generator: transfer switch or no

[JimZ]

Transfer switch YES

Unless

1. You are a skilled electrician
2. You have a documented and strictly-enforced lockout/tagout program in your house (and how do you fire your kids, btw ?),
3. Every other occupant of your house is a skilled electrician, engineer, or supervisor and trained in lockout/tagout,
4. You have two lockable diconnects between you and the grid, LOCKED open, and
5. The buss between the disconnects is tied to ground by a mechanically-affixed (i.e. bolted-down) cable . . .

YOU ARE RISKING DEATH OR GRAVE BODILY INJURY. STOP.

If there is anything on that list that you are not completely familiar with and 100% compliant with, do not attempt to power any facility by connecting into your power distribution system without a dedicated transfer ("tie-breaker") switch.

There are some things that really, really shouldn't be cobbled up. This is one of them. This is not adding a new 110V branch, it's potentially touching the grid. There are too many variables that will get someone, maybe even you or yours, killed.

We (I worked starting up non-utility generation plants for quite a few years) don't go thru time-consuming procedures like those outlined above for the fun of it. And we don't fire people for violating them (I have seen one guy tossed off the site on the spot) because we are feeling vindictive.

Have I instilled enough paranaoia yet ? I hope so.

[jwaterdawg]

Backfeeding is obviously very dangerous. I in no way shape or form ever intended or suggested backfeeding. The options I had considered were a (1) transfer switch or (2) use of drop cords run specifically to appliances in question (fridge, TV, etc.) Either option achieves isolation from the grid (assuming the transfer is wired properly).

After further consideration of the info here, and discussion with pops (who is a certified electrician of ~40 years experience) I've decide on a third option. I am installing three additional outlets in the house in three different locations that will be fed from an isolated breaker panel. The panel will be fed exclusively and soley from the generator and the outlets will be in inconspicuous (sp) locations to avoid confusion with the normal house circuit. A plug and receptacle will be added to the water pump circuit under the house (also location of new breaker panel); in the event of power failure, water pump is unplugged from panel and plugged into outlet on the new breaker box.

Thus there will be complete physical isolation of the generator fed circuits from the grid. Most of the necessary materials I already have on hand, or pops does, and so this is definitely more cost effective solution than the transfer switch.