I love instructions that say WHY. like when putting a sticker clear cover I finally got explanation It tells you to do it in the bathroom right after you run steam (hot water) it's to knock dust out of the air so you get less dust when you put the "sticker" on your phone screen.
Hopefully this area is dry well covered ... because correct hardie install for penetrations over 1.5 inches you want to use z flashing with a 1/4 inch gap before hardie starts above your block made of pvc is best material to use. You caulk up sides of penetrating block and base and in this case around the electrical block attached to pvc block.
Thank you for going into detail about how when we don't have interlocks, we can kill the linemen. That's a detail few get into, and most people think electricity only goes one way - from the power plant to us, not the other way around. That's a very important concept to teach since more and more people are going to solar, batteries, etc.
...it also helps prevent you from powering your neighborhood a little bit and nobody has enough energy to do anything. Then you ask "What's wrong? It's pushing 3000W of juice but I can't power my little radio!"
Even for those who don't give a damn about human life (too many people) it's also just overloading their generator by trying to power the whole neighborhood
Also if the generator is connected to the mains when they come back on the line frequencies will be out of phase resulting, effectively, in a short circuit that could toast the generator, and wiring between before the breakers trip.
It is not just a danger to linemen, but to yourself as well. Backfeeding the lines can kill a lineman, but it can also catch your generator on fire, when the feed is restored, and your generator is out of phase.
Linesmen are required to ground the power lines to avoid this situation 👌if one got fried its because he didn't follow proper procedures. Best practice is to throw your main breaker, separating it from the grid, to avoid back feed
"Never Half-Ass anything. If you aren't going to Whole-Ass it, why bother doing it?" and "If we don't have the time to do it right, when will we find the time to do it over?"
just plug the cord ends in before you turn on the generator its not that hard, do you call a kitchen knife a suicide stick? because it can also kill you if you use it incorrectly
@@GamingUpNorthstanding voltage on a suicide cord is an unseen, potentially fatal hazard. The knife thing is dumb. This is a good video, especially the part about the interlock on the breaker.
@@andrewwilson6222 The person plugging in the suicide cord should just use their brains. Only touch the plastic of the plugs, not the pins themselves. And suicide is a bit exaggerated... I've had 230 volts on me many times, still alive and kicking.
I don't know what it is... Your Voice? Your Confidence? What ever. . . . When I watch your video, I'm transported somewhere, where time does not exist. THANK YOU
it COULD be a self induced singularity, possibly a slight bending of space due to increasing density of gravity waves, most likely is an out of body experience normally experienced by folks on or at their death bed
That "jiggle test" is crucial. Can't tell you how many trim QAs I did behind a guy putting a panel up and they had loose connections in their terminals
I've never seen a video of yours before, and I'm unlikely to watch a whole ton of them at this time, but you've got so many little things to show how good you are at this. When you wanted him to get a second look at the spreadsheet you made on the fusebox, I could *hear* the pride in your voice. You're a good worker, and I'll be one of many to tell you it. Keep it up, Stud. It was impressive to see the care you put into your work.
I ran across these ge gentlemen a couple of years ago. For tips on something can’t recall anymore and I am simply hooked on these guys. I love dads mentality of doing it right the first time and it’s ok to take a little extra time to make sure it’s done right and it lasts. I also love that his son is adopting that good work ethic. I wish these guys where in Southern California so they could remodel my house!!! Take the time to watch their other videos. You won’t regret it. Support they channel brother watch here and there. Great comment. I am sure they appreciate it.
@@BigOsTaco Single parent Moms do the best they can but it makes a really big difference when there I a Dad in the home. Thanks for the great videos, StudPack!
i'll be real, this just showed up in my recommended section. i don't have much need for Home improvement type content, but from this video alone i like this, because it's practical info that can actually be applied. i feel like i learned more from this video, than the 5 years of High School, and my year of taking Welding in a trade school. earned another subscriber.
Hey gang, lots of comments about the following. Thought I'd address them. #1 The existing wire from the receptacle to the panel is 10 gauge. Color coded Romex started in 2001. It was all the same white sheathing before that. Interestingly, color coding is not required by NEC, NFPA, or UL. It simply makes the inspector's job a lot easier (14G white, 12G yellow, 10G orange) #2 This is an unconditioned outdoor storage shed, no insulation required. Not sure why there's no sheathing under the Hardi-Plank on that wall. There is everywhere else #3 WE SEALED THE BOX when we returned the cord😁 #4 We were kidding around about not modifying extension cords. We've done a couple of great videos on that subject 👍 #5 I put a new female plug on the cord Thanks, Paul
That’s a great power inlet. I’ve never had emergency backup so I’ve never done one of these but I like it. Also that panel schedule is BOSS! I’m a firm believer in actuate legible panel schedules! Saves time, headaches, and unintentional zaps
there is another style available that is nonmetallic and has the inlet in the bottom - it's a bit bulkier, but it makes it a bit harder for water to get in around the cord while it's in use.
OMG!!! An actual "how to" without a story line or narrative or wasted time of not topic related drivel.!!! ....LOVE IT !!!! Get to the point... How to do it...Easy to understand.. OUTSTANDING !!! I've just recently discovered your videos in my search for reliable how to's for those of us who enjoy doing it ourselves correctly and safely and every one I saw I had to "smash" the like button and save for future reference! Guess I'm going to just have to subscribe! Keep up the GREAT work and videos! I'm looking forward to watching and learning much more!
I am Mister Safety in my group of DIYers and I loved this video. Always preach lineman safety to my friends. Job was well done. Absolute pleasure to watch them work.
The documentation on the fusebox is something to applaud. Everyone should do that kind of thing for everything. A little bit of extra work now saves you a lot of headaches later.
I really like that you created an actual list of which breakers go to what. Every place I've lived in never has the list filled out and you have to figure it out on your own.
Residential guys. Labeling circuits and then turning in final prints with the revision is standard procedure. At any larger commercial or industrial build, you’re going to have many.
I, too, admire the quality upon which you insist when putting your projects together. I also like the way you explain what you are doing and why. Always clear, always appreciated!
This sort of video is amazing! People don't seem to realize how many little steps are involved in a "simple" job like this, like adding the blocking (love the pocket hole jig!) In the video at 12:50 when you say, "It's going all the way in; we don't want any shiners," that's the sort of pithy wisdom that sticks with you, but doesn't usually make it into an instruction manual or classroom curriculum, you only get that from OTJ training, or when we get to shadow a master at work. Great filming, great editing, and great work! There's a lot I'm taking away from this, but I'll let you keep that FL heat though!
Seen alot of fake electrician channels. Half of their advice violates the NEC. You are by far the first channel that is 100% spot on with knowledge and codes. You have a master electrician as a sub for life. 👏👏👍
This is exactly the work my husband and I did and seeing this makes me happy to see your work and the safety installed. Also, my grandfather was 50 years in the IBEW, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Shout out to electricians everywhere.
The section on the suicide cord is a legit life saver for some homeowners. Folks start those generators up with the plug in the generator and the other end not plugged in, especially when they are in a hurry. Really like the videos by Stud Pack - straightforward and at a level of detail that explains the topic from an educational standpoint and of course the "how to". I also did not know about the step up, good video.
that kind of cord should be BANNED and the NEC should add code to do it the way these guys did here! good lord, that is an an accident looking to happen...
Ok. So what if it's plugged in before the generator is started up? Don't lick the copper and you'll be fine. I play with live 480 every day. More voltage on each leg than both legs of genset create together. Just don't touch the copper bits and you'll be fine.
@@sammorgan31 Not really, is not that male ends on their own are dangerous... And I dont live in the US, but man.. u gotta admit selling a cable with 2 male ends is A HALF-STEP close to selling one of those put-two-fingers-in suicide adapters iss crazy in my pov
Can't tell you how many of these DIYers repairs I've had to go fix over the years here in CA. I always shake my head and shudder at the lengths some people will go to to serve themselves without a single thought or care to those working "upstream", just to give themselves some back up power. Fantastic vid and hopefully knocks some sense into these DIYers out there!
@@Cheepchipsable I've heard of people using a suicide cord to feed power to their home through the outlet the clothes dryer plugs into. I know that can't be safe.
I admire your enthusiasm and attention to detail. It's a pleasure watching two hardworking people who take pride in an honest day's work, sharing their knowledge. Father and son teamwork at its best, you guys are an inspiration. All the best from Minnesota.
And they are criminally underpaid. They get paid to fix real world problems. Doctors get paid three times as much to practice and get it wrong a very high percentage of the time.
Good points about the suicide cord. Suggestions: I would have instead put in a flush mount receptacle, so it doesn't stick out from the wall, and be in the way outside. There's plenty of room inside the stud wall for the receptacle. I would also have caulked around or behind whatever receptacle you use, so blowing rain won't seep behind the receptacle and eventually rot the wood behind it. It looks like where the receptacle is located, there might not be a LOT of blowing rain to hit it, but it never hurts to seal it anyway...takes just a couple of minutes. This will also make it easier to seal against airflow into the building.
i'm a UK approved electrician, the apprentices were always told to check screw tightness before shutting something. they were also told to leave a little spare length, for the next guy, in case of problems so that they had a little spare to play with. and the earth wire always got covered by earth sleeving green/yellow or green, in case of a short against something when it's screwed up tight. and i've seen a few suicide extensions with a plug on both ends :D i love the consumer unit spreadsheet, things like that can save so much time in repairing something.
For a possible future scenario... The hole you made through the plywood was big enough for the metal Romex connector... You can screw the connector onto the wire first then put it through the knockout on the box and install the locknut. 👍
@@IrrationalBstrd Yeah but what are the odds someone figures that out unless they have prior knowledge of that technique? I'm not sure they teach it in the classes you can take to become an electrician, but it's something worth knowing for sure. Someone ought to go around and write down all these little things you "learned from your mentor", otherwise they might become forgotten. That kind of trade knowledge that isn't in a book is an extremely important thing to put down in books somewhere, and I have an example of why: This kind of trade knowledge becoming forgotten is why we can't build the mighty Rocketdyne F-1 engine that powered the first stage of the Saturn-V moon rocket any more (and haven't been able to since the start of the '80s). Yes, NASA still has the blueprints for the F-1 engine, but that's not all you need to make one. What we lost are the trained tradespeople that were actually building those engines, and had figured out all the little tricks and techniques that turn that blueprint from a plan into something you can take a series of steps to produce. Now, because nobody wrote down the knowledge they had that was required to build one properly, we can't build it any more unless we go thru and figure all that out again.
Really happy see many positive comments on your chanel. Not my Dad, but really learn a ton from you on this video and make senses all the way. I'm from Minnesota with cold blizzards,tornados and humidity and really helps to any one lives in United States with all weather variations. Thank you.God Bless!
You can’t get any better than this channel. Always detailed and no bs. They let you know the issue. Why it’s an issue. How to fix it. And the materials needed to fix the issue and any issues that may encounter. Thank you guys.
Little tip for ya - use a square bit on those electrical screws and never strip the heads . Especially on those higher gauge higher torque ones :) almost all outlets are either s1 or s2 & once you start doing it this way you’ll never go back .
I appreciate how careful y'all are about the electrical stuff you put out. You've always gone to the effort of learning from a trained and experienced pro to find out every aspect that pertains to the job you're showing, and that's more important than a lot of tradesmen realize.
You guys rock it is so hard to find people that do things right, take pride in their work, and enjoy passing on your knowledge. Keep up the good work guys
Shout out to the algorithm showing me videos I didn't know I needed to see. We bought out first home a year ago and have been doing a lot of DIY this summer. The cleanliness and organization in your work is an inspiration. Makes me want to go straight down to the basement and start new label sheets for both boxes, and open up the receptacles in the old part of the house (~100 years old) to see what horrors lie within.
great video. I do have one criticism. When taking apart the inlet at the house, you should have tested for power. Even if you "know" the power is off, there is a chance that there could be a feedback on that line.
@@rogerbarton497 Exactly or take one end off and hide it. The Dolphin RV I bought had a suicide cord(120v) in it. I cut off one end to disable it, replaced it with a standard ext cord, and replaced the standard outlet(really an inlet in this case) with a recessed male one.
great video. I learned a lot in a bunch of categories from you. Something I really appreciate about your video is that you don't take anything for granted and show footage up close of the details. Many videos online skip steps with cuts or sped up video(probably thinking that the steps are remedial) I really appreciate your explanations and your down to earth pragmatic decision making. Thank you for making and sharing this video. Much respect.
That 1/4 x 12” drill bit is pretty handy to keep in your tool box. I use it a lot for wall penetrations for conduit. A lot of guys use a hole saw with an extension but once you get through the 1st layer of drywall, the shaft of your extension is much smaller than the 1st hole and it’s near impossible to get the hole on the opposite side of the wall to line up with the 1st so your conduit passes through the wall straight without trimming the hole on one side or the other. With the long 1/4” drill bit you drill a pilot hole all the way through the wall and then use a hole saw to drill in towards the wall from both sides. After drilling through the 1st layer, when your bit bottoms out on the other side of the wall, there’s enough of the bit sticking out of the wall to line it up square with the wall and level before you penetrate the other side.
This is definitely an important detail; could see daylight coming through the socket from the rear and that's just asking for rainwater to go inside that wall cavity and trigger rotting/ mold on that drywall, especially in a hurricane area. Suprising just how fast a wall cavity will fail if it's not weatherproofed.
@@hijackstudios also, this is probably a smaller issue, but one I noticed nonetheless. The pocket screws are barely holding into any material on the stud because the tip of the screw is pointing toward the outer face of the stud. Pocket screws are supposed to be oriented toward the meat of the material they're screwing in to. that tiny bit of wood on the corner of the stud could easily crack or even entirely break off when tightening it down, leaving the screw with nearly zero pullout strength. If during a hurricane a some debris hits that box it could knock it loose, creating a serious hazard, hell a rowdy toddler could ram into it a knock it loose. Best way would be to put a strip of blocking on either side of the plywood panel screwed on through the face of the ply, slide it into place, then screw through those into the wide face of the stud. It would be much stronger.
Your videos are among the best for real-world scenarios. Unlike other "professional" videos where everything just works right, and nothing seems to go wrong. Also, as others have said, your attention to detail and your explanations make for a great experience. Thank you.
Your content is always on the money. Just getting after it - and getting after it right. Anyone who wants to learn home improvements...this is the right channel to watch. What makes you guys cool is you sweat the big things....AND the little things. And in LA, you just plain sweat. 🤣
Great video, you covered a lot of basics but I was surprised that while you discussed changing out the 20A power outlet, you never mentioned the wiring gage at all. The copper wire looks like 12AWG ... could be 10AWG but you really should have talked about the importance of ensuring the existing wiring can support the load capacity of your new connection point.
Right is right, and that was a completely correct install. L14-30 plug&receptacle for a 10/4 SO cord, inlet box, and the interlock kit are key ingredients to a correct portable generator install. Nice work.
I have remodeled a couple of my homes and a cottage and I have watched a lot of UA-cam videos to help me along. Yours is one of the best I have seen. The attention to details, the tricks of the trade, the review of the work done and the overall production (sound and lighting) are all great. Short and sweet in a lot of ways but also covers all the important points. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
This is great info that I have related to hundreds of customers over the years. Thank you for putting this out there. I’m sure this will reach many more people than I ever could.
This dude just straight up said "So how does a portable generator work? Well we pulled it out and it's right here, we started it up and it's generating power"... I've never heard a more elaborate, detailed explanation of how it works until now!
I enjoy watching you guys. I'm learning a lot. I have a contractor friend who works like you, enjoys doing the task right, and takes pride in his work. Good job. Keep the videos coming.
I only skipped through the video real quick, because I don't have time to watch it right now. But that excel print out for the panel with the date and red highlights was great! Wish more would do that.
Great dialog - - - Thank you for showing us DIYers not only the proper way to do several things in this video but the reasoning WHY. PS - love the use of the oscillating saw (very handy tool)
Always enjoy your vids and how you break down things and add pro tips to the mix. Always a pleasure stopping by the channel. Look forward to more tips and tricks!
I have done a LOT of 120 wiring, but far less 240. This video not only gave great info on this particular application, but also just general 240v wiring safety considerations. Since I have some 240v work to do in the near future, this video showed up just in time to maybe prevent me from hurting myself. Ya done good !
Thank you so much for your video! I have been trying to figure out how to make a cord for my generator to house without making a suicide cord. So glad I come across your video. Material is ordered and be here tomorrow. I live in Kentucky and we are getting to a point of bad weather for ice now. Thanks for taking the time to make the video.
That is a great comment for those that are not familiar with the "suicide cord." I've always told those that use them to PLUG INTO THE HOUSE FIRST before even "STARTING" much less thinking about plugging into the generator. But, that's just from an old f@rt that's been on this planet over 3/4 of a Century using common sense, and trust me, common sense is "not" something we are born with. We have to "learn and earn" it!!!!
Yeah I just recently, about 6 months ago heard about these cords. To me though when dealing with 220, which I'm very afraid of lol, it's common sense not to have power going to it before you plug it in. I realize and understand that inexperienced people who don't have the fear of it they should could easily make a mistake.
A vice president from Chicago's, Com Ed told me that they have had Lyman killed from generators back feeding the grid. So thank you for showing your viewers a way to connect a portable generator that's in compliance with NEC: it certainly is a public service
So much great information in a short amount of time, no BS, quality work and even a few tips along the way. THIS HERE is what UA-cam is for! Thank you. New subscriber.
"No BS"? All the people who thought he was going to talk about a dangerous extension cable (you know, only everyone who's new to the channel and read the title and thumbnail) disagree to at least some degree.
This is the first time I've seen a dedicated circuit in a panel for backup power like this. When we installed our backup generator in the early 1990s, we were required to put in an (exterior) transfer switch to not backfeed the generator power. That slider is really slick (and a ton cheaper) -- I like it! I would hope that this would be a code thing in Minnesota by now. Genius device.
You know you are a professional when you get excited about Excel sheets. Organization and foresight really are what separate the pros from the novices.
I do the same thing in my field. I do access control systems and cameras. I make excel sheets of every door/ camera and stick it on the can or switch map.
good life-saving info! To finish off the installation details... water will get behind the newly installed box, run down behind the siding and also onto the plywood. I recommend at least caulking all 4 sides of the box and/or replacing the missing piece of Hardie, and caulking the piece in.
This is an excellent video. I've been wanting to upgrade my generator situation to run the house directly instead of laying extension cords all over. Thanks!
Thanks for this - I didn't know the term for the cable. Be thankful you can work with your dad/son on projects like this - must be really fun! One suggestion for future installations like this - if you have the space, might be better to use a flush mounted box - I'm sure that area sees a lot of activity and in a few years, that box will be hanging off the wall. 👍
Man did your video bring back memories... Was married to a native of Terrytown, LA for 12 years. Her father had a backup genset attached to his house in Terrytown. In 1995 a bad storm came through and flooded everything right up to the front doorstep. The genset never stopped but we had bunch of neighbors throwing extension cords over the fence looking to get hooked up to my father-in-law's genset. I can't remember if we hooked any of them up or not. All the best to y'all.
@8068 -- Thanks for your post ! I think it it flooded as you said it did back then, there was NO connecting ANY Electricity with Water around... Ever..... :)
Another great video!! If you really wanted to change the extension cord all you would need is a nema L14-30. Very easy swap. It is not like that extension has factory molded ends. 😉
Excellent job! Save lineman! I used to service generators and people that done use transfer switches will backfeed through a 240vac outlet used for a dryer connection. Its important to turn off the main breaker if backfeeding through a outlet for amperage not to go backwards towards transmission lines.
I would have liked to seen you use some Sikaflex or similar product to caulk all around your NEMA 3R (weather proof) PB30 box since the install is on the exterior. Excellent install and especially happy to see the mechanical interlock at the panel. Also caulking, besides keeping water out, will keep critters like wasps and such from making nests in the wall. I've seen my share of wasps nests doing panel upgrades, and replacing commercial exhaust fans etc.
Hey, brilliant! I had been tempted to use a suicide cord in the past. Now I understand how dangerous they are and how to fix the problem. You folks are life savers!
I always feel smarter after watching your videos; thank you for making them! I'm only smart enough to know don't dare touch electrical outlets! Leave it to the pros like you! Respect!
This is great, you are very lucky to have a wonderful Father like this! I hope you cherish him, we all aren’t as lucky to have someone like him in our lives.
Great video as always. Only question I have is if that existing wire was 10awg or 12awg? Cant really tell from the video, but you stated the output of the generator was 30A and the breaker was 30A so hopefully they are 10awg wires.
I was thinking this same thing. If part of the circuit were not properly rated, I’d check the whole circuit. That includes the breaker, the conductors, the receptacle, and the cord and plug assembly.
The wire in the wall looked undersized for a 30A circuit. It looks like a 14/3 or 12/3. Both are not rated for 30A. Should be a 10/3 minimum. Unless codes are different in USA then in Canada.
@@freezen1626 In other hand it's a quite short run so it should be a relatively low voltage drop. Being up to code or not is not something I'll argue about as I don't know.
I observed that also. In fact, he pointed out that the original outdoor female connector was rated for 20A; that was probably because the original wire and breaker were also rated for 20A. FWIW, maximum ampacities of different AWG: 10 gauge / 30A; 12 gauge / 20A; and 14 gauge / 15A.
Great Video... it might be crazy to modify that extension cord, but I'd be tempted to either take it away, tear it apart, or modify it properly because (A) they don't need it any more since you fixed the problem and (B) leaving might temp them to use for something else around the house. I saw 2 more things/questions: By convention they should have left you 6" from the wall to make it easier to service... I was impressed that you were able to make those connection. Also, was size wire was that? I couldn't tell if it was 10 or 12... I believe 30A are supposed to be 10AWG for a short run? However I'd be wrong... (I had to google this) The rule of thumb is to apply the 80% NEC rule, and for 30A, * 8AWG * is recommended... I'm not saying you have to fix this, I have no real idea if it is a problem or not... but what a pain if you need to correct the wiring to the sub-panel!
10 gauge is good for 30 amps. That's what I've always heard and from my personal experience running a 5000W 240V heater, never had any issues, about 10M run, 33 ish feet.
@@joshpavelich5235 right, me too... As I said, I googled to find this NEC 80% rule that derates the wire's ampacity. Personally I have a 220V 30A circuit to a shop subpanel and I'm sure I ran #10AWG and that's with an electrician supervising the work. And the old wiring to the house main subpanel is also #10... The charts on #10 say it's good to 35A... so I'm confused... I don't know if they changed the rule recently to account for this or if it applies in certain situations. Again, I'm NOT an electrician, but I was an electrician's assistant and put in a lot of electrical in industry such as 3 phase 480V... yep... oh joy... LOL
The danger of watching such high-quality, informative videos is that I am tempted to think I now know enough to do my own electrical work. However, this video was taught me an important lesson--always have a qualified electrician review your work before, during, and after.
I just have one question for Jordan, what did you put in your dad’s gatorade in April of 2021 for him to change that panel out, install the interlock, make the spreadsheet, and not fix the plug then? 😊
While I can't speak for Jordan or Paul, I'm guessing it wasn't in the home owners budget or the home owner declined it? Or, the generator was already plugged in so they never checked the plug. That's my .02c
@@Liam-kn9vp if LA is anything like Missouri, the only qualification for hiring oneself out as an electrician is a pulse. Coming from VA where there's an actual trade license required, it's still mind blowing, after 20 years, what passes for electrician.
great work, love the channel. One thing to improve, though- before putting that new box on the cement siding, I’d run a bead of caulk in an upside down “U” shape (up one side, across the top, and down the other side). Granted, the box is under a porch cover now, but in five years, someone might take that off, and you’d have rain water running down the the siding and back behind that panel into the wall. Great work, otherwise, though.
On standard light and meduim duty cords the ends are junk. You're better off replacing them right away if you're using high current loads. Even for regular duty trhe ends usually wear out way beofre the cord does. For $30 you can get a pair of(120V) cord ends way better than anything on a store bought cord. Even the mid grade ends for $7-10 each are better than factory plug ends. Maybe/hopefuly 240V, 30A generator cord ends are made a little better from the factory.
Cord length is always a problem who wants a cord pile that can be a tripping hazard electricians at work cut cords to length for equipment all the time where do they think these cords come from ?
Wire gauge is what I see a lot of people get wrong with cords. Don't overload the rating of a store-bought cord, of course... Especially if part of the cord is left coiled up. The trick is that the guage required actually depends on the length. The longer the cord, the thicker it needs to be to carry the same current. Cutting a cord shorter is fine (good even). But chaining together cords or lengthen... you are lowering the amount of current it can carry safely by increasing the resistance. If you are making a custom cord, lookup the guage required on a reference which includes current, voltage, and length as factors. PS: Electronics folks tend to call a "suicide cord" one with a mains plug on one end and bare wires on the other. Male-male power cords can be pretty bad too though.
@@travcollierhow do you figure amos based on length? Amps are amps a longer cord may have more total resistance, but the resistivity (resistance per unit length) remains unchanged. So long as you're not exceeding the amperage rating, it's all good. ( true lower supply voltage can increase the current draw in devices) as long as its 80% of the 30 amps it should be fine.
Minor thing, but consider connecting the earth from the house side direct into the connector, then taking the second wire out to the box casing. That way, if a connection gets loose, it's more likely to be something that doesn't remove the earth connection between the generator and the house. The way you've done it, any connection getting loose would lead to a dodgy earth between the generator and house. Earthing is always the key thing in my book (I'm a 25kV system design engineer).
Check for power anyway, especially for DIYer's who aren't wiring every day. You "know" it's off because you turned it off, but someday an ingrained safety habit will save your life. That moment when a non-contact voltage tester lights up on a circuit you personally turned off is a moment that sticks with you.
Well in this case it was locked out at the panel with the interlock as shown and there was no generator hooked up so it was a no brainer. In fact this set up with the interlock can never have power without the generator connected and turned on with the interlock in place unless the breaker in panel was somehow broken which is highly unlikely but I guess possible perhaps?
@@jstar1000 You're right about this specific instance, of course, but I'm just saying if you check for voltage EVERY SINGLE TIME, without exception, sooner or later you will find power on a circuit you were certain was already off, and save yourself a nasty surprise.
More people should own and RV. That’s how the power is hooked up from the power pole to the RV. Male end to pole and locking female end to RV. Future project is to mount one of those transfer plugs on my RV and take advantage of my 5.5 KW generator. Good informative video.
June 1 to November 30 is 6 months I like your channel it's nice to see people that do it right I've had entirely too much experience opening up anything and everything that has been the most half-assed rigged up job. It used to be 50% of my year was spent just correcting other people's mistakes now it's easily up to 60% or 70% I hate to say a lot of this work is because of people who don't have the background or the experience coming up from Central America and South America who think they can do electrical and plumbing even carpentry or painting and drywall but they just don't know what they're doing. I've opened up walls and ceilings with shorted wires and burnt wires or electric panels if you turn on the light switch a circuit breaker pops. It's absolutely aggravating but luckily most of my customers understand what I'm doing for them when I tell them I've uncovered something like this so it isn't an issue but a few of them are of that mentality and they just do not get it even when there's burnt wires inside their walls and ceilings Again it is so refreshing to see somebody doing it right
@@justcurious3525 nope not me honestly something like that people that would be that specific I really don't care what there doing, or for that matter what yore doing
What I love about Stud Pack is that you guys don't just show the right way to do something, you show WHY it's the right way to do something.
That's a great point right there!
He's "teaching" work that requires 4 years of on the job training. These youtube "electricians" kill many people.
Yes your right , I always like to know the WHY with everything. I piss my Doctor's off all the time. I don't give a crap , just tell me why , lol
I love instructions that say WHY. like when putting a sticker clear cover I finally got explanation It tells you to do it in the bathroom right after you run steam (hot water) it's to knock dust out of the air so you get less dust when you put the "sticker" on your phone screen.
Hopefully this area is dry well covered ... because correct hardie install for penetrations over 1.5 inches you want to use z flashing with a 1/4 inch gap before hardie starts above your block made of pvc is best material to use. You caulk up sides of penetrating block and base and in this case around the electrical block attached to pvc block.
Thank you for going into detail about how when we don't have interlocks, we can kill the linemen. That's a detail few get into, and most people think electricity only goes one way - from the power plant to us, not the other way around. That's a very important concept to teach since more and more people are going to solar, batteries, etc.
...it also helps prevent you from powering your neighborhood a little bit and nobody has enough energy to do anything. Then you ask "What's wrong? It's pushing 3000W of juice but I can't power my little radio!"
Even for those who don't give a damn about human life (too many people) it's also just overloading their generator by trying to power the whole neighborhood
Also if the generator is connected to the mains when they come back on the line frequencies will be out of phase resulting, effectively, in a short circuit that could toast the generator, and wiring between before the breakers trip.
It is not just a danger to linemen, but to yourself as well. Backfeeding the lines can kill a lineman, but it can also catch your generator on fire, when the feed is restored, and your generator is out of phase.
Linesmen are required to ground the power lines to avoid this situation 👌if one got fried its because he didn't follow proper procedures.
Best practice is to throw your main breaker, separating it from the grid, to avoid back feed
Always like how happy and the pride Paul shows in his work, no matter how small. It's in the details.
"Never Half-Ass anything. If you aren't going to Whole-Ass it, why bother doing it?" and
"If we don't have the time to do it right, when will we find the time to do it over?"
Important. The attention you give to the details is indicative of your mindset with your work. It’s a lifestyle, not a project by project thing.
Pretty good means Half-assed 😎
@@tonywolfemusic5920 "The Devil is in the Details."
He's always proud of his work, even when he is doing it completely wrong.
Electrician here. Great video! You know your stuff man. It’s good to make people aware of the danger to linemen and to the homeowner.
You just saved lives with this video, the dangers of a “suicide cord” would’ve never truly occurred to me as a DIYer. Thank you sir!
Electricity is definitely a hobby. No such thing as suicide cord.
just plug the cord ends in before you turn on the generator its not that hard, do you call a kitchen knife a suicide stick? because it can also kill you if you use it incorrectly
@@GamingUpNorth I know right, As soon as I saw him explain and plug into live first I just smacked my forehead.
@@GamingUpNorthstanding voltage on a suicide cord is an unseen, potentially fatal hazard. The knife thing is dumb. This is a good video, especially the part about the interlock on the breaker.
@@andrewwilson6222 The person plugging in the suicide cord should just use their brains. Only touch the plastic of the plugs, not the pins themselves. And suicide is a bit exaggerated... I've had 230 volts on me many times, still alive and kicking.
You're one of the best channels, hands down. Not too much hype, and no BS. Just the kind of channel every homeowner (future and existing) needs!
Yeah, except the title is very extreme clickbait. Where is the cord referenced in the thumbnail?
I don't know what it is... Your Voice? Your Confidence?
What ever. . . .
When I watch your video, I'm transported somewhere, where time does not exist.
THANK YOU
it COULD be a self induced singularity, possibly a slight bending of space due to increasing density of gravity waves, most likely is an out of body experience normally experienced by folks on or at their death bed
You're getting creepy R M
That "jiggle test" is crucial. Can't tell you how many trim QAs I did behind a guy putting a panel up and they had loose connections in their terminals
I've never seen a video of yours before, and I'm unlikely to watch a whole ton of them at this time, but you've got so many little things to show how good you are at this.
When you wanted him to get a second look at the spreadsheet you made on the fusebox, I could *hear* the pride in your voice. You're a good worker, and I'll be one of many to tell you it.
Keep it up, Stud. It was impressive to see the care you put into your work.
I ran across these ge gentlemen a couple of years ago. For tips on something can’t recall anymore and I am simply hooked on these guys.
I love dads mentality of doing it right the first time and it’s ok to take a little extra time to make sure it’s done right and it lasts.
I also love that his son is adopting that good work ethic.
I wish these guys where in Southern California so they could remodel my house!!!
Take the time to watch their other videos. You won’t regret it. Support they channel brother watch here and there.
Great comment. I am sure they appreciate it.
@@BigOsTaco Single parent Moms do the best they can but it makes a really big difference when there I a Dad in the home. Thanks for the great videos, StudPack!
Single parent moms are amazing!!!! Props and tremendous respect to you all!!!
i'll be real, this just showed up in my recommended section. i don't have much need for Home improvement type content, but from this video alone i like this, because it's practical info that can actually be applied. i feel like i learned more from this video, than the 5 years of High School, and my year of taking Welding in a trade school. earned another subscriber.
Hey gang, lots of comments about the following. Thought I'd address them.
#1 The existing wire from the receptacle to the panel is 10 gauge. Color coded Romex started in 2001. It was all the same white sheathing before that. Interestingly, color coding is not required by NEC, NFPA, or UL. It simply makes the inspector's job a lot easier (14G white, 12G yellow, 10G orange)
#2 This is an unconditioned outdoor storage shed, no insulation required. Not sure why there's no sheathing under the Hardi-Plank on that wall. There is everywhere else
#3 WE SEALED THE BOX when we returned the cord😁
#4 We were kidding around about not modifying extension cords. We've done a couple of great videos on that subject 👍
#5 I put a new female plug on the cord
Thanks, Paul
Thanks, I was wondering if that was 10 gauge, around here that white jacket is for 14 gauge I think the 30 amp 10 gauge stuff has a black jacket
@@jeffhreid Yeah this cable is pre-2001, the year color coding started.
Is you extension cord also 10 guage
I had the Romeo gauge question. Thanks for addressing here.
@@vincentgonzales8917 Yes, the extension cord wires must be able to handle the amperage that the connectors are rated.
That’s a great power inlet. I’ve never had emergency backup so I’ve never done one of these but I like it. Also that panel schedule is BOSS! I’m a firm believer in actuate legible panel schedules! Saves time, headaches, and unintentional zaps
there is another style available that is nonmetallic and has the inlet in the bottom - it's a bit bulkier, but it makes it a bit harder for water to get in around the cord while it's in use.
OMG!!! An actual "how to" without a story line or narrative or wasted time of not topic related drivel.!!! ....LOVE IT !!!! Get to the point... How to do it...Easy to understand.. OUTSTANDING !!! I've just recently discovered your videos in my search for reliable how to's for those of us who enjoy doing it ourselves correctly and safely and every one I saw I had to "smash" the like button and save for future reference! Guess I'm going to just have to subscribe! Keep up the GREAT work and videos! I'm looking forward to watching and learning much more!
I am Mister Safety in my group of DIYers and I loved this video. Always preach lineman safety to my friends. Job was well done. Absolute pleasure to watch them work.
The documentation on the fusebox is something to applaud. Everyone should do that kind of thing for everything. A little bit of extra work now saves you a lot of headaches later.
I really like that you created an actual list of which breakers go to what. Every place I've lived in never has the list filled out and you have to figure it out on your own.
I move in somewhere, one of the first things I do is make labels for the breakers.
That's because of the inefficient and lousy electricians we get all around the world.
Yup, good practice for sure. But with my own experience I never assume any list that someone else has made is 100% correct
@@Derek_Garnham - easy to verify without reinventing the wheel... if it's missing something, add it. If it's wrong, correct it...
Residential guys.
Labeling circuits and then turning in final prints with the revision is standard procedure. At any larger commercial or industrial build, you’re going to have many.
I, too, admire the quality upon which you insist when putting your projects together. I also like the way you explain what you are doing and why. Always clear, always appreciated!
This sort of video is amazing! People don't seem to realize how many little steps are involved in a "simple" job like this, like adding the blocking (love the pocket hole jig!)
In the video at 12:50 when you say, "It's going all the way in; we don't want any shiners," that's the sort of pithy wisdom that sticks with you, but doesn't usually make it into an instruction manual or classroom curriculum, you only get that from OTJ training, or when we get to shadow a master at work. Great filming, great editing, and great work! There's a lot I'm taking away from this, but I'll let you keep that FL heat though!
Seen alot of fake electrician channels. Half of their advice violates the NEC. You are by far the first channel that is 100% spot on with knowledge and codes. You have a master electrician as a sub for life. 👏👏👍
This is exactly the work my husband and I did and seeing this makes me happy to see your work and the safety installed. Also, my grandfather was 50 years in the IBEW, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Shout out to electricians everywhere.
The IBEW really took care of my dad when 2 other companies he worked 20 years each for didn’t and he only worked for them for 12 years
My grandfather was too! So cool
The section on the suicide cord is a legit life saver for some homeowners. Folks start those generators up with the plug in the generator and the other end not plugged in, especially when they are in a hurry. Really like the videos by Stud Pack - straightforward and at a level of detail that explains the topic from an educational standpoint and of course the "how to". I also did not know about the step up, good video.
that kind of cord should be BANNED and the NEC should add code to do it the way these guys did here! good lord, that is an an accident looking to happen...
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Ok. So what if it's plugged in before the generator is started up? Don't lick the copper and you'll be fine. I play with live 480 every day. More voltage on each leg than both legs of genset create together. Just don't touch the copper bits and you'll be fine.
@@mprenn1547 BANNED how? Can't buy male plugs from the hardware store anymore? 😂😂
@@sammorgan31 Not really, is not that male ends on their own are dangerous... And I dont live in the US, but man.. u gotta admit selling a cable with 2 male ends is A HALF-STEP close to selling one of those put-two-fingers-in suicide adapters iss crazy in my pov
Can't tell you how many of these DIYers repairs I've had to go fix over the years here in CA. I always shake my head and shudder at the lengths some people will go to to serve themselves without a single thought or care to those working "upstream", just to give themselves some back up power. Fantastic vid and hopefully knocks some sense into these DIYers out there!
I expect the majority of people simply don't know how the grid works.
I don't know how widespread the information is regarding this kind of setup.
@@Cheepchipsable I've heard of people using a suicide cord to feed power to their home through the outlet the clothes dryer plugs into. I know that can't be safe.
@@Cheepchipsable Agreed. Even very handy people have no idea how the grid works.
@Hello Chris how are you doing
I admire your enthusiasm and attention to detail. It's a pleasure watching two hardworking people who take pride in an honest day's work, sharing their knowledge. Father and son teamwork at its best, you guys are an inspiration. All the best from Minnesota.
And they are criminally underpaid. They get paid to fix real world problems. Doctors get paid three times as much to practice and get it wrong a very high percentage of the time.
Good points about the suicide cord. Suggestions: I would have instead put in a flush mount receptacle, so it doesn't stick out from the wall, and be in the way outside. There's plenty of room inside the stud wall for the receptacle. I would also have caulked around or behind whatever receptacle you use, so blowing rain won't seep behind the receptacle and eventually rot the wood behind it. It looks like where the receptacle is located, there might not be a LOT of blowing rain to hit it, but it never hurts to seal it anyway...takes just a couple of minutes. This will also make it easier to seal against airflow into the building.
i'm a UK approved electrician, the apprentices were always told to check screw tightness before shutting something. they were also told to leave a little spare length, for the next guy, in case of problems so that they had a little spare to play with. and the earth wire always got covered by earth sleeving green/yellow or green, in case of a short against something when it's screwed up tight. and i've seen a few suicide extensions with a plug on both ends :D i love the consumer unit spreadsheet, things like that can save so much time in repairing something.
I was gonna say the same thing about the earth sleeving
Love this channel, precisely because they show us practical and safe ways to do things!!
For a possible future scenario... The hole you made through the plywood was big enough for the metal Romex connector... You can screw the connector onto the wire first then put it through the knockout on the box and install the locknut. 👍
You beat me to it -- I've used that technique for all sorts of similar cases - and not just on "house wiring", but low-voltage, coax, etc.😊
imagine if for some reason someone has to take the box out. "Gotta open up the drywall"
@@cmh-re why? You can remove the locknut from the inside of the box and pull it off, just like you out it on, leaving the wire in the wall
@@IrrationalBstrd Yeah but what are the odds someone figures that out unless they have prior knowledge of that technique?
I'm not sure they teach it in the classes you can take to become an electrician, but it's something worth knowing for sure.
Someone ought to go around and write down all these little things you "learned from your mentor", otherwise they might become forgotten.
That kind of trade knowledge that isn't in a book is an extremely important thing to put down in books somewhere, and I have an example of why:
This kind of trade knowledge becoming forgotten is why we can't build the mighty Rocketdyne F-1 engine that powered the first stage of the Saturn-V moon rocket any more (and haven't been able to since the start of the '80s).
Yes, NASA still has the blueprints for the F-1 engine, but that's not all you need to make one.
What we lost are the trained tradespeople that were actually building those engines, and had figured out all the little tricks and techniques that turn that blueprint from a plan into something you can take a series of steps to produce.
Now, because nobody wrote down the knowledge they had that was required to build one properly, we can't build it any more unless we go thru and figure all that out again.
Why did he drill such a large hole? It looked like a 3/4 inch hole would have worked.
Really happy see many positive comments on your chanel. Not my Dad, but really learn a ton from you on this video and make senses all the way.
I'm from Minnesota with cold blizzards,tornados and humidity and really helps to any one lives in United States with all weather variations. Thank you.God Bless!
You can’t get any better than this channel. Always detailed and no bs. They let you know the issue. Why it’s an issue. How to fix it. And the materials needed to fix the issue and any issues that may encounter. Thank you guys.
Little tip for ya - use a square bit on those electrical screws and never strip the heads . Especially on those higher gauge higher torque ones :) almost all outlets are either s1 or s2 & once you start doing it this way you’ll never go back .
Robertson bit for the win!
better yet, use an ECX bit. it's a flathead and robertson combo :D
@@mynamesnotimportant6941 WHOA! I'd never heard of those before. Thanks for the tip!
@@KeithOlson I just recently learned about them myself. Saw a couple YTers raving about them. I haven't tried them myself but they look super dope.
until you have an older device that only has 2 way screws instead of 3 way screws - or Lutron who still uses 2 way screws.
I appreciate how careful y'all are about the electrical stuff you put out. You've always gone to the effort of learning from a trained and experienced pro to find out every aspect that pertains to the job you're showing, and that's more important than a lot of tradesmen realize.
You guys rock it is so hard to find people that do things right, take pride in their work, and enjoy passing on your knowledge. Keep up the good work guys
This is one of the best videos I’ve ever seen. Informative. Clear. Concise. With a wise and charismatic speaker. Wow.
Shout out to the algorithm showing me videos I didn't know I needed to see. We bought out first home a year ago and have been doing a lot of DIY this summer. The cleanliness and organization in your work is an inspiration. Makes me want to go straight down to the basement and start new label sheets for both boxes, and open up the receptacles in the old part of the house (~100 years old) to see what horrors lie within.
As soon as the camera went off Paul definitely modified that extension cord.
I don't see a big problem with that, those plugs are made to come on and off.
@@mikemortensen4973 As long as the gauge is sufficient, there is no reason why you couldn't just replace the pug end.
great video. I do have one criticism. When taking apart the inlet at the house, you should have tested for power. Even if you "know" the power is off, there is a chance that there could be a feedback on that line.
That and why not put a female end on the cable? Unless the old one is very old or damaged in some way. There are ways to test extension cords.
@@Cheepchipsable My thoughts too, you need to destroy that suicide cable anyway.
@@Cheepchipsable The cable was only rated for 20A.
@@rogerbarton497 Exactly or take one end off and hide it. The Dolphin RV I bought had a suicide cord(120v) in it. I cut off one end to disable it, replaced it with a standard ext cord, and replaced the standard outlet(really an inlet in this case) with a recessed male one.
@@hackjealousy The cable looked to me to be a #12. But, the camera view may be deceiving.
great video. I learned a lot in a bunch of categories from you. Something I really appreciate about your video is that you don't take anything for granted and show footage up close of the details. Many videos online skip steps with cuts or sped up video(probably thinking that the steps are remedial) I really appreciate your explanations and your down to earth pragmatic decision making. Thank you for making and sharing this video. Much respect.
You just saved my life. Power is out and I was just going to do the WRONG thing shown here. Thank you. ❤️🙏
5:00 you really are a true professional sir! Im a commercial superintendent and your videos are a service to the working man.
That 1/4 x 12” drill bit is pretty handy to keep in your tool box. I use it a lot for wall penetrations for conduit. A lot of guys use a hole saw with an extension but once you get through the 1st layer of drywall, the shaft of your extension is much smaller than the 1st hole and it’s near impossible to get the hole on the opposite side of the wall to line up with the 1st so your conduit passes through the wall straight without trimming the hole on one side or the other. With the long 1/4” drill bit you drill a pilot hole all the way through the wall and then use a hole saw to drill in towards the wall from both sides. After drilling through the 1st layer, when your bit bottoms out on the other side of the wall, there’s enough of the bit sticking out of the wall to line it up square with the wall and level before you penetrate the other side.
When I make penetrations to the exterior i always use a bead of clear silicone around the box. Looks good guys!
This is definitely an important detail; could see daylight coming through the socket from the rear and that's just asking for rainwater to go inside that wall cavity and trigger rotting/ mold on that drywall, especially in a hurricane area. Suprising just how fast a wall cavity will fail if it's not weatherproofed.
@@hijackstudios also, this is probably a smaller issue, but one I noticed nonetheless. The pocket screws are barely holding into any material on the stud because the tip of the screw is pointing toward the outer face of the stud. Pocket screws are supposed to be oriented toward the meat of the material they're screwing in to. that tiny bit of wood on the corner of the stud could easily crack or even entirely break off when tightening it down, leaving the screw with nearly zero pullout strength. If during a hurricane a some debris hits that box it could knock it loose, creating a serious hazard, hell a rowdy toddler could ram into it a knock it loose. Best way would be to put a strip of blocking on either side of the plywood panel screwed on through the face of the ply, slide it into place, then screw through those into the wide face of the stud. It would be much stronger.
Your videos are among the best for real-world scenarios. Unlike other "professional" videos where everything just works right, and nothing seems to go wrong.
Also, as others have said, your attention to detail and your explanations make for a great experience. Thank you.
I'd just like to take a moment and say this video is a masterclass in craftsmanship. I tip my hat to you sir!
Wow, thanks!
Great no-nonsense tutorial. at 71, I certainly learned valuable information today. All the best to you and family in 2023. "The JJ" SW Penna.
Your content is always on the money. Just getting after it - and getting after it right. Anyone who wants to learn home improvements...this is the right channel to watch. What makes you guys cool is you sweat the big things....AND the little things. And in LA, you just plain sweat. 🤣
Great video, you covered a lot of basics but I was surprised that while you discussed changing out the 20A power outlet, you never mentioned the wiring gage at all. The copper wire looks like 12AWG ... could be 10AWG but you really should have talked about the importance of ensuring the existing wiring can support the load capacity of your new connection point.
True. That needs to be #10 for 30A
Exactly my comment. Looks like 12 gauge wire. Only good for 20 amps.
Just the comment I was looking for. Surprised not that many people caught this.
Glad i found this as well. Was about to make the same comment
Right is right, and that was a completely correct install. L14-30 plug&receptacle for a 10/4 SO cord, inlet box, and the interlock kit are key ingredients to a correct portable generator install. Nice work.
He should have mentioned that the wiring needs to support 30a. It's EXTREMELY important.
I have remodeled a couple of my homes and a cottage and I have watched a lot of UA-cam videos to help me along. Yours is one of the best I have seen. The attention to details, the tricks of the trade, the review of the work done and the overall production (sound and lighting) are all great. Short and sweet in a lot of ways but also covers all the important points. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
This is great info that I have related to hundreds of customers over the years. Thank you for putting this out there. I’m sure this will reach many more people than I ever could.
This dude just straight up said "So how does a portable generator work? Well we pulled it out and it's right here, we started it up and it's generating power"... I've never heard a more elaborate, detailed explanation of how it works until now!
I enjoy watching you guys. I'm learning a lot. I have a contractor friend who works like you, enjoys doing the task right, and takes pride in his work. Good job. Keep the videos coming.
That panelbox labeling is top notched.
Yes I can't believe I never thought of making an excel spreadsheet. Makes for super clean edits too
What’s an edit?? 😂😂😂
@@StudPack hahahahahaha
Every homeowner with a generator needs to see this video.
I agree with You
I only skipped through the video real quick, because I don't have time to watch it right now. But that excel print out for the panel with the date and red highlights was great! Wish more would do that.
The amount of information I learned in the first five minutes safety wise is astounding. Definitely subbed and great info and delivery.
Great dialog - - - Thank you for showing us DIYers not only the proper way to do several things in this video but the reasoning WHY. PS - love the use of the oscillating saw (very handy tool)
Teaching the next generation to take pride in their work, well done.
Always enjoy your vids and how you break down things and add pro tips to the mix. Always a pleasure stopping by the channel. Look forward to more tips and tricks!
I have done a LOT of 120 wiring, but far less 240. This video not only gave great info on this particular application, but also just general 240v wiring safety considerations. Since I have some 240v work to do in the near future, this video showed up just in time to maybe prevent me from hurting myself. Ya done good !
Thank you so much for your video! I have been trying to figure out how to make a cord for my generator to house without making a suicide cord. So glad I come across your video. Material is ordered and be here tomorrow. I live in Kentucky and we are getting to a point of bad weather for ice now. Thanks for taking the time to make the video.
Your work is awesome. I've never heard of a suicide cord. I would have not known to plug both ends in before starting my generator.
That is a great comment for those that are not familiar with the "suicide cord." I've always told those that use them to PLUG INTO THE HOUSE FIRST before even "STARTING" much less thinking about plugging into the generator. But, that's just from an old f@rt that's been on this planet over 3/4 of a Century using common sense, and trust me, common sense is "not" something we are born with. We have to "learn and earn" it!!!!
Yeah I just recently, about 6 months ago heard about these cords. To me though when dealing with 220, which I'm very afraid of lol, it's common sense not to have power going to it before you plug it in. I realize and understand that inexperienced people who don't have the fear of it they should could easily make a mistake.
A vice president from Chicago's, Com Ed told me that they have had Lyman killed from generators back feeding the grid. So thank you for showing your viewers a way to connect a portable generator that's in compliance with NEC: it certainly is a public service
Studpack Sunday afternoon enjoyment watching another great video!! Thank You Guys..Keep up the good work!!
So much great information in a short amount of time, no BS, quality work and even a few tips along the way. THIS HERE is what UA-cam is for! Thank you. New subscriber.
"No BS"? All the people who thought he was going to talk about a dangerous extension cable (you know, only everyone who's new to the channel and read the title and thumbnail) disagree to at least some degree.
I like the professionalism of this channel no cutting corners.
This is the first time I've seen a dedicated circuit in a panel for backup power like this. When we installed our backup generator in the early 1990s, we were required to put in an (exterior) transfer switch to not backfeed the generator power. That slider is really slick (and a ton cheaper) -- I like it! I would hope that this would be a code thing in Minnesota by now. Genius device.
@klinestill "The word is, "ingenious". A person may be a genius, but a device, process, or idea would be ingenious." For now.
You know you are a professional when you get excited about Excel sheets. Organization and foresight really are what separate the pros from the novices.
I do the same thing in my field. I do access control systems and cameras. I make excel sheets of every door/ camera and stick it on the can or switch map.
Great job guys! Next time tighten the connector on the cable first, pull it into the box, then install the locknut, much easier.
Nice work and good explanation on how to install.
good life-saving info!
To finish off the installation details... water will get behind the newly installed box, run down behind the siding and also onto the plywood. I recommend at least caulking all 4 sides of the box and/or replacing the missing piece of Hardie, and caulking the piece in.
Love the craftsmanship guys! Rare to see the attention to detail and the focus on quality, safe installations!
This is an excellent video. I've been wanting to upgrade my generator situation to run the house directly instead of laying extension cords all over. Thanks!
Thanks for this - I didn't know the term for the cable. Be thankful you can work with your dad/son on projects like this - must be really fun!
One suggestion for future installations like this - if you have the space, might be better to use a flush mounted box - I'm sure that area sees a lot of activity and in a few years, that box will be hanging off the wall.
👍
I just found this channel and it may be the greatest thing I have ever seen.
Man did your video bring back memories... Was married to a native of Terrytown, LA for 12 years. Her father had a backup genset attached to his house in Terrytown. In 1995 a bad storm came through and flooded everything right up to the front doorstep. The genset never stopped but we had bunch of neighbors throwing extension cords over the fence looking to get hooked up to my father-in-law's genset. I can't remember if we hooked any of them up or not. All the best to y'all.
@8068 -- Thanks for your post ! I think it it flooded as you said it did back then, there was NO connecting ANY Electricity with Water around... Ever..... :)
Another great video!!
If you really wanted to change the extension cord all you would need is a nema L14-30. Very easy swap. It is not like that extension has factory molded ends. 😉
Exactly what I was thinking. Looks like that was a home made cord
Man, I absolutely *love* your channel, and it's incredibly useful to me as a homeowner.
Thanks for the clear, concise directions in your video. Really like your style of quality first. Irish Mike.
Ha..how did you post without your name showing up?
Excellent job! Save lineman! I used to service generators and people that done use transfer switches will backfeed through a 240vac outlet used for a dryer connection.
Its important to turn off the main breaker if backfeeding through a outlet for amperage not to go backwards towards transmission lines.
WOW! I am looking into systems for dealing with brownouts and short outages --- good to know that "suicide plug" is a thing and how to avoid it.
I would have liked to seen you use some Sikaflex or similar product to caulk all around your NEMA 3R (weather proof) PB30 box since the install is on the exterior. Excellent install and especially happy to see the mechanical interlock at the panel. Also caulking, besides keeping water out, will keep critters like wasps and such from making nests in the wall. I've seen my share of wasps nests doing panel upgrades, and replacing commercial exhaust fans etc.
Yes, definitely use a sealant ! Also, my OCD wouldn’t allow me to disregard the zero slack of the ground wire inside the new enclosure.
Hey, brilliant! I had been tempted to use a suicide cord in the past. Now I understand how dangerous they are and how to fix the problem. You folks are life savers!
Don't put grapes up your nose.
@@cadcncengineeringfabricati3497 dont put marbles in your nose put them in there do not put them in there
@@DaarthPingas I didn't understand the video, now I'm circumcised and married to a man.
I always feel smarter after watching your videos; thank you for making them! I'm only smart enough to know don't dare touch electrical outlets! Leave it to the pros like you! Respect!
This is great, you are very lucky to have a wonderful Father like this! I hope you cherish him, we all aren’t as lucky to have someone like him in our lives.
You guys always do such a thorough job, nice work.
Great video as always. Only question I have is if that existing wire was 10awg or 12awg? Cant really tell from the video, but you stated the output of the generator was 30A and the breaker was 30A so hopefully they are 10awg wires.
I was thinking this same thing. If part of the circuit were not properly rated, I’d check the whole circuit. That includes the breaker, the conductors, the receptacle, and the cord and plug assembly.
The wire in the wall looked undersized for a 30A circuit. It looks like a 14/3 or 12/3. Both are not rated for 30A. Should be a 10/3 minimum. Unless codes are different in USA then in Canada.
@@freezen1626 In other hand it's a quite short run so it should be a relatively low voltage drop.
Being up to code or not is not something I'll argue about as I don't know.
I observed that also. In fact, he pointed out that the original outdoor female connector was rated for 20A; that was probably because the original wire and breaker were also rated for 20A. FWIW, maximum ampacities of different AWG: 10 gauge / 30A; 12 gauge / 20A; and 14 gauge / 15A.
@@freezen1626 same ampacity ratings.
Great Video... it might be crazy to modify that extension cord, but I'd be tempted to either take it away, tear it apart, or modify it properly because (A) they don't need it any more since you fixed the problem and (B) leaving might temp them to use for something else around the house. I saw 2 more things/questions: By convention they should have left you 6" from the wall to make it easier to service... I was impressed that you were able to make those connection. Also, was size wire was that? I couldn't tell if it was 10 or 12... I believe 30A are supposed to be 10AWG for a short run? However I'd be wrong... (I had to google this) The rule of thumb is to apply the 80% NEC rule, and for 30A, * 8AWG * is recommended... I'm not saying you have to fix this, I have no real idea if it is a problem or not... but what a pain if you need to correct the wiring to the sub-panel!
10 gauge is good for 30 amps. That's what I've always heard and from my personal experience running a 5000W 240V heater, never had any issues, about 10M run, 33 ish feet.
It looked like 10 to me.
@@joshpavelich5235 right, me too... As I said, I googled to find this NEC 80% rule that derates the wire's ampacity. Personally I have a 220V 30A circuit to a shop subpanel and I'm sure I ran #10AWG and that's with an electrician supervising the work. And the old wiring to the house main subpanel is also #10... The charts on #10 say it's good to 35A... so I'm confused... I don't know if they changed the rule recently to account for this or if it applies in certain situations. Again, I'm NOT an electrician, but I was an electrician's assistant and put in a lot of electrical in industry such as 3 phase 480V... yep... oh joy... LOL
you can tell that wire in the wall is old, since early 2000's romex is color coded, white is only 14ga, yellow 12ga, orange 10ga
@@joshpavelich5235 I wouldn't say 'good'; it is the *minimum* gauge, not the recommended. Better would be to go with (copper!) 8 gauge, to be safe.
Nice work.
It's refreshing to watch someone who knows what they are doing.
Wouldn't surprise me if this guy gets a call from This Old House. Great work Great personality.
The danger of watching such high-quality, informative videos is that I am tempted to think I now know enough to do my own electrical work. However, this video was taught me an important lesson--always have a qualified electrician review your work before, during, and after.
I just have one question for Jordan, what did you put in your dad’s gatorade in April of 2021 for him to change that panel out, install the interlock, make the spreadsheet, and not fix the plug then? 😊
While I can't speak for Jordan or Paul, I'm guessing it wasn't in the home owners budget or the home owner declined it? Or, the generator was already plugged in so they never checked the plug. That's my .02c
Don’t quote me on this but I recall them out sourcing that to an electrician
@@Liam-kn9vp if LA is anything like Missouri, the only qualification for hiring oneself out as an electrician is a pulse. Coming from VA where there's an actual trade license required, it's still mind blowing, after 20 years, what passes for electrician.
look mccormick you're clearly NOT a cajun
I was curious about this too.
great work, love the channel. One thing to improve, though- before putting that new box on the cement siding, I’d run a bead of caulk in an upside down “U” shape (up one side, across the top, and down the other side). Granted, the box is under a porch cover now, but in five years, someone might take that off, and you’d have rain water running down the the siding and back behind that panel into the wall. Great work, otherwise, though.
agree
Its an outdoor water proof box so no need to caulk it what so ever. Doesn't hurt of course but not needed for sure.
I understand that the box is waterproof. Water can seep between the box and the wall, and enter the wall through the cutout. Hence the need for caulk
it's hurricane country - I'd bet rain hits that wall, anyway.
@@ptso7580 you're not wrong
Man, I do -not- miss muggy Southern weather. Professional work there, y'all keep it up!
Any reason for the oversize hole ?
some sort of sealant on the box and siding would be good if the siding was hosed down
it's definitely ok to modify cord ends as long as you do good work and make sure the wire Guage is suitable for the type of connector you install.
On standard light and meduim duty cords the ends are junk. You're better off replacing them right away if you're using high current loads. Even for regular duty trhe ends usually wear out way beofre the cord does. For $30 you can get a pair of(120V) cord ends way better than anything on a store bought cord. Even the mid grade ends for $7-10 each are better than factory plug ends.
Maybe/hopefuly 240V, 30A generator cord ends are made a little better from the factory.
Cord length is always a problem who wants a cord pile that can be a tripping hazard electricians at work cut cords to length for equipment all the time where do they think these cords come from ?
Wire gauge is what I see a lot of people get wrong with cords. Don't overload the rating of a store-bought cord, of course... Especially if part of the cord is left coiled up.
The trick is that the guage required actually depends on the length. The longer the cord, the thicker it needs to be to carry the same current.
Cutting a cord shorter is fine (good even). But chaining together cords or lengthen... you are lowering the amount of current it can carry safely by increasing the resistance.
If you are making a custom cord, lookup the guage required on a reference which includes current, voltage, and length as factors.
PS: Electronics folks tend to call a "suicide cord" one with a mains plug on one end and bare wires on the other. Male-male power cords can be pretty bad too though.
@@travcollier after 100 feet you upsize by one gauge for voltage drop as you do when roughing in a job.
@@travcollierhow do you figure amos based on length? Amps are amps a longer cord may have more total resistance, but the resistivity (resistance per unit length) remains unchanged. So long as you're not exceeding the amperage rating, it's all good. ( true lower supply voltage can increase the current draw in devices) as long as its 80% of the 30 amps it should be fine.
Minor thing, but consider connecting the earth from the house side direct into the connector, then taking the second wire out to the box casing. That way, if a connection gets loose, it's more likely to be something that doesn't remove the earth connection between the generator and the house. The way you've done it, any connection getting loose would lead to a dodgy earth between the generator and house. Earthing is always the key thing in my book (I'm a 25kV system design engineer).
Check for power anyway, especially for DIYer's who aren't wiring every day. You "know" it's off because you turned it off, but someday an ingrained safety habit will save your life. That moment when a non-contact voltage tester lights up on a circuit you personally turned off is a moment that sticks with you.
Well in this case it was locked out at the panel with the interlock as shown and there was no generator hooked up so it was a no brainer. In fact this set up with the interlock can never have power without the generator connected and turned on with the interlock in place unless the breaker in panel was somehow broken which is highly unlikely but I guess possible perhaps?
@@jstar1000 You're right about this specific instance, of course, but I'm just saying if you check for voltage EVERY SINGLE TIME, without exception, sooner or later you will find power on a circuit you were certain was already off, and save yourself a nasty surprise.
More people should own and RV. That’s how the power is hooked up from the power pole to the RV. Male end to pole and locking female end to RV. Future project is to mount one of those transfer plugs on my RV and take advantage of my 5.5 KW generator.
Good informative video.
Proficient, quick, and to the point...clear explanations and no jibber jabber!
June 1 to November 30 is 6 months
I like your channel it's nice to see people that do it right
I've had entirely too much experience opening up anything and everything that has been the most half-assed rigged up job. It used to be 50% of my year was spent just correcting other people's mistakes now it's easily up to 60% or 70%
I hate to say a lot of this work is because of people who don't have the background or the experience coming up from Central America and South America who think they can do electrical and plumbing even carpentry or painting and drywall but they just don't know what they're doing.
I've opened up walls and ceilings with shorted wires and burnt wires or electric panels if you turn on the light switch a circuit breaker pops. It's absolutely aggravating but luckily most of my customers understand what I'm doing for them when I tell them I've uncovered something like this so it isn't an issue but a few of them are of that mentality and they just do not get it even when there's burnt wires inside their walls and ceilings
Again it is so refreshing to see somebody doing it right
Are you the guy who corrects people for typing "there" instead of "their" or "your" instead of "you're"? 😉
@@justcurious3525 nope not me honestly something like that people that would be that specific I really don't care what there doing, or for that matter what yore doing
@@tapalmer99 So, you felt a need to point out that Paul said five months rather than six even though you don't care? Who's benefit was that for?