No power, no problem...

[garyl]

So, we lost power this morning for a while and after about an hour I called the electric company.

No panic, because I have a generator.

They told me that I was the only house without power and they would send somebody out to check what was up.

The guy came and told me my main breaker was toast and there was nothing he could do. So. I called my Electrician and while I was waiting I fired up the old generator I had bought for just this occasion. That's why I knew the Electrician.

Still no panic because I have a generator.

This is where the fun part started. It took me about 30 minutes to drag the generator out and get it started. After that, I went down into the basement to throw the transfer switch and realized that nothing will work without a main breaker.

DOH!

Panic, even though I have a generator.

In the end, I had to jury rig a bunch of extension cables and the tanks have power.

That is a good thing because it will be at least 8 hours before my panel can be fixed.

There is a lesson here somewhere...

 

[daves-reef]

Glad it worked out for you. I actually purchased a portable generator just for my tank and was always the extension cord route. It saved me twice big time when on 2 separate occasions I lost power for week at a time. Bonus could charge phones and run a few other things but never did the transfer switch.

 

[Cooper2]

In reading your original problem you might want to find a better electrician or someone that can configure your system correctly. An open main breaker should not pose an issue as a properly wired transfer switch would isolate the circuits you wish to power. If they weren't isolated, you'd be sending voltage out from your house and potentially injure the repairman working on the lines down the street. I used to install Generac units years ago and can assure you your main breaker on the house panel is along for the ride when on gen power, it's not involved

 

[Cpage101]

In reading your original problem you might want to find a better electrician or someone that can configure your system correctly. An open main breaker should not pose an issue as a properly wired transfer switch would isolate the circuits you wish to power. If they weren't isolated, you'd be sending voltage out from your house and potentially injure the repairman working on the lines down the street. I used to install Generac units years ago and can assure you your main breaker on the house panel is along for the ride when on gen power, it's not involved

100% should have been able to use generator. generator and utility power should gone the transfer switch and load from transfer switch should feed the panel. not sure how yours is wired but seems odd you could not utilize your generator. Hope you are back up and running

 

[afboundguy]

This reminded me to look into converting my generator to be able to take natural gas. I'd love to run a NG hookup near my shed so I would never have to worry about if I have gas and could just plug the gas line in! Would also be great as I wouldn't have to shut it off and refill the gas as well!

 

[Cooper2]

This reminded me to look into converting my generator to be able to take natural gas. I'd love to run a NG hookup near my shed so I would never have to worry about if I have gas and could just plug the gas line in! Would also be great as I wouldn't have to shut it off and refill the gas as well!

You'd never have to worry about old gas, dirty carb, etc. Truth be told it's a little more involved for reasons of safety in order to prevent venting or leakage of flammable vapors but definitely the best way to power a generator. Any of the modern units that run on propane will run on NG with a minor adjustment. Most home standby units have a selector valve that allows it to run on LP or NG by just turning a screw.

Please let us know if you choose this route and where you found your conversion parts.

 

[Cooper2]

You got my curiosity going on this and I checked online for conversion kits. It appears you have a metric sh-load of vendors with a vacuum lock out, switch controlled shut/off, and a knob for choosing LP or NG. The higher prices for up to a 10Kw max out at $50.00 with shipping. Walmart is in on them to with low prices if ordered online. I'm shocked at how cheap these are.....

Even if you don't have natural gas at your home, I bet a propane fuelled generator would be more likely to start right up than a gasoline powered unit running last spring's fuel any day. I have an Antique Dayton that's so old it has the spring tab to short out the spark plug to shut it off....I'm going to get one these cheapo units and tinker with that mint relic just for fun.

 

[afboundguy]

@Cooper2 I knew they were under $100. The main cost would be running a natural gas line outside. I do want to do an outdoor kitchen so could maybe do a 2 for 1 with my plumber!

 

[garyl]

In reading your original problem you might want to find a better electrician or someone that can configure your system correctly. An open main breaker should not pose an issue as a properly wired transfer switch would isolate the circuits you wish to power. If they weren't isolated, you'd be sending voltage out from your house and potentially injure the repairman working on the lines down the street. I used to install Generac units years ago and can assure you your main breaker on the house panel is along for the ride when on gen power, it's not involved

I said transfer switch - I should have said interlock.