Your last generator Maintenance Run

   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #4,671  
i don think his portable generator is 70 amps. i have not seen a 70 amp portable. it would weigh a ton. even a 12,000 watt generator is only 50 amps. and you can barely move them.
 
Last edited:
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #4,672  
Running Amps
35.5A @ 240V 79A @120V
Peak Amps
52A @ 240V 104A @120V
Running Amps (Propane)
71A @ 120V 35A @ 240V
Peak Amps (Propane)
93A @ 120V 47A @ 240V

my oil burner and well pump are both 120V. Stove is 240, only consumer at that voltage, hot water heater not hooked up.
My window a/c units will be 120V.
I figure I could use one burner on the stove, sparingly
The gen outlet and cord are 50amp 240V, though clearly it won't put that much out except at peak.

Westinghouse WGen95DF Generator - Dual Fuel | Westinghouse Outdoor Equipment
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #4,673  
since that generator is hooked into a 240 outlet at house, its rated 35 amps. a 50 amp receptacle is just right.

when i work with generators in a whole house setting, the generator is always rated at KW output. this is based on the 240 volt output always, as the 120 output only really comes into play if you plug into the onboard outlets. when we size input recepticle and wire and breaker size within house panel, its always based on the 240 volt rating.
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #4,674  
hmmm, I understand max 35amps 240, but can't I pull 50 amps 120V through that cord? Or is that the 35amp breaker Lou mentioned?
I need to go study the gen panel.
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #4,675  
it gets to be real deceiving trying to figure out what a generator can power. they have a continuous rating and a surge rating. the surge will handle so much load for a very short period of time. it helps with motor load starts. usually when portables are hooked into a house the homeowner turns off the larger 2 pole breakers...a/c,range, water heater.... and they cycle breakers as needed. i have customers that will flip on the well breaker to top off tank, then turn off well and flip water heater to heat water. they cant run both at same time on a small generator. but most houses can use a generator to power up all lights and refer,freezers etc without issue on a 7500 watt generator.

i had one customer that was having an issue with his portable as it kept shutting down randomly from overload. i came out and we determined an extension cord ran out to chicken coup and its heat lamps was the problem. it was just too much to be placed on one leg even though the other legs were way under rated power. in theory it should have worked...but it didnt.

im not sure how your unit can pull 70 amps on one leg at any time, as it only has 2 20 amp circuits on the onboard outlets. but i guess if it was run thru a 240 outlet to the house panel, and all your circuits were being fed by one leg of your houses 2 leg system, but no house is wired that way. i have easily installed 100 manual interlock systems over the years, and i have had maybe 3-4 complaints about overloaded units. those are usually caused by leaving the 2 pole breakers on.

on your generator the 50 amp cord output is protected by the generators main breaker. i have no idea what that breakers rating is.
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #4,676  
Had and issue not long ago with all the power shut offs here in California.

I loaned a generator to my tenant and went though a few easy steps on how to use it...

He called to say it's running but the circuit breaker trips instantly now... I asked what he had plugged in as he said it was only for refrigerator, a couple of LED table lamp and charging his computer battery...

I go back and first thing I noticed is a cord going to the bathroom and find his daughter had plugged in a curling iron and another to microwave.

He said it worked earlier in the day but now not...

So all the loads were hitting the 3500 generator at once... did the best I could to explain but I don't think I got through...

I firmly believe technology is expecting too much for many and see this increasing as tech increases...

A corollary is when I called one of my tenants years ago regarding a bounced check... she insisted there was not a problem as she still had plenty of checks in her checkbook...
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #4,677  
A corollary is when I called one of my tenants years ago regarding a bounced check... she insisted there was not a problem as she still had plenty of checks in her checkbook...
marvelous, that's a classic...

when I lived aboard my boat which had four a/c units in S. Florida, living with 50 amp power was a challenge.
I always used to tell folks I had a 100amp wife and a 50 amp boat...
I'm an old hand at flipping breakers and shedding load.
GRS, thanks for explanation
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #4,678  
this was easy, glad it's done
70amp gen powering 50amp breaker
Now to work on instruction sheet and place on wall next to inside panel

What outdoor plug did you end up going with? I’m about to wire in my generator and the local box stores are sold out of 50 amp generator receptacles.
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #4,679  
You would think it's easy, but it's sometimes easy to forget what loads you have if you have a bunch of buildings. Like a heater or compressor somewhere. Sometimes I forget the most obvious. Probably worth having a check list.
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #4,680  
What outdoor plug did you end up going with? I’m about to wire in my generator and the local box stores are sold out of 50 amp generator receptacles.

I haven't gotten the bill yet with the specs on it, but I'll look on the receptacle tomorrow. I think Amazon has some...
 

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

2017 Ford F-150 4x4 Ext. Cab Pickup Truck (A55852)
2017 Ford F-150...
2017 Caterpillar D5 K2 LGP (A55302)
2017 Caterpillar...
2018 JOHN DEERE 410L BACKHOE (A52706)
2018 JOHN DEERE...
2007 DRAGON 150 BBL ALUMINUM VACUUM TRAILER (A53843)
2007 DRAGON 150...
2022 Toro Workman 07921 Electric Utility Cart (A54811)
2022 Toro Workman...
(2) GOLF BAGS W/ CLUBS (A54757)
(2) GOLF BAGS W/...
 
Top