Posted by google3 on August 19, 2007, 7:16 pm
http://www.interlockkit.com/
All this seems to be is a lockout of one breaker for another - throw
the mains and then move the plate to close the breaker bringing in gen
power to the service panel. The plate makes the two breakers mutually
exclusive.
Is this a problem with the line neutral still connected? Are there any
problems using this scenario?
Seems only a single step better than just opening the main breaker
when feeding the panel from a gen.
Not really any different then powering through a dryer outlet,
assuming no cheater cord issues.
Very very pricey for what it is too.
Posted by Thomas Horne on August 20, 2007, 12:12 am
google3@xemaps.com wrote:
> http://www.interlockkit.com/
>
> All this seems to be is a lockout of one breaker for another - throw
> the mains and then move the plate to close the breaker bringing in gen
> power to the service panel. The plate makes the two breakers mutually
> exclusive.
>
> Is this a problem with the line neutral still connected? Are there any
> problems using this scenario?
>
> Seems only a single step better than just opening the main breaker
> when feeding the panel from a gen.
>
> Not really any different then powering through a dryer outlet,
> assuming no cheater cord issues.
>
> Very very pricey for what it is too.
>
The only problem with leaving the neutral connected is it makes it bad
practice to leave the generator connected when the utility power is
available because if the neutral of the generator is bonded to the
frame, as many are, it leaves a connection between ground and neutral on
the load side of the service disconnecting means.
Square D's version of that interlock is available for about half that
amount at any Square D distributer.
--
Tom Horne
Posted by Jim on August 20, 2007, 8:08 am
Best Sq. D source in the US is Home Depot; I just learned the hard
way....
> google3@xemaps.com wrote:
>> http://www.interlockkit.com/
>>
>> All this seems to be is a lockout of one breaker for another - throw
>> the mains and then move the plate to close the breaker bringing in gen
>> power to the service panel. The plate makes the two breakers mutually
>> exclusive.
>>
>> Is this a problem with the line neutral still connected? Are there any
>> problems using this scenario?
>>
>> Seems only a single step better than just opening the main breaker
>> when feeding the panel from a gen.
>>
>> Not really any different then powering through a dryer outlet,
>> assuming no cheater cord issues.
>>
>> Very very pricey for what it is too.
>>
> The only problem with leaving the neutral connected is it makes it bad
> practice to leave the generator connected when the utility power is
> available because if the neutral of the generator is bonded to the frame,
> as many are, it leaves a connection between ground and neutral on the load
> side of the service disconnecting means.
> Square D's version of that interlock is available for about half that
> amount at any Square D distributer.
> --
> Tom Horne
Posted by Neon John on August 20, 2007, 5:38 pm
On Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:12:12 -0400, Thomas Horne
>The only problem with leaving the neutral connected is it makes it bad
>practice to leave the generator connected when the utility power is
>available because if the neutral of the generator is bonded to the
>frame, as many are, it leaves a connection between ground and neutral on
>the load side of the service disconnecting means.
The very very few (I can think of only one that I've encountered) generators that
come from the factory with the neutral bonded to ground have provisions (in the
form
of a jumper) to remove that bond for emergency power applications.
John
--
John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
http://www.neon-john.com
http://www.johndearmond.com <-- best little blog on the net!
Tellico Plains, Occupied TN
Give Blood. 8 Billion Mosquitoes can't be wrong.
Posted by Neon John on August 20, 2007, 5:35 pm
On Sun, 19 Aug 2007 16:16:00 -0700, google3@xemaps.com wrote:
>http://www.interlockkit.com/
>All this seems to be is a lockout of one breaker for another - throw
>the mains and then move the plate to close the breaker bringing in gen
>power to the service panel. The plate makes the two breakers mutually
>exclusive.
>Is this a problem with the line neutral still connected? Are there any
>problems using this scenario?
No, no problems at all. The neutral and earth ground are still connected at
only one
point - the neutral/ground bus in the breaker panel - as long as the generator's
neutral isn't grounded. That is the usual case.
>Seems only a single step better than just opening the main breaker
>when feeding the panel from a gen.
True. It makes some 'crats at UL happy and makes them some money certifying the
thing. That's about it.
>Not really any different then powering through a dryer outlet,
>assuming no cheater cord issues.
Yup. I have a dedicated circuit for my generator but other than that, I rely on
the
"two breaker" method.
>Very very pricey for what it is too.
Yep. Part of that reflects the expected low sales volume. Another major part
is the
price of UL certification. It's all about the money and not safety and like they
say, "follow the money".
John
--
John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
http://www.neon-john.com
http://www.johndearmond.com <-- best little blog on the net!
Tellico Plains, Occupied TN
*fas-cism* (fash'iz'em) n. A system of government that exercises a
dictatorship of the extreme right, typically through the
merging of state and business leadership, together
with belligerent nationalism. -- The American Heritage Dictionary, 1983
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>
> All this seems to be is a lockout of one breaker for another - throw
> the mains and then move the plate to close the breaker bringing in gen
> power to the service panel. The plate makes the two breakers mutually
> exclusive.
>
> Is this a problem with the line neutral still connected? Are there any
> problems using this scenario?
>
> Seems only a single step better than just opening the main breaker
> when feeding the panel from a gen.
>
> Not really any different then powering through a dryer outlet,
> assuming no cheater cord issues.
>
> Very very pricey for what it is too.
>