The main reason for the transfer switch is you don't want to fry a utility repairman. You can also have an automatic transfer switch, which is what I have, coupled to a 8000W natural gas generator. When the power is off for more than 30 seconds or in a non-spec brown condition it automatically kicks in. Its noise level is only 70 dB so you can't hear it in the house. 8000W is not enough to run the A/C so I keep it in manual mode during the summer. I have a friend with a 15000W unit but it is water cooled and much more maintenance than my air cooled unit. After I installed the unit we stopped having so many power outages so it doesn't get used much. It also runs automatically for 10 minutes each week to keep it in proper running order. -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Joe Bauman Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 12:12 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Generator Very cool! I guess someone was warning against a generator causing a flashback type reaction when the utility switches power back on. But in your casae, with a terminator switch, that must not be a problem. Thanks for the great info. Best wishes, Joe Chuck Hards <chuck.hards@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Joe: On 9/5/07, Joe Bauman wrote:
The only concern I've heard about using the generator during a power outage, as per the last big discussion, is that it shouldn't be connected
to
the house when the power goes back on. Instead, according to one of the commentators, it can be used to power individual appliances, not a circuit.
I can't recall who that commentator was, but what they told you needs qualification and isn't completely correct. Not being able to power a circuit would be applicable ONLY if your generator is under-rated for the total demands of the circuit and you try to connect it improperly without following the electrical code (meaning you just plug it into an outlet or otherwise jury-rig it to the house somehow). It *can* power the entire house, IF it has sufficient capacity for the demands you want to place on it, and you have a licensed electrician install what's called a "Transfer Switch" next to your main breaker box. These are large isolation switches that disconnect the house from the grid and make it safe to power the house from the generator. Then you don't have to run extension cords everywhere. Under-rated extension cords can actually be a tremendous fire hazard when they overheat. Using a generator with too-small capacity isn't a good idea to power up an entire house. Usually at least 4000W is needed, and then you can usually run only one appliance at a time, if you have a lot of other smaller devices running. Bigger is better for generators intended for home use. Last night, we had the 37" TV, sound system, two lamps and a couple of other room lights, fridge, computer, window fan, and washing machine running simultaneously, and the garage door intermittantly, with no problems at all. Still had some reserve capacity with my 5200W generator. It's too large and heavy for me to lift by myself. I have it on a small dolly with casters so I can easily roll it around the garage and out the back door when needed. _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com --------------------------------- Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more. _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com