Alberto
New member
- Messages
- 1
As others have mentioned, you should use a transfer switch. Two things that can go bad- 1. IF you accidentally turn on the mains, you will need to call the fire department and possibly an ambulance. 2. Your house wiring to receptacle is usually 12 gauge on older homes and 16 gauge on some newer homes. 12 gauge wires are good for 20 amps. Volts times amps = watts. 120 x 20 = 2400 watts. If you load down your 5,000 watt generator, it will try to give you full power. Even with the best case scenario of 12 gauge wires, this will heat up and burn the wires in your wall because the breaker is on the other end of your circuit, not protecting you.How should I connect a generator to my house? Can I backfeed through a 110v receptacle? It's a gas-powered portable 5000-watt generator with 4 110V plugins, and 1 220v 20-amp twist-lock socket. I'm looking into buying cords and anything else I might need.
I see what your saying, but the generator also would have a 15amp breaker, correct?As others have mentioned, you should use a transfer switch. Two things that can go bad- 1. IF you accidentally turn on the mains, you will need to call the fire department and possibly an ambulance. 2. Your house wiring to receptacle is usually 12 gauge on older homes and 16 gauge on some newer homes. 12 gauge wires are good for 20 amps. Volts times amps = watts. 120 x 20 = 2400 watts. If you load down your 5,000 watt generator, it will try to give you full power. Even with the best case scenario of 12 gauge wires, this will heat up and burn the wires in your wall because the breaker is on the other end of your circuit, not protecting you.
Yes, your generator might be one of the better ones that have a breaker, but the wiring in your house could get very hot before the breaker on the generator kicked off the circuit. Breakers work from heat and your generator will be outside. You might get away with doing this 99% of the time. It’s that 1% that will get ya. Good luck to you either way you go.I see what your saying, but the generator also would have a 15amp breaker, correct?