| Author | Message | ||
| Roger Baughman (Roger)
Registered Member Username: Roger Post Number: 128 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 69.232.64.242  Rating: N/A |
I live in an area where the power company will be cutting off our power. It seems that high winds are moving the power lines in the back country causing the fires around here. I need to keep our air conditioning running for my wife. I was thinking (I know that is dangerious too), about using the diese powered 12.5KW generator on our bus to power that house air. Is there a way to hook that up to work? Thanks for any help on this. | ||
| Sean Welsh (Sean)
Registered Member Username: Sean Post Number: 958 Registered: 1-2003 Posted From: 72.171.0.145  Rating: |
Roger, For a permanent connection, you would need to install a proper break-before-make transfer switch ahead of your house panel, and an inlet for a cord to run to the generator. Many home improvement stores sell panels explicitly made to hook up temporary emergency generators that incorporate these features. If all you need to do is run an air conditioner temporarily, the easiest thing to do would be to get an extension cord, and plug it in to an outlet on the bus. If the air conditioner is hard-wired, you'd first need to wire up a cord and plug for it. -Sean http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com | ||
| clint hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 374 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.232.219  Rating: N/A |
...and if your going to run the whole house, to make doing it right, > for renudency sake and to get the most from your big generator ( not good to run at less than half power for long shots they say) spend the money and have a certifid electrictian do it with a permite and the requrie transfer system and then your not in danger of killing someone down the line , burning your house down & voiding your insurance on the bus & house & liablity to others on the grid... > If your up to learning how to do it right by yourself, then have your work inspected & permited when your all done the work (but kept exposed for inspection )and ready to have it tested, inspect & certified by the electrician you hire for consultaion! ...ditto on thesean take, for the short term, use a approprate extension cord , if that works for you, the wife & the bus... | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 970 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 74.162.78.248  Rating: N/A |
Sean - Aren't all whole-house air conditioners 220, with one circuit for the compressor and a separate 220 circuit for the air handler, both/all hardwired to the panel with separate breakers? It doesn't sound as easy as "using an extension cord" to me... | ||
| clint hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 376 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.232.232 Rating: N/A |
uhm just 4 extension cords ? we do need more detail to the inquriey to stand any chance of giving useful sugestions ; don't we Mcniner ? ... not saying RBr has lazy fingers, perhaps he just ran short on posting time ? ... -of course it is posslibe to run various guages of 240 volt extnesion cords, but always do it proper & safe, always ! | ||
| Wec4104 (Wec4104)
Registered Member Username: Wec4104 Post Number: 61 Registered: 7-2008 Posted From: 68.80.242.72 Rating: N/A |
Yep, more info needed. The air conditioner could be anything from a small window unit (120V) to a large centrral air system. The permanent solution with a properly installed transfer switch is the way to do it right. A knowledgeable electrician will know the ins and outs. It will keep you from getting tripped up by Electrical Code violations you did not know existed. For example, I seem to recall that the electrical feed entering your house must be in very close proximity to the circuit breaker panel (only a few feet). If the electrical connection from the bus enters your house from a different location, you may need to take a close look at that. I'm sure there are other considerations too. (Message edited by wec4104 on August 18, 2009) (Message edited by wec4104 on August 18, 2009) | ||
| J.C.B. (Eagle)
Registered Member Username: Eagle Post Number: 153 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 166.214.11.223  Rating: |
Get an electrician that knows how to do this correctly. We had an ice storm here the first part of the year and a young lineman from Florida lost his life because someone started a generator and back fed the lines. | ||
| Rob Norgren (Robsedona)
Registered Member Username: Robsedona Post Number: 59 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 75.208.170.125  Rating: N/A |
Yes do it right! And they do have 220 drop cords. His gen set is 220 if it was set up for it which most 12.5KW are. What Sean Said is right Listen and do it this way to protect your self and others. If you don't understand then by all means Get an electrician that knows how to do this correctly! If you do the temp Connect directly to the air and not into the power of the house and back feed the system. Elect. can be a big danger to you and your loved ones! | ||
| Leland Bradley (Lee_bradley)
Registered Member Username: Lee_bradley Post Number: 40 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 138.163.106.72 Rating: N/A |
I had a switch like this one http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42163&xcamp=nextag&utm_so urce=nextag&utm_medium=cpc&zmam=33951326&zmas=12&zmac=125&zmap=42163 installed during a remodel. | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 408 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.165.176.62  Rating: |
Might be simpler and cheaper just to move into the bus temporarily when power is lost | ||
| clint hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 378 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.232.219 Rating: N/A |
!!!hey there is me-a-tree-ian simpicity for ya, and more reason to invest in the bus. excelent thinkin Tbmi!!! | ||
| Sean Welsh (Sean)
Registered Member Username: Sean Post Number: 959 Registered: 1-2003 Posted From: 67.142.130.28 Rating: N/A |
Yes, most whole-house systems are 240, and may require separate breakers for inside and outside units for a split system. That would more or less require that Roger install, as I suggested, a proper transfer switch and generator inlet. This can be a D-I-Y project, but it is not for the faint of heart, and most locales will still require permits and inspections. My suggestion regarding an extension cord would really pertain only to window units. Sorry I did not make that clear. I would expect that during a temporary power emergency, a window unit would achieve the goal, and the cost of a window air conditioner is likely less than the cost of adding a proper generator connection to a house. Depending on the type of generator installation on the bus, you might need to make changes there, too. If the genny is hard-wired through an ATS, there may not be a good place to pull off enough power to run a whole-house air conditioner. We have a "buddy plug" for such purposes -- a 50-amp, 240-volt NEMA 14-50R fed from a 50-amp, two-pole breaker on a dedicated generator panel. This can be used to power up another rig (hence the name), or perhaps small third-world countries. I carry enough adapters and cable to power up a whole house, principally so we can run a disaster headquarters from our genny if needed. Such temporary tie-ins are permitted for "temporary" or emergency use, but you had better know what you are doing when you make them. As others have written, doing it wrong can result in backfeeding the grid, with potentially fatal consequences. -Sean http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com |
