I've noticed that most rural co-ops want you to hook up a generator through a double pole double throw switch. I understand there concern about power going up the line and killing workers. Just haven't figured out how to install one on my power pole. Any suggestions?

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), November 10, 2000

Answers

Kenneth: We are on solar/generator, and have recently been offered free installation from the electric company. The man who came here yesterday wanted a "wheel switch". Any idea? I can't imagine "our" power going back to their line, but I guess they have to think about it. It seems there should be some type of automatic transfer switch for when the company power goes out, but haven't been able to find one in our catalogues.

Help from anyone would be very much appreciated.

-- Teresa in TN (otgonz@bellsouth.net), November 10, 2000.

Ken, first off it's safer to pull the meter.Your connections should be made meter to 200amp disconnect box this will run to a double throw box. From this box you will make your connections to your house or garage. Your input from your generator will come in at this box also. When you throw your switch to either the main service or your generator you will automatically disconnect the other. The 200 amp push disconnect will also let you work comfortably on your second box. It also allows others to disconnect in emergencies. Remember to ground these boxes. Mine are located outdoors on the pole,in my barnyard. Still confused?

-- Richard V Miller (richard.miller@1st.net), November 10, 2000.

Use caution about pulling an electric meter. Where I live it is illegal to pull a meter without permission unless you are a licensed electrician. If a home owner pulls the meter (without permission), an entire inspection is done of all wiring to make sure it is safe and correctly. In lieu of that, service is discontinued to the premises. Licensed electricians have seals and can reseal the meters themselves.

While all of this is a real big pain you know where, it is in place to prevent those that don't know what they are doing from making errors that are unsafe to either premises or persons.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), November 10, 2000.

I never thought you could get into trouble for pulling a meter. Heck, the electric company has us read our own meters around here. Don't want to get no-one in trouble. Could wind up another Ruby Ridge or Waco just for pulling a meter.

-- Richard V.Miller (richard.miller@1st.net), November 11, 2000.

Teresa => If you are connected to any utility company Your Gen/Solar could energize their transformer and send 7000V + upline. If your strictly Gen/Solar then they are nuts.

Richard & NotForPrint => Thanks I checked its illeagle here to. So I'll have a electrician come and quote it. Don't want to get fined or zapped. :o)

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), November 11, 2000.

Kenneth: Thanks. Husband is the "electrician" in the family, but I have more time to do the research legwork.

-- Teresa in TN (otgonz@bellsouth.net), November 11, 2000.

Kenneth! I can't add much, if anything, that's not already been said. As a licensed electrician and former Electrical Contractor-the power companies are correct re: DPDT switches. I've been "zapped" before by unqualified people wiring "past" the main breakers. We're only talkin about 240volts there too. When a genset backfeeds through the distribution transformer [pole trans] it will step up your voltage of either 117 volts or 230 volts to either 4160 volts or 7200 volts in the 12 Y Configureation. Plenty to kill anybody "downstream" that just happens to be working on the lines. My advice? Hire a qualified, LICENSED Electrical Contractor! It'll not be cheap but then again LIFE is not cheap! They will have access to the automatic switches that you're inquiring about. If not, your local wholesale supply house for electrical components will have it or can get it. The problem there is they most likely will not sell to an unlicensed person. hoot gibson. Matt. 24:44

-- hootgibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), November 11, 2000.

Thanks to you, too, Hoot. Appreciate all the information I can get.

-- Teresa in TN (otgonz@bellsouth.net), November 11, 2000.

I have aquestion. not entirely related to this line but not entirely unrelated either. I keep reading and hearing that in the case of say, you generaring your own electricity by windmill and you're charging batteries, that if you have surplus energy, you can make the light co. buy it from you. Is this really so? And, if so, how does it work? That would be something--making the light co. pay you!

-- Clare Baldwin (clare_baldwin@hotmail.com), November 12, 2000.

Clare, I don't know about with all states, but here in Kansas the utility companies are mandated to purchase electricity if you wish to sell your excess to them, and why wouldn't they? They pay only about half of what it costs them to produce the same KWs, far below what you have to pay them for the same amount.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), November 13, 2000.

As an electrician, unless you're very sure of what you're doing - hire someone who knows exactly how to do it, knows the electrical code, and won't accidentally hurt himself. PLEASE!!!

-- Joan Murray (jmurray@rtc.uscg.mil), November 13, 2000.

There are two ways to connect up a generator to a home's electrical panel. One is to do a whole house switch and the second is to do a circuit switch.

The whole house switch is more costly because it requires a switch that can handle your normal house current 100amps, 200amps. These are not your off the shelf DIY store items and often require a trip to a good electrical store and soemtimes then you need to order what you need. Usually for legal and saftey reasons this method require an electrition that knows what they are doing. Your basicly going to put the switch between the wires from the electric company and your breaker panel. This means working with big, high current wires. With the new transfer switch in place you simply switch the breaker box to whatever powersource you need. Generator or mains. Last time I checked a 200amp transfer switch was about $800 by itself. You can find used industrial ones cheaper but you need to know what you need.These cost are for manual switches, If you want automatic switches prices start around $2000.

The switched circuit method is lower cost, a moderatly easy DIY project with parts from your local DIY store. In this case as the name imples you switch on specific circuits instead of the hole house. The switches go between the breaker box and your outlets andlights. You can safely switch off the mains when making the connections and saftey issues are lessoned. You still have high voltage and current in the breaker box. You can buy a 4-20 circit switch boxes, Lowes, Home Depot has 6 and 8 circuit boxes for under $100.

Here is a couple web sites that have info on the circuit switch systems. http://members.attcanada.ca/~assoc/emergen/home.html Here is one using "3 way switches" Most cases not legal or to code but works. Knowledge is required for this one. http://www.kalama.com/~dgberntsen/EmergGen.htm Popular machanics had an ok article about a circuit swtched system. http://popularmechanics.mondosearch.com/cgi-bin/MsmGo.exe?CFGNAME=MssF ind.cfg&grab_id=61910&host_id=1&page_id=1785

Hope this helps. BE SAFE.

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), November 13, 2000.

what you need is a DPDT switchbox if you add a genset to the grid enterance have a electriction connect it if all you want to do is prevent your power from entering the grid during blackouts install a selinoide switch between fusebox and meter powered by grid

-- nick (raymondetdesrosier@smpatico.ca), February 05, 2001.