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I have a 20 amp generator but my electrician installed a 30 amp female plug to backfeed the electrical panel Can you make a 20amp male plug to 30 amp male plug using 3 wire cable?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Your electrician should be shot for even building such a thing. Buy a whole house unit or a manual switch that will take you completely off of the grid. You will be held liable for any deaths or damage you do. Lawyers will be camping out on your doorstep for years.
Another answer
If you needed an Electrician to fix up a "Backfeed Rig" you are probably not qualified to use it properly. The wire conflict between a 20 amp plug and a 30 amp plug is O.K.
What you should be worried about is who will get killed first, you or the lineman for the power company!
In our business we call that a "SUICIDE RIG" for a reason. If you can't afford an automated home stand-by system, at least install an open transition manual transfer switch!
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If you have any doubts about an answer that you get, check the answerer's bio by clicking on their name to check their qualifications.
As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.
Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
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How does the white wire on an outlet become hot?
a shorted out outlet can cause a backfeed on the white wire, an open circuit on the white wire with and electrical appliance plugged in to an outlet can cause the same type of backfeed
Can you show me a diagram for connecting a 240v generator to the breaker panel in a home?
A generator, whether portable or permanently installed, requires a transfer switch between it and your panel. The transfer switch is there to keep two power sources from being turned on at the same time (such as the generator and your incoming service). If you didn't have a transfer switch and both sources were connected to the panel at the same time, when the power grid came back up it would be connected to the generator, and that would cause fire and explosion. Also, when the grid was out and a lineman was trying to fix it, your generator would be 'backfeeding' power to the grid, either keeping linemen from working on it or worse, coming online after a worker has started repairing it. For these reasons a generator and transfer switch should be installed by a licensed electrician. If you want to do it yourself anyway, buy a transfer switch. It will come with installation instructions to put it between your generator and panel. DON'T put a 50 amp 'multipurpose receptacle' onto your panel and backfeed the panel. It's neither legal nor safe, and it can get people killed. As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.If you do this work yourself, always turn off the powerat the breaker box/fuse panel BEFORE you attempt to do any work ANDalways use an electrician's test meter having metal-tipped probes(not a simple proximity voltage indicator)to insure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOBSAFELY AND COMPETENTLYREFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
Can you put 2 circuits on one neutral in a single phase house panel?
you can, but i would not recommend it, I've seen it done many times in older homes, if for some reason you do make sure both circuit power"hot" wires are connected to the same bus of electrical panel or a backfeed could cause a high voltage and be even more hazardous
You are hooking a generator to your dryer plug It is a four prong style but only have three wire cable available and smaller generator Which prong should you hook the ground to ground?
Whoa there! You are setting yourself up for an absolute disaster. There is no way to do what you are trying safely OR legally. If your generator is a small one, it probably has only 120V output. Your dryer outlet is 240V. There is no combination of wires that will work properly since you could feed only one or the other hot leg. If you do manage to get it hooked up somehow, you could backfeed your generator voltage on to the dead utility power lines feeding your house. This is quite illegal, and several utility workers have been killed in the past by someone doing exactly what you are trying to do. Also, when the utility power comes back on, it will destroy your generator and possibly cause a fire. You NEED to have a qualified individual install a manual transfer switch and move the desired branch circuits to it. then you will have a place all set to plug the generator into, and the interlock feature prevents you from cross connecting utility and generator power. No offense, but you will hurt someone if you do not get help. IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOBSAFELY AND COMPETENTLYREFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS. If you do this work yourself, always turn off the power at the breaker box/fuse panel BEFORE you attempt to do any work AND always use a meter or voltage indicatorto insure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
How can you connect a generator to a dryer receptacle?
You are missing a very serious safety issue!There MUST be a mechanical method to keep the main breaker in the home panel in the off position while the generator "back feed" breaker is on and vice versa.For some of the newer panels, the manufacturers may make them or you can get these things on line from interlockkit.com.They are easy to install and most importantly, they will protect utility line men from getting killed if someone were to accidentally turn on your house main while the generator is on. I am sure your local electrical code would require this or something similar like a full blown transfer switch.You can but it is very dangerous. If you plan to use it more than once then it would be a good idea to have an electrician install a new 4 prong outlet (including proper electrical wiring) and cord for the dryer. Although another alternative is to ask him to install a new 4 prong 220VAC plug outside the house which could be used for a welder and use this leg for your generator.220VAC comes in several flavors, in this case the dryer is either a)2-hot 1-ground or b)2-hot 1-neutral with ground to the casing. The generator is 2-hot, 1-neutral and 1-ground. The breaker this is on then becomes the main breaker and if it is only rated at 50 amps then make sure all high draw items are turned off including the house main breaker and all 220V appliances. Usually with a 5000W generator, you can run 2 35" or smaller TVs, 2-3 ceiling fans, 2 refrigerator/freezers or one fridge and one deep freeze all simultaneously. Everything else like the electric water heater, AC unit, heat pump, well pump, stove-top range/oven MUST have their breakers turned off and if possible unplugged from the wall.As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.Before you do any work yourself,on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOBSAFELY AND COMPETENTLYREFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
How does the white wire on an outlet become hot?
a shorted out outlet can cause a backfeed on the white wire, an open circuit on the white wire with and electrical appliance plugged in to an outlet can cause the same type of backfeed
Can you show me a diagram for connecting a 240v generator to the breaker panel in a home?
A generator, whether portable or permanently installed, requires a transfer switch between it and your panel. The transfer switch is there to keep two power sources from being turned on at the same time (such as the generator and your incoming service). If you didn't have a transfer switch and both sources were connected to the panel at the same time, when the power grid came back up it would be connected to the generator, and that would cause fire and explosion. Also, when the grid was out and a lineman was trying to fix it, your generator would be 'backfeeding' power to the grid, either keeping linemen from working on it or worse, coming online after a worker has started repairing it. For these reasons a generator and transfer switch should be installed by a licensed electrician. If you want to do it yourself anyway, buy a transfer switch. It will come with installation instructions to put it between your generator and panel. DON'T put a 50 amp 'multipurpose receptacle' onto your panel and backfeed the panel. It's neither legal nor safe, and it can get people killed. As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.If you do this work yourself, always turn off the powerat the breaker box/fuse panel BEFORE you attempt to do any work ANDalways use an electrician's test meter having metal-tipped probes(not a simple proximity voltage indicator)to insure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOBSAFELY AND COMPETENTLYREFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
What words contain only the letters abcdef and 8 chararacters?
what word contains only the letters abcdef and 8 characters
How do you connect a generator to your home?
There are several ways. The safest is to have an electrician install a transfer switch. This allows you to connect a portable generator to its 4 prong outlet and prevents city power from entering the house and generator. You basically have a manual switch to decide if you want generator power or city. Its a safety thing. This will cost you at least $300 in parts plus the electrician.There is also an cheaper alternative to a manual transfer switch. There definitely needs to be a safety device but a manual transfer switch is difficult and expensive to install plus it takes a good electrician to make a professional job. An interlocking device, such as the ones from interlockkit.com, mounts on the front of your panel and keeps the main breaker and the generator from being on at the same time. This ensures that the line physically cant be back-fed, which keeps lineman from being shocked and killed. It only takes an hour or so to do the whole job and meets electrical code.As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.Before you do any work yourself,on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOBSAFELY AND COMPETENTLYREFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
You replace all the tail light blubs on your 94 Lexus es300 and when you step on the brake the dash light come on?
incorrect resistance of light bulbs installed. causes electrical feed back. replace all bulbs with factory replacement Also check that the tail light ground is ok. If the tail light bulbs aren;t grounded, it causes a backfeed of power to the dash lights and causes them to turn on.
What can would make the generator light on a 1971 Cadillac stay on very lightly.?
Alternator has a bad diode and not charging at full rate? Backfeed? Check with a voltmeter Should read (with a fully charged battery) without engine running Approx. 12.8 With engine running 13.8-14.2
Can you put 2 circuits on one neutral in a single phase house panel?
you can, but i would not recommend it, I've seen it done many times in older homes, if for some reason you do make sure both circuit power"hot" wires are connected to the same bus of electrical panel or a backfeed could cause a high voltage and be even more hazardous
How to Safely Use Home Generators?
While home generators can be tremendously useful during periods of electrical outage, it is absolutely critical that individuals who make the choice to use these devices understand that improper use of a generator can lead to the injury or death of everyone in their home, as well as electrical energy workers. Roughly a dozen people lose their life due to the improper use of home generators every time that a major storm knocks out electricity in our country, and all of these deaths could have easily been prevented if the owners of those home generators followed some very basic safety precautions. Let’s take a quick look at the three main safety precautions that every owner of a home generator needs to take into consideration: proper ventilation, direct wiring and avoiding electrical outlets. Out of all of the individuals who lose their lives every year due to improper use of home generators, almost everyone could have survived if the generator was used in a well ventilated area. Despite the fact that home generators run on gasoline, some people who use home generators evidently fail to realize that the exhaust that is produced by these devices is toxic. As a result, home generators should not be used in one’s garage or any part of the home that does not receive plenty of ventilation. Ideally, a home generator should be operated outside of the home and deliver electricity by means of a heavy duty extension cable that is run through a window or door. It is also very important that you do not try to adapt your home generator to directly deliver electricity through some kind of jerry-rigged series of wires that feed into your home electrical system. While that may sound obvious, the fact of the matter is that people have frequently begun experimenting in this manner with home generators during periods of extended blackouts, and it is a recipe for disaster. Finally, it is extremely important that you never attempt to supply power to you home by plugging your home generator directly into an electrical outlet during a blackout. This will not provide power to your building. Instead, it will create a backfeed of electricity that could easily injure or kill the repair workers who are out there trying to restore your electricity.
You are hooking a generator to your dryer plug It is a four prong style but only have three wire cable available and smaller generator Which prong should you hook the ground to ground?
Whoa there! You are setting yourself up for an absolute disaster. There is no way to do what you are trying safely OR legally. If your generator is a small one, it probably has only 120V output. Your dryer outlet is 240V. There is no combination of wires that will work properly since you could feed only one or the other hot leg. If you do manage to get it hooked up somehow, you could backfeed your generator voltage on to the dead utility power lines feeding your house. This is quite illegal, and several utility workers have been killed in the past by someone doing exactly what you are trying to do. Also, when the utility power comes back on, it will destroy your generator and possibly cause a fire. You NEED to have a qualified individual install a manual transfer switch and move the desired branch circuits to it. then you will have a place all set to plug the generator into, and the interlock feature prevents you from cross connecting utility and generator power. No offense, but you will hurt someone if you do not get help. IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOBSAFELY AND COMPETENTLYREFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS. If you do this work yourself, always turn off the power at the breaker box/fuse panel BEFORE you attempt to do any work AND always use a meter or voltage indicatorto insure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
How can you connect a generator to a dryer receptacle?
You are missing a very serious safety issue!There MUST be a mechanical method to keep the main breaker in the home panel in the off position while the generator "back feed" breaker is on and vice versa.For some of the newer panels, the manufacturers may make them or you can get these things on line from interlockkit.com.They are easy to install and most importantly, they will protect utility line men from getting killed if someone were to accidentally turn on your house main while the generator is on. I am sure your local electrical code would require this or something similar like a full blown transfer switch.You can but it is very dangerous. If you plan to use it more than once then it would be a good idea to have an electrician install a new 4 prong outlet (including proper electrical wiring) and cord for the dryer. Although another alternative is to ask him to install a new 4 prong 220VAC plug outside the house which could be used for a welder and use this leg for your generator.220VAC comes in several flavors, in this case the dryer is either a)2-hot 1-ground or b)2-hot 1-neutral with ground to the casing. The generator is 2-hot, 1-neutral and 1-ground. The breaker this is on then becomes the main breaker and if it is only rated at 50 amps then make sure all high draw items are turned off including the house main breaker and all 220V appliances. Usually with a 5000W generator, you can run 2 35" or smaller TVs, 2-3 ceiling fans, 2 refrigerator/freezers or one fridge and one deep freeze all simultaneously. Everything else like the electric water heater, AC unit, heat pump, well pump, stove-top range/oven MUST have their breakers turned off and if possible unplugged from the wall.As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.Before you do any work yourself,on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOBSAFELY AND COMPETENTLYREFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
Why would a 1998 Buick Regal seize up and stall when signal lights are used?
IF one of your brake light or turn signal light bulbs are put in incorrectly - IT will backfeed into the computer & KILL the Engine.OR shorted 2 ground.
Why does your 2004 gmc sierra left blinker light come one when your headlights come on?
Check to see if you have a defective bulb. Turn signals/parking lights,and tailights a double filament, if one is bad (Both filaments touching) they will backfeed
