Plugging in generator to your house dangerous?

[MAX-24-Dean]

Let's be real if you back feed to the pole the transformer will block current, if it really "powered" the line all your neighbors would drag your gen set into the ground. Transmission line is much higher than 220 vac often between 7200 to 14000 vac .
That said I also cut the main and back feed through a dedicated breaker for that purpose. No reason to send power up the wire to the transformer or power other circuit on the property. If you do get near a down powerline expect a LOT more than 220 vac at 400 amps.

Guess I should have qualified my post a little better. The generator in question was a 50Kw 3 phase diesel self installed and never inspected until after the incedent. So they were placing a possible 3 to 5 amps (12.8Kva) on a portion of the transmision line.

 

[Eagle1]

Now that makes more sense, again I agree with isolating your gen power from street power. Even if your little gen should be safe does not mean you can ignore proper safety precautions.

 

[cqaigy2]

Let's be real if you back feed to the pole the transformer will block current, if it really "powered" the line all your neighbors would drag your gen set into the ground. Transmission line is much higher than 220 vac often between 7200 to 14000 vac .
That said I also cut the main and back feed through a dedicated breaker for that purpose. No reason to send power up the wire to the transformer or power other circuit on the property. If you do get near a down powerline expect a LOT more than 220 vac at 400 amps.

How?

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

How?

A small generator does not typically have the capacity to saturate the core of a utility transformer and will trip out on overload. you may permantly damage a small generator doing this.

 

[Eagle1]

Stepping up 220 to 7200 takes quite a bit current, when the transformer steps up the total watts remain the same (not accounting for loss).
As Max-24-Dean said " The generator in question was a 50Kw 3 phase diesel self installed and never inspected until after the incedent. So they were placing a possible 3 to 5 amps (12.8Kva) on a portion of the transmision line."
A 8000 watt gen would be hard pressed to provide any current at 7200 volts not even factoring loss not even thinking about 14K transformer. Now you most likely have a LOAD on that transmission line which would overload the generator either popping a breaker or dragging the motor down, maybe even smoke the generator.

 

[Eagle1]

A small generator does not typically have the capacity to saturate the core of a utility transformer and will trip out on overload. you may permantly damage a small generator doing this.

I was at a major bank during brownouts and they decided to bring up two big diesel generators, got things out of phase and those puppies bucked like broncos on their mounting pads. Not sure if they were properly installed but made me duck and move to cover. Glad I was not in charge of that mess.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Typical type comment when original comments do not meet the actual facts. Misdirection and ridicule are one resort for some!

Two things you can explain to me with your superior intellect:
1) how is it possible to backfeed power from a generator when MAIN breaker is off.
2) if (according to you, post 49):
"The electrical supply provider's will have some very strict concise rules in place for adding an outsourced power supply. If you are found in abeyance of these rules you will find your only power source will be whatever you can provide. It will not be the electrical supply company."
May be true in some areas, but not here. When power goes out (again...extreme RARE occurrence) all the neighbors start generators, connecting exactly as I do. If what you say holds water then no one for miles around would ever have power again!
A disconnect transfer switch installed by an electrician is not inexpensive, certainly not worth the expense for the rare times we lose power.
Having buildings here on separate circuits I could power the garage only which has bathroom, shower, etc., again...impossible to backfeed incoming power.
The very few times losing power the provider sends a tech door to door making sure generators are off.
You can't make a blanket statement like that since not everyone's situation is the same. Your "facts" are misleading.

 

[BX23S-1]

I have a portable 9500/12500DF gen that we run on propane. (we try not to use gas in our gen if at all possible) I have a 50amp inlet box next to the main box. A 15ft 50amp gen cord goes from my generator into the inlet box. The gen sits in a gen house i built for it. Our generator gets moved to the main box when needed. Our gen sits in the garage, gets moved into the gen house when needed. I also installed a "MAIN/GEN breaker lockout", that way there is no way i`m feeding power back to the main street line. An 8ft grounding rod installed to hook the gen to for grounding for unbonded neutral on the generator. Used it several times since last year, works very well. Keeps the fridge, garage freezer, house furnace, heat tape for the water lines, well pump, a few lights in the house. All good here.

Pay very close attention to "Bonded vs Unbonded" with portable generators! It matters!

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Plugging in a vacuum cleaner is dangerous.

 

[stumblinhorse]

I have a portable 9500/12500DF gen that we run on propane. (we try not to use gas in our gen if at all possible) I have a 50amp inlet box next to the main box. A 15ft 50amp gen cord goes from my generator into the inlet box. The gen sits in a gen house i built for it. Our generator gets moved to the main box when needed. Our gen sits in the garage, gets moved into the gen house when needed. I also installed a "MAIN/GEN breaker lockout", that way there is no way i`m feeding power back to the main street line. An 8ft grounding rod installed to hook the gen to for grounding for unbonded neutral on the generator. Used it several times since last year, works very well. Keeps the fridge, garage freezer, house furnace, heat tape for the water lines, well pump, a few lights in the house. All good here.

Pay very close attention to "Bonded vs Unbonded" with portable generators! It matters!

Bonded or Floating Neutral for generator?

Since my other thread got off the rails I will start a new one about Bonded or Floating neutral generators. I have ordered a generator/inverter for my house. I have a simple sub panel with a manual transfer switch/lockout. So I assume that I have to have a floating neutral generator to plug...

www.tractorbynet.com

I am not clear why you need a grounding rod? Unless I still don’t understand. Totally possible.