Timeline for What happens if you connect the same phase AC (from a generator) to both sides of an electrical panel?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
15 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Aug 22, 2023 at 19:51 | comment | added | MacGuffin | What is the ampacity of the outlet and/or circuit breaker on the 120V generator? That would need to be known to determine if this is safe. Longer answer below but short answer is if 15A then almost certainly safe, if 20A then likely safe, if 30A then safe if precautions taken, and anything over 30A is not only not safe but highly unlikely as any load that big in USA should be 240V. This is USA, right? Please add USA tag if so. | |
| Aug 22, 2023 at 15:50 | comment | added | keshlam | Ah. So trying to abuse a 120V backup power supply to run the entire house? I'd say get a more reasonable backup power supply. Especially since you are still going to need a safety transfer switch/linkage to avoid electrocuting line workers. And often, to minimize draw on the alternate supply, you don't want to power the whole house, just the most essential circuits; that's why the transfer is often done on a sub-panel which carries only those circuits. | |
| Aug 22, 2023 at 6:20 | comment | added | MacGuffin | "What is the claimed BENEFIT of this nonstandard approach?" The benefit is all 120 volt loads in the house has power. With 240 volt loads being things like air conditioning, clothes dryer, and kitchen oven this is a fair trade off since it means all the lights in the house work (which is much easier now that LED is more common than the old Edison bulb) as do things like cell phone chargers, televisions (again thanks to LED this is easier), refrigerator, and maybe some small kitchen appliances so a cold meal (or lukewarm one) can be prepared. | |
| Aug 22, 2023 at 6:09 | answer | added | MacGuffin | timeline score: 1 | |
| Aug 22, 2023 at 5:25 | answer | added | Criggie | timeline score: 5 | |
| Aug 22, 2023 at 5:19 | comment | added | Criggie | Reading between the lines - you have a US style panel with normal 240V AC service and both 120 and 240V circuits. But when there's no utility power, you want to switch over to a local 120V generator and power only the 120V devices on both sides of the panel ? I'm trying to understand why.... | |
| Aug 22, 2023 at 5:18 | comment | added | keshlam | What is the claimed BENEFIT of this nonstandard approach? Yes, modulo the increased load on neutral and losing the ability to use 240V appliances like stoves clothes dryers, it's possible with enough work... but, migawd, why? | |
| Aug 22, 2023 at 3:28 | answer | added | ThreePhaseEel | timeline score: 10 | |
| Aug 22, 2023 at 2:10 | history | became hot network question | |||
| Aug 21, 2023 at 18:23 | history | edited | user2330237 | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
added 25 characters in body
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| Aug 21, 2023 at 18:17 | comment | added | crip659 | The question sounds weird. It can be done, it is even done to power sub panels when a person does not enough wire for two hots. Except for small generators, most generators do have 240 volt outlets. | |
| Aug 21, 2023 at 18:14 | answer | added | Ecnerwal | timeline score: 22 | |
| Aug 21, 2023 at 18:11 | comment | added | Ecnerwal | Has nothing to do with phase. | |
| S Aug 21, 2023 at 18:09 | review | First questions | |||
| Aug 21, 2023 at 18:22 | |||||
| S Aug 21, 2023 at 18:09 | history | asked | user2330237 | CC BY-SA 4.0 |