“Main” breaker only shuts off 120v circuits.

Posted by Smartass on September 23, 2009, 5:49 pm

I live on the coast of western Washington where we have several power
outages per year. Two years ago, it was out for a week after a big storm.
I just bought a 120v/240v, 15 amp, generator. I thought I could just kill
the main breaker and plug the generator into a 240v, 30 amp, drier outlet
to power the whole house (assuming I limit my usage to 15 amp). Close
inspection inside the breaker panel reveals that the “main” breaker only
shuts off the eight 120v breakers (4 of each phase). The only way to
disconnect the 240v breakers (6 of them including the “main”) from the
pole is to remove the meter outside the house. Is this a code violation?
I’ve come up with two temporary stopgap solutions to partially energize my
house from the generator without exporting power to the neighborhood.
(1) Shut of the “main” breaker and connect 120v from the generator to
either phase A or phase B via a wall outlet.
(2) Shut off the “main” breaker and the drier breaker; disconnect the
output of the drier breaker and connect it to the output of the “main”
breaker. I could also shut off a baseboard heater breaker and connect its
output to the drier circuit (assuming I only use the 500 watt or 1000 watt
heater).
Obviously, these “solutions” are hazardous if tried by a dummy; they’re
undoubtedly illegal, as well.
I rent this 30-something year-old house, and the slumlord hates to spend
money. He just finished a major remodeling of the shack next door without
applying for permits. Should I call the fire department?

-------------------------------------
Retired tech.\//.

Posted by PeterD on September 23, 2009, 7:33 pm

On Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:49:45 +0000,
anniemalover_at_hotmail_dot_com@foo.com (Smartass) wrote:

I'd say this is absolutely impossible to have happen. The only way is
if someone modified the breaker box, and I don't see that happening.

>Is this a code violation?

IF (see, big IF) that were true, absolutely a code violation.

>I’ve come up with two temporary stopgap solutions to partially energize my
>house from the generator without exporting power to the neighborhood.
>(1) Shut of the “main” breaker and connect 120v from the generator to
>either phase A or phase B via a wall outlet.
>(2) Shut off the “main” breaker and the drier breaker; disconnect the
>output of the drier breaker and connect it to the output of the “main”
>breaker. I could also shut off a baseboard heater breaker and connect its
>output to the drier circuit (assuming I only use the 500 watt or 1000 watt
>heater).
>Obviously, these “solutions” are hazardous if tried by a dummy; they’re
>undoubtedly illegal, as well.
>I rent this 30-something year-old house, and the slumlord hates to spend
>money. He just finished a major remodeling of the shack next door without
>applying for permits. Should I call the fire department?

You should IMMEDIATELY call an electrician, and notify your landlord
that you are doing so and why.

I strongly recommend you not try to do anythign with an emergency
generator, it is beyond your abilities, and perhaps also beyond the
wiring of the house. BTW, if the house is about 30 years old, it
should have been wired properly.

Please take some pictures of the setup, and post them on a web site.

Posted by PeterD on September 23, 2009, 7:34 pm

On Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:06:46 -0700 (PDT), RicodJour

>On Sep 23, 5:49 pm, anniemalover_at_hotmail_dot_...@foo.com (Smartass)
>wrote:

>> I live on the coast of western Washington where we have several power
>> outages per year. Two years ago, it was out for a week after a big storm.
>> I just bought a 120v/240v, 15 amp, generator. I thought I could just kill
>> the main breaker and plug the generator into a 240v, 30 amp, drier outlet
>> to power the whole house (assuming I limit my usage to 15 amp). Close
>> inspection inside the breaker panel reveals that the “main” breaker only
>> shuts off the eight 120v breakers (4 of each phase). The only way to
>> disconnect the 240v breakers (6 of them including the “main”) from the
>> pole is to remove the meter outside the house. Is this a code violation?
>> I’ve come up with two temporary stopgap solutions to partially energize my
>> house from the generator without exporting power to the neighborhood.
>> (1) Shut of the “main” breaker and connect 120v from the generator to
>> either phase A or phase B via a wall outlet.
>> (2) Shut off the “main” breaker and the drier breaker; disconnect the
>> output of the drier breaker and connect it to the output of the “main”
>> breaker. I could also shut off a baseboard heater breaker and connect its
>> output to the drier circuit (assuming I only use the 500 watt or 1000 watt
>> heater).
>> Obviously, these “solutions” are hazardous if tried by a dummy; they’re
>> undoubtedly illegal, as well.
>> I rent this 30-something year-old house, and the slumlord hates to spend
>> money. He just finished a major remodeling of the shack next door without
>> applying for permits. Should I call the fire department?
>> -------------------------------------
>> Retired tech.\//.

>Work on your trolling technique.
>R

Shhhsh... You'll ruin the fun!

Posted by Bill on September 24, 2009, 8:15 am

Just use extension cords to power what you want (being as it is a rental).

15 amps is not going to power much anyway. I use my generator to power the
refrigerator and a few lights. Just enough to get by until the power is
turned back on.

Get a large gauge "contractor" long extension cord at a home improvement
store - like 12 gauge wire.

"Smartass" wrote in message

>I live on the coast of western Washington where we have several power
> outages per year. Two years ago, it was out for a week after a big storm.
> I just bought a 120v/240v, 15 amp, generator. I thought I could just kill
> the main breaker and plug the generator into a 240v, 30 amp, drier outlet
> to power the whole house (assuming I limit my usage to 15 amp). Close
> inspection inside the breaker panel reveals that the "main" breaker only
> shuts off the eight 120v breakers (4 of each phase). The only way to
> disconnect the 240v breakers (6 of them including the "main") from the
> pole is to remove the meter outside the house. Is this a code violation?
> I've come up with two temporary stopgap solutions to partially energize my
> house from the generator without exporting power to the neighborhood.
> (1) Shut of the "main" breaker and connect 120v from the generator to
> either phase A or phase B via a wall outlet.
> (2) Shut off the "main" breaker and the drier breaker; disconnect the
> output of the drier breaker and connect it to the output of the "main"
> breaker. I could also shut off a baseboard heater breaker and connect its
> output to the drier circuit (assuming I only use the 500 watt or 1000 watt
> heater).
> Obviously, these "solutions" are hazardous if tried by a dummy; they're
> undoubtedly illegal, as well.
> I rent this 30-something year-old house, and the slumlord hates to spend
> money. He just finished a major remodeling of the shack next door without
> applying for permits. Should I call the fire department?
> -------------------------------------
> Retired tech.\//.
>

Posted by PeterD on September 24, 2009, 9:25 am

On Thu, 24 Sep 2009 05:15:32 -0700, "Bill"

>Just use extension cords to power what you want (being as it is a rental).
>15 amps is not going to power much anyway. I use my generator to power the
>refrigerator and a few lights. Just enough to get by until the power is
>turned back on.
>Get a large gauge "contractor" long extension cord at a home improvement
>store - like 12 gauge wire.

It might make more sense to the OP if he totally rewired and added a
complete second electrical system beside the existing one. For each
outlet, add a second emergency outlet next to it. Wire these emergency
outlets back to the generator.

Then when power fails all he has to do is to unplug things and plug
'em into the 'emergency' outlets!

This is especially useful for the rental property the OP is living in!

(I'm now going to hid as far from here as I can! <BSEG>)

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