Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Ok, here's the deal, I am well aware that back feeding a service panel is against code, and has the potential of energizing the secondary, and the primary circuits back through the transformer, it violates code etc. etc. Well understood there.
However, and I hold no one responsible for any advice, we have some real serious problems here, this ice storm has created a bit of a disaster and I've got to do what I can here because the temperatures are supposed to drop into the teens.
Here's the deal, I've got a Miller NT 251 Trailblazer, 8500 watts continous, a quad 115 outlet and a single 240 30 or 50 amp outlet on it to provide power. I have 50 feet of AWG #6/3 to which I can wire up the 3 prong male plug, this is the largest conductor it will take according to the sheet. I can run this to an outlet inside the garage, which is as follows:
In the garage, I have a 250v/125v outlet, ( reading off the cover) that is wired circa 1978 gray conductor is labelled Alcoa - (must be aluminum) #4 AWG, assume it to be 3 conductor, with a ground, it goes another 50 feet or so to 1 of my pair of 200 amp breaker panels, that are fed by the main service line.
1.) If I were to backfeed to this panel, using the above scenario, assuming the conductor to be large enough to use, directly from the 240 or 250 outlet on my Miller NT 251, would in turn the branch circuits from the panel be 115 volts, if the panel is fed 250 from the generator. I assume so, but am no electrician.
2.) Ok, main breakers will be off, and no one but me is here, but as another precaution, I can cut the seal on the meter box and pull the meter. Will that effectively break the circuit, meaning it's wired in a series, ( if that is a reasonable way to describe it ) meaning once you un plug it, the circuit is open, cant be closed etc. and this eliminates the hazard, obviously bending the rules, but we are in a real jam here.
3.) The intended load on the branch circuits are an oil fired over hot water furnace, well pump submersible type, 1 refrigerator, 1 lighting circuit, all these are 15 or 30 amp breakers. This is all I need to keep things going here.
Aside from the obvious, if this scenario is a serious hazard, I won't do it, however, if it will work, as described, I need to know, cannot take a chance with frozen pipes etc. and I've got an elderly person here, my mother, to look after, other wise I'd rough it out, or could just go with a bunch of heavy duty extension cords, directly, still won't get me water or heat, kind of has my back to the wall.
Again, one time I could really use some sage advice, be it good or bad, I've got to consider this option due to the circumstances.
Hopefully anyone else in this mess is coping, most of us are still in the dark as to the extent of the damage and how the power company is doing on the restoration, is what it is, time to dig in here and ride this out.
However, and I hold no one responsible for any advice, we have some real serious problems here, this ice storm has created a bit of a disaster and I've got to do what I can here because the temperatures are supposed to drop into the teens.
Here's the deal, I've got a Miller NT 251 Trailblazer, 8500 watts continous, a quad 115 outlet and a single 240 30 or 50 amp outlet on it to provide power. I have 50 feet of AWG #6/3 to which I can wire up the 3 prong male plug, this is the largest conductor it will take according to the sheet. I can run this to an outlet inside the garage, which is as follows:
In the garage, I have a 250v/125v outlet, ( reading off the cover) that is wired circa 1978 gray conductor is labelled Alcoa - (must be aluminum) #4 AWG, assume it to be 3 conductor, with a ground, it goes another 50 feet or so to 1 of my pair of 200 amp breaker panels, that are fed by the main service line.
1.) If I were to backfeed to this panel, using the above scenario, assuming the conductor to be large enough to use, directly from the 240 or 250 outlet on my Miller NT 251, would in turn the branch circuits from the panel be 115 volts, if the panel is fed 250 from the generator. I assume so, but am no electrician.
2.) Ok, main breakers will be off, and no one but me is here, but as another precaution, I can cut the seal on the meter box and pull the meter. Will that effectively break the circuit, meaning it's wired in a series, ( if that is a reasonable way to describe it ) meaning once you un plug it, the circuit is open, cant be closed etc. and this eliminates the hazard, obviously bending the rules, but we are in a real jam here.
3.) The intended load on the branch circuits are an oil fired over hot water furnace, well pump submersible type, 1 refrigerator, 1 lighting circuit, all these are 15 or 30 amp breakers. This is all I need to keep things going here.
Aside from the obvious, if this scenario is a serious hazard, I won't do it, however, if it will work, as described, I need to know, cannot take a chance with frozen pipes etc. and I've got an elderly person here, my mother, to look after, other wise I'd rough it out, or could just go with a bunch of heavy duty extension cords, directly, still won't get me water or heat, kind of has my back to the wall.
Again, one time I could really use some sage advice, be it good or bad, I've got to consider this option due to the circumstances.
Hopefully anyone else in this mess is coping, most of us are still in the dark as to the extent of the damage and how the power company is doing on the restoration, is what it is, time to dig in here and ride this out.
