remote exhaust for generator

[Eugen]

We only lost power once, when a large tree was brought down by a storm right over our power lines. Lucky us didn't fall on the house. Our house is really tiny and has been built as a cheap cottage. I have doubled the wall insulation and tripled the roof insulation, replaced some windows. We don't have natural gas here, yet a couple of streets over there is. The gas company says not enough customers on this side to extend. I considered propane tank rental but then I'd need to change quite a lot here to install a propane furnace (no room in the crawl space ). We really want to build an addition to the house, but guess what, the banks don't give you a mortgage for that, you need to build it with your or borrowed money and then you can remortgage. And the current material prices are crazy still. They never lose, banks and insurance companies . So we're ok with electrical heating for now, and it's not that expensive for our tiny house, especially after I improved the insulation.

Back to how to switch power from generator to hydro. I am wondering why not supply power from the 240V/30A generator outlet directly to a 30A outlet like the dryer outlet, after switching hydro off at the main panel. We have a 100A main switch on the panel. Turning that off disconnects you from hydro power, and basically should isolate the house completely even when the power comes on. The power from the dryer outlet that comes from the generator is spread across the house then over the original cabling. Of course, you wouldn't want everything to be on, just the important devices, and you can do that from the electrical panel by turning off fuses. Am I missing something here?

[Timj]

@Eugen your not missing anything, back feeding like this will work. As long as you always remember to turn off the main and don't exceed the 30 amps the circuit is wired for. That said, most places codes require a transfer switch. This makes it fool proof that you don't send power back into the grid.

[Eugen]

@Eugen your not missing anything, back feeding like this will work. As long as you always remember to turn off the main and don't exceed the 30 amps the circuit is wired for. That said, most places codes require a transfer switch. This makes it fool proof that you don't send power back into the grid.

Yes, the code , I know. But perhaps it's ok if you exceed the 30A because the breaker on that circuit should trip. Of course, this is just a thought experiment, I would not actually do it like this, I'd install a transfer switch.

[DavidBarkey]

@Eugen your not missing anything, back feeding like this will work. As long as you always remember to turn off the main and don't exceed the 30 amps the circuit is wired for. That said, most places codes require a transfer switch. This makes it fool proof that you don't send power back into the grid.

Yes, the code , I know. But perhaps it's ok if you exceed the 30A because the breaker on that circuit should trip. Of course, this is just a thought experiment, I would not actually do it like this, I'd install a transfer switch.

It is more than just the code . If you do not have complete separation though an approved transfer switch or manual disconnect system like I have you could face a fine of I beleave it is $100,000 or more and if anyone is injured or worse from back feeding to the system while they are repairing it Criminal charges you will face . In Canada they do not take this lightly because hydro workers have died . Come look at my system take some pictures .
A small propane "externally vented fireplace" run of a couple of 20lb tanks would keep you and your house from freezing during the odd power outage and is more cost effective .Good used ones can be had as more people convert to Natural gas. The trick is to keep a couple of full tanks on hand at all time and refill immediately after use ,no need to rent big tank.

Dave

[DavidBarkey]

Two of the MTD spindle brake disks and some 2" tubing to make the pass through . 2 1/4" hole saw for air clearance . (free)

5' of 25' 1" stainless steal flex pipe ($70)

left over header rap and home made muffler adapter (free)

[DavidBarkey]

Exhaust and a bigg portion of the noise now exits the building . CO detector did not go off while on test run

pony panel with 15 amp breakers that plug into the genny.

Dave

[Eugen]

As usual Dave, from almost nothing, you put together a full solution! Very neat work there and I will copy your doing when the time comes and we get a generator! Thank you for sharing your work with us!

Yes, I've been thinking about a propane based heating system.

[DavidBarkey]

As usual Dave, from almost nothing, you put together a full solution! Very neat work there and I will copy your doing when the time comes and we get a generator! Thank you for sharing your work with us!

Yes, I've been thinking about a propane based heating system.

Depending on your building design you may consider propane fired boiler / hot water radiator system which looks and works in each room similar to electric rads and can be converted to natural gas easily if then come available. This is a great option if forced air is not a viable option due to design .
Anything that runns on a fuel need far less power to run the system , There are more options than you can shake stick at in a month of Sundays .
The question is what will work the best for you in your budget.
Dave

[MattA]

I can buy an interlock kit for my Eaton circuit breaker panel. Its basically a $70 piece of sheet metal that forces you to turn off the main breaker in order to enable the generator breaker which has to be located in the top right panel slots. Never got around to wiring in my Northstar 10000 PPG generator. I ended up getting it sold recently just before Hurricane Henri. At 320lbs it bothered my back to move it even on 4 wheels and it was just too damn loud.

I've still got a generator, its a Westinghouse iGEN4500 inverter generator. Very nice quiet fuel efficient generator. The only downside is its 120V only. I can't run my well pump with it.

Your typical generator runs continuously at 3600rpms to generate 60Hz electricity (3600RPM / 60 = 60Hz). An inverter generator has the ability to vary the engine throttle depending on the load. An inverter generator uses an alternator whose output is then fed into an inverter to generate the proper voltage and frequency independent of engine rpm.

Here are a couple of reviews if anyone is interested:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hIZFVfNHQo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVE_FdTGy_E

End Thread Hijack