Don't Make this Costco Generator Mistake and Burn Down your House
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
- In depth video on Home Regenerator Selection and Installation.
Also a deep dive on Multiple Branch Circuits or Common Neutral circuit or shared neutral and Edison Circuits.
How to prevent Home Electrical Fires.
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Great video and explanation of something that is over most Joe six packs heads.
Great video. I like how you used both diagrams and photos.
You could add an autotransformer between the generator and your panel. The autotransformer can convert 120v to 240v split phase.
I did not think of that but isn't the direction I went in more economical?
Well explained, I hate shared neutrals.
Very good video and detailed explanations! However...the point that you make is not limited to the Firman WH03242, but to ALL generators that are limited to 120V and therefore using a three prong outlet (only one hot leg). The problem is created by using a generator interlock kit as opposed to a generator transfer switch. In the situation that you describe, the transfer switch would avoid the posibility of the shared neutral being overloaded. Also, the cost of the transfer switch is only slightly more than the cost of the interlock kit, the voltage monitor and the required additional breaker. The transfer switch has built-in two watt monitors monitoring each leg. I am using a Firman WH03242 with a Reliance Controls 10-circuit transfer switch. Each of the selected 10 circuits that I am transferring through the transfer switch is limited to 120 volts and I have not had an issue. Your feedback on this alternative option will be appreciated. Thanks!
Can you confirm the 10 load on your transfer switch are NOT shared neutrals? In my case, I found it would be very time consuming to figure out which of my loads were on shared neutrals and chose to go this other direction. One benefit of my direction is that I am capturing my whole panel and not limited to 10 loads.
@@KenTraining You make a good point! I'll have to double check to make sure that none of the transferred circuits are sharing a common neutral. I now have some additional homework to do :)
I made my power monitor in a small project box but I used two of the Drok LED displays to capture both legs. Also added a mechanical hourmeter to the project box as well. It sits next to the main panel free standing. You should get a second one too. Be surprised how different the consumption can be across the 2 legs.
6:15 how do the breakers cancel each other out?
a 2 pole breaker will cancel the amps coming back to the panel. Example my 240 volt, 2 pole air conditioner will pull 27 amps on leg A and 27 amps on leg B. When you take the clamp on amp meter and clamp Leg A and B at the same time, you will get a 0 reading.
@@KenTraining got it thank you for responding!
28A 120V would be 3400 Watts. Honestly the 12 gauge shared neutral would probably handle it for bursts like a well pump or something. But when you are backfeeding like that you have to be aware of your loads and manage them. Worthwhile to identify and label the shared neutrals in the box.
I agree, My house panel is so congested, it would take me a full day of testing.
@@KenTraining If you have shared neutral, code requires a ganged breaker to ensure the hots are on opposite sides of the split phase. Do you suspect that is not correct in your panel? If so, it should be corrected.
@@Sylvan_dB I agree with you BUT my house is 43 years old and I am not sure when that code was implemented. I do believe that I have shared neutrals because I have more hots leaving than neutrals. All my 2 pole leads are 240 V loads. My panel is so congested that it would take me a full day to figure out what loads are sharing a neutral. I figure I will leave alone until one day when I do a panel upgrade.
All the big loads are 240 volts.... Unless somebody's running a hair dryer or a microwave. TVs, refrigerators, freezers, light bulbs use very little power. Even small window unit ACs use surprisingly low power running . It would actually be fairly hard to actually get into a problem with too much current on a return in a power outage situation. It would take a couple of high power devices on the same circuit at the same time..... And like I said that's really only hair dryers, toaster ovens, microwaves, etc
@@KenTrainingthis is why people don't hire electricians. Because if you're going to make changes you've got to bring things up to current code which requires panel replacement, permits, inspections. Many thousands of dollars just to put in a plug for a generator....... So people will backfeed through their dryer receptacle instead. I spent about $450 to install my transfer panel and receptacle myself..... After having an electrician come out.... And give a $4,500 estimate.... who knew less than me😮. He initially quoted me something that wouldn't even work... I just kept my mouth shut .. He did call back the next day and apologize for that..
Great video and great points made. Need to go check my panel for shared neutrals! I know you know this but don’t refer to them as phases. They are legs. Your house is single phase. Thanks for posting !
PS did you make the Gen a floating neutral? Just as important as the shared neutral
Great point about the floating neutral a lot of people probably miss that ...... But important is once you disconnected in the generator so that it's on the same neutral as the house.... Only bonded at the service panel.... If you want to plug something into the generator directly you need to change that. So it's kind of one or the other. Some people install a switch on their generator for that reason.
@@MudflyWatersman I just have a plug hanging from the generator where the neutral and ground are connected. If I ever want to use the Gen standalone just plug it in
I have the smaller Costco Firman generator that you highlighted early in the video. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like the main issue is that the smaller blue Firman generator has that 3-prong outlet (TT-30R), and not a 4-prong L13-30. That seems to be where the bis issue is, right? If we have no shared neutrals, then would we be okay with using that generator or no? Our home was built in 2024, so I'm not sure if we have shared neutrals or not. Can you tell me how I can better check if we have shared neutrals before I call and pay an electrician to do the generator hookup? Thanks.
Without shared neutrals you're fine..... You can use a bridged adapter plug to supply both sides of the panel.... However you cannot run anything that is 240 volts.... Turn those devices breakers off.
You will note that the only adapters like this that are made are sourced from China..via amazon... Reputable companies will not provide them due to liability.
Remove your panel cover and make sure that all the hot 120 V circuits have a white neutral coming back.... Same number of wires.
@@MudflyWatersman Thanks for the tip. So no I need to check to see if I have any shared neutrals. Any advice on how to best do that?