wouldn"t want to be your lineman.

JMS, if you are referring to Butch's interlocked arrangement you may want to ask your lineman about it. Or any good electrician. Interlocked double disconnects are perfectly safe for homeowners linemen, electricians, and are perfectly legal.

Billy Shafer · Aug 29, 2016

Why back feeding is a very bad idea.
Insurance company finds out. Your insurance will be canceled.
Power company finds out. They will pull your meter.
If your city has a building inspector or Fire Marshall and they find out.You will be facing some large fines.
You can be charged with any damage or deaths you cause.

I know because I have been called in as a consultant in four lawsuits.

Paul from MI · Aug 29, 2016

Glad to see all the negative comments on backfeeding from a generator. I have several friends(one is a master electrician) who just don't understand the danger and the consequences of a mistake. Never do it!!

D beatty · Aug 29, 2016

She had to do something stupid. If you reach in building and open doors and shut generator down and get out off building for a while. If you do it that way your not going to gas you.

W_B · Aug 30, 2016

(quoted from post at 13:10:24 08/29/16) We lost power for ten hours Saturday night. I have four generators at the shop. All waiting on parts. But I know if I fix them. We will never lose power again.

I know this will happen. I bought another generator at a farm sale, it wouldn't start there so no one wanted it. I snapped it up really cheap. Got it home and got it started and it runs great. Now I have one for the house and one for the barn.... Never had a power outage after that.

J.Wondergem · Aug 30, 2016

I have a little light wired in before the main box. Easy to see when the power comes back on.

Power Outage

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