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Is there a safe way to power my house using a portable generator? The power rating for the generator is 6kW, and I want to run my electric water heater (4.5kW) and my refrigerator (0.5kW) and possibly a few lights.

The water heater is the main priority, but it's wired directly to the house so I can't just unplug an outlet and plug it into the generator.

The method I've heard used most often is to backfeed into the dryer outlet after turning off the main breaker. I'm aware that if I don't turn off the main breaker, I could shock a worker or destroy the generator when the power comes pack on. I also know enough that I have to use a power line rated for the Amperage I'll be drawing. Are there any other dangers I need to look out for?

I had a friend suggest that I deactivate one of the heating elements and thereby reduce the amount of power that the water heater will draw. I'm guessing I'd still need 240V rather than 120, but I'm not sure. It would be awesome if I could just use a 12 or 14 gauge extension cord instead of a really expensive 10 gauge, but I don't want to do anything that will catch my house on fire.

Also, can anyone give me a detailed explanation of steps I need to take for this whole process?

(Any advice would be greatly appreciated. It's been eight days since we've been without power, and possibly 3-4 more until it's restored.)

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Here's a really good list of the dangers of doing this: qsl.net/kc5qhh/backfeeddangers.pdf – gregmac May 5 '11 at 21:33

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up vote 11 down vote accepted

You've got the big one covered, turning off the main breaker. Without that, the voltage from the generator goes back out the power lines, into the transformer, where instead of getting stepped down to your house voltage will get stepped up to the line voltage, plus make previously dead wires, live.

Given the options, using a dryer style plug for 220v is the way I would do it in your situation. Back feeding 110v power will only send current down half of the breakers, and it would be easy to swap the neutral and the hot in this situation (with 220v you have two hots, and ground and neutral are effectively the same wire). That said, the proper way is with a transfer switch that would prevent power from back feeding into the power mains and also a plug that doesn't allow for live exposed prongs. These can be installed, but the time to do so isn't when you've been out of power for days. Just realize that using the dryer plug is almost certainly out of code compliance in your state.

Words of caution include checking the amperage of your wiring (the breaker on the dryer will have the number going to the plug) and then avoid overloading the generator. I wouldn't open up more breakers to major appliances than you have amperage to cover (e.g. if the breaker to the hot water say 20 and the dryer breaker says the same, then run that device by itself unless you have a good understanding of how many amps it actually pulls). You can use the breakers to power one device at a time, fridge for a few hours, then the hot water, etc. And when the water is hot and fridge is cold, shutoff the generator to save gas and leave the fridge closed to keep it cool.

Only other piece of advice I can think of is to make sure the exhaust is properly vented. Far too many people don't think and run these indoors, giving themselves carbon monoxide poisoning.

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Don't forget that refrigerators can pull a lot of power when they're starting, IIRC something like 2 kW instantaneous. – Niall C. May 5 '11 at 20:06
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Transfer switch is the way to go. – Tester101♦ May 5 '11 at 21:00
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@Tester101: Absolutely, but when you're dealing with a natural disaster, getting a transfer switch installed may take longer than desired. – BMitch♦ May 5 '11 at 21:53
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@B Mitch: true enough. In that case I would say do what you have to to get through, then have a transfer switch installed so your ready the next time. But watch out for the angry mobs and looters when your the only house on the block with power, make sure you lock down that generator so it doesn't walk away. – Tester101♦ May 6 '11 at 12:09
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I actually decided against backfeeding since it's a borrowed generator, and we have friends with power 10 minutes away who have graciously allowed us to shower at their house. Good answer though, and thanks! – Doresoom May 6 '11 at 13:41
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up vote 1 down vote

What you are suggesting with a back-feed cord is possible, but not recommend for a bunch of reasons, including the ones you mentioned.

The first thing that comes to mind in terms of simplicity is replacing the power wire on the water heater with a cord made for a dryer and plug it in to the generator. When your power crisis is over, you can either wire the hot water heater back, or install an outlet.

The next best thing to do i to buy a transfer switch sub-panel, install it, and move the circuits you want to keep using to that sub-panel.

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On your water heater that uses 220V and has two elements, you will find that only one element is ever on at a time. When the top thermostat is satisfied, it will send power down to the lower thermostat. If you ever have a problem with the top thermostat or element you will have no hot water. If the lower thermostat or element has a problem you will find you don't have as much hot water as you should. So you are not saving power draw by disconnecting an element.

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Good to know, but my main question was backfeeding a generator, which I ultimately decided against. – Doresoom Mar 9 at 18:20

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