Reviews:
 ·Comcast
| Pushmatic panel As the subject line says, I have a Pushmatic electric panel. Google research says I can not buy an interlock device for a generator.
With that said... How bad is it to throw the main breaker and use a double male plug in an emergency? What is the danger I should expect? (MAIN POINT)
I'm not trolling, I'm being very serious. Upgrading the panel is what I should do, however. I got a quote a few years back to upgrade the panel and it was very expensive. Please stay with the danger not the panel.
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"Safe in the permanent gaze of a cold glass eye" |
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 davidgGood Bye My FriendPremium,MVM
join:2002-06-15
none | the panel IS the danger, they fail spectaularly.
as to the genny, why not get a ATS with several circuits and just put the ones you need on it. that way you have no danger of backfeeding and you take the main panel out the loop entirely during outages.
NEVER use a suicide cord, and never install an inlet when there is any remote possiblity that it can become energized by the mains.
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Lack of Preparation on YOUR Part does NOT Constitute an Emergency on Mine! |
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Reviews:
·Comcast
| said by davidg:the panel IS the danger, they fail spectaularly. I did not know that.
What is an ATS with several circuits?
I guess I don't understand how throwing the main breaker and back feeding is dangerous. I realize the cord if not handled properly could pose a risk of electrocution.
How does it affect anyone else if the main is tripped?
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"Safe in the permanent gaze of a cold glass eye" |
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 nunyaWho is John Galt?Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
kudos:5
·Charter
 ·voip.ms
| reply to flibby3655
Your asking for directions on how to do something that is very dangerous and illegal.
I'm not going to tell you how to do it. There are plenty of other nefarious sites that will.
A mechanical interlock defeats human error.
Pushmatics are past their useful life. Their failpoint is usually a mechanical failure in the "open" position.
Unfortunately, they are also well known for "fail to trip", though not as widespread as FPE Stablok or Zinsco. Junk-a-matics are #3 on my list bad guys.
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...because I care. |
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Reviews:
·Comcast
| said by nunya:Your asking for directions on how to do something that is very dangerous and illegal.
I don't think that is true if you go back and read my post. I asked, what is the danger?
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"Safe in the permanent gaze of a cold glass eye" |
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 JimCTProbably Pricing PropanePremium
join:2006-01-11
Connecticut
kudos:1 | said by flibby3655:said by nunya:Your asking for directions on how to do something that is very dangerous and illegal.
I don't think that is true if you go back and read my post. I asked, what is the danger? The biggest danger is that if you screw up and don't open the main breakers on your panel (thus energizing the lines on the utility pole), a lineman could be seriously hurt or killed. Not to mention the damage that could happen if a generator is running and feeding power when utility power is restored.
nunya is right- you shouldn't even consider that as an option.
EDIT: here is an example of an interlock properly installed on my panel: »GE Generator Interlock Switch done!
I know you can't on your current panel, so you need to either upgrade the panel to one where you can install an interlock, or install a transfer switch. |
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Reviews:
·Comcast
| said by JimCT:said by flibby3655:said by nunya:Your asking for directions on how to do something that is very dangerous and illegal.
I don't think that is true if you go back and read my post. I asked, what is the danger? The biggest danger is that if you screw up and don't open the main breakers on your panel (thus energizing the lines on the utility pole), a lineman could be seriously hurt or killed. Not to mention the damage that could happen if a generator is running and feeding power when utility power is restored. nunya is right- you shouldn't even consider that as an option. EDIT: here is an example of an interlock properly installed on my panel: » GE Generator Interlock Switch done!I know you can't on your current panel, so you need to either upgrade the panel to one where you can install an interlock, or install a transfer switch. Correct me if I'm wrong. Doesn't that switch still require you to go to your panel and manually throw a switch? How does that guarantee the breaker is open? I would need to go out to my panel and trip the main, same thing.
Again, and please, I'm not trolling, I'm trying to wrap my head around the differences here. Plus the cost of up-grading my panel.
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"Safe in the permanent gaze of a cold glass eye" |
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JimCTProbably Pricing PropanePremium
join:2006-01-11
Connecticut
kudos:1 | Yes, that's a manual interlock on the panel. It requires me to flip the main breakers off before I enable the generator breakers to accept backfed power. In essence, it is what you are seeking to do with the backfeeding of the dryer outlet idea you have with a few notable differences:
1) it is legal (and code approved in most areas)
2) that interlock forces either utility power or generator power, but prevents both from being on at the same time.
3) it takes human error out of the equation when setting up your power, preventing needless deaths of utility linemen.
You can install transfer switches that can essentially do the same thing, only they require specific circuits to be predetermined in that "subpanel setup" of the switch... my interlock lets me pick any combination of circuits I choose (but I need to make sure I don't put too much strain on the generator... by design it can't replace utility power).
Hope that clears up some confusion. |
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| Thank you for the clarification! |
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JimCTProbably Pricing PropanePremium
join:2006-01-11
Connecticut
kudos:1 | said by flibby3655:Thank you for the clarification!
You are welcome. I'm here to learn as well as help when I can. |
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JimCTProbably Pricing PropanePremium
join:2006-01-11
Connecticut
kudos:1 | reply to flibby3655
As a sidenote, if a panel replacement is too pricey, I'd look into a transfer switch installation and see where the price ended up and compare that to a new panel with the interlock.
That interlock kit for my GE panel was $42 from Home Depot... typically transfer switches are much more expensive to buy and install... it might be a wash to put in a new panel with the interlock rather than install a switch on your current panel. Time for you to do some homework! |
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| reply to flibby3655
See if your utility offers GenerLink. It installs in the meter base between the meter and the base.
I have one and it works well. Whole house surge protection too. |
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| Great idea, thanks! |
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