krytical
asked on
UPS Backup and Home Generator questions
I'm currently looking at UPS backups for my home network. Right now, I'm thinking I need/want 8-9 backup outlets. I was figuring on getting 3 cheap 3 outlet back ups. The kind you can find at most any electronics store, so when one "breaks" as these cheap ones have done with me often in the past, I can just replace it with another.
Then I got to thinking about generators.
What would be involved in getting a home generator hooked up to my house? Also, I wonder if there is a way to have it turn on automatically when power goes out. But then how do I keep the power in the house from breifly going out before the generator kicks in? Im guessing this is done in the corporate world by running the critical items on a UPS system, that once normal power goes out (and all non essential things go out, like the lights) the genaerator is turned on, feeding power to the system.
I found this link that sells small sized generators like this: http://www.duropower.com/item.asp?PID=2&FID=2&level=1
Anyone have some thoughts, ideas, insight into home applications like this? I wont mind splitting up points to more then 1 response, just trying to get some ideas and better understand of how I might go about this.
Then I got to thinking about generators.
What would be involved in getting a home generator hooked up to my house? Also, I wonder if there is a way to have it turn on automatically when power goes out. But then how do I keep the power in the house from breifly going out before the generator kicks in? Im guessing this is done in the corporate world by running the critical items on a UPS system, that once normal power goes out (and all non essential things go out, like the lights) the genaerator is turned on, feeding power to the system.
I found this link that sells small sized generators like this: http://www.duropower.com/item.asp?PID=2&FID=2&level=1
Anyone have some thoughts, ideas, insight into home applications like this? I wont mind splitting up points to more then 1 response, just trying to get some ideas and better understand of how I might go about this.
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ASKER
Thanks for the helpful comments and links here. Definately have a better understanding of what I need to do to make this happen
ASKER
Hmmm, I dont seem to have the link to "Split Points" now.
Anyone know how I can give the three "comments" as "answers" with 25 points each?
Anyone know how I can give the three "comments" as "answers" with 25 points each?
ASKER
Gee that FAQ is actually helpful (bowing head in shame).
Bill,
I curious. That I am aware of you can either put the switch before the breaker box or after.
To put before you must get the electric company invloved and licensed electrictions and will provide power for the whole house.
If you do it after, you have to rewire so that the circuits you want backed up are wired from the breaker box, to the transfer box, then to the outlets.
I personally would not consider the fact that you can re-wire an outlet qualifications to start messing inside a breaker box.
Am I missing something. Is there another way to put your generater in without touching the breaker box?
To Krytical:
Here is a link to a Popular Mechanics page that desciribes the process. If you don't mind going into your breaker box and installing a new breaker.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_improvement/home_improvement/1275631.html?page=1&c=y
I curious. That I am aware of you can either put the switch before the breaker box or after.
To put before you must get the electric company invloved and licensed electrictions and will provide power for the whole house.
If you do it after, you have to rewire so that the circuits you want backed up are wired from the breaker box, to the transfer box, then to the outlets.
I personally would not consider the fact that you can re-wire an outlet qualifications to start messing inside a breaker box.
Am I missing something. Is there another way to put your generater in without touching the breaker box?
To Krytical:
Here is a link to a Popular Mechanics page that desciribes the process. If you don't mind going into your breaker box and installing a new breaker.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_improvement/home_improvement/1275631.html?page=1&c=y
The short answer is no and yes. I will explain 'no' first.
The circuit has to go like this:
(my best attempt ot do circuits in stick figures)
Normal Circuit...
Socket in house ------> Breaker Box ----------> Outside Connection
Circuit with Generator...
Socket in House -------> Switching Panel ----------> Breaker Box ----------> Outside Connection
^
|
|
|
Generator
The switching panel has breakers just like the regular panel. They are three position breakers - Off, Power, Generator. The only rewiring that needs to be done is moving the wire from the circuit you want on the generator to a position in the switching panel. There will be one wire from the switching panel to the regular panel. For this, obviously, the current will be off. If leaving the power on is important, then all you have to do is shut off the breaker to the circuit you are moving. I DON'T recommend that!
As for putting the switcing panel on the other side of the breaker box, I can't see a way to do that because of the design of the switching panel. It is not designed to carry the current for the whole house. In fact, they only come with 4, 6 and 8 breakers in them. Plus, there is no master shut off in the switching panel.
As for qualifications, you only do what you feel comfortable doing. Each circuit going into a breaker connects three wires: hot, common and ground. With the current turned off, it is simply turning a screwdriver. The skill level is no greater than changing out a socket. If the fact that there are a lot of wires there gives you pause, then you should definately find someone else who is qualified to do the job.
The second answer is yes there is a way to install a generator without touching the breaker box. It involves running new wire (most easily done during construction or remodeling) and new sockets. You may notice in hospitals and in some data centers and telecom centers, there are sockets with a different color (usually red). These are the UPS circuits. They are run to a super version of a switching panel. They will always have power and you can do that for yourself as well. The downside to that is you will have to unplug everything from the regular sockets and plug them in to generator supplied sockets. That could be a real pain when that involves the refrigerator and the stove.
The first choice is the most common and the one for which the retail switching panels were designed.
Bill
The circuit has to go like this:
(my best attempt ot do circuits in stick figures)
Normal Circuit...
Socket in house ------> Breaker Box ----------> Outside Connection
Circuit with Generator...
Socket in House -------> Switching Panel ----------> Breaker Box ----------> Outside Connection
^
|
|
|
Generator
The switching panel has breakers just like the regular panel. They are three position breakers - Off, Power, Generator. The only rewiring that needs to be done is moving the wire from the circuit you want on the generator to a position in the switching panel. There will be one wire from the switching panel to the regular panel. For this, obviously, the current will be off. If leaving the power on is important, then all you have to do is shut off the breaker to the circuit you are moving. I DON'T recommend that!
As for putting the switcing panel on the other side of the breaker box, I can't see a way to do that because of the design of the switching panel. It is not designed to carry the current for the whole house. In fact, they only come with 4, 6 and 8 breakers in them. Plus, there is no master shut off in the switching panel.
As for qualifications, you only do what you feel comfortable doing. Each circuit going into a breaker connects three wires: hot, common and ground. With the current turned off, it is simply turning a screwdriver. The skill level is no greater than changing out a socket. If the fact that there are a lot of wires there gives you pause, then you should definately find someone else who is qualified to do the job.
The second answer is yes there is a way to install a generator without touching the breaker box. It involves running new wire (most easily done during construction or remodeling) and new sockets. You may notice in hospitals and in some data centers and telecom centers, there are sockets with a different color (usually red). These are the UPS circuits. They are run to a super version of a switching panel. They will always have power and you can do that for yourself as well. The downside to that is you will have to unplug everything from the regular sockets and plug them in to generator supplied sockets. That could be a real pain when that involves the refrigerator and the stove.
The first choice is the most common and the one for which the retail switching panels were designed.
Bill
That is exactly what I thought, you have to re-wire the cicurt from the breaker box. Most places require any work done inside the breaker box to be done by a licensed/certified electriction, at least they used to.
Yes, I know what is in a circut breaker box, I have done work in there myself a few times. However, just turning off the circut break for the wires you are moving is not safe. Once slip of the screw driver to one of the other live circuts and if you live you will be across the room. Turning off the master breaker will be safe, but your still in a box that still has the potential of 240 volts and 200 amps.
Yes, outlets on UPS/Generator have different colors, our are orange.
Yes, I know what is in a circut breaker box, I have done work in there myself a few times. However, just turning off the circut break for the wires you are moving is not safe. Once slip of the screw driver to one of the other live circuts and if you live you will be across the room. Turning off the master breaker will be safe, but your still in a box that still has the potential of 240 volts and 200 amps.
Yes, outlets on UPS/Generator have different colors, our are orange.
giltjr,
Actually, once the master breaker is off, there is no current in the box. The wires coming in from the outside are not exposed.
I do agree with not using the one breaker off technique. You might note my comment: I DON'T recommend that!
I believe most codes require all professional work to be done by a licensed electrician. I know the national code allows for anyone to do their own work on their own residence. Many local codes require an inspection though.
Bill
Actually, once the master breaker is off, there is no current in the box. The wires coming in from the outside are not exposed.
I do agree with not using the one breaker off technique. You might note my comment: I DON'T recommend that!
I believe most codes require all professional work to be done by a licensed electrician. I know the national code allows for anyone to do their own work on their own residence. Many local codes require an inspection though.
Bill
< Turning off the master breaker will be safe, but your still in a box that still has the potential of 240 volts and 200 amps.>
Funnything about shutting down breakers to work on circuts. My brother used to run lighting for a band. Most the bars, that he would setup, he would have to tap into their breaker box for power. He had to tap into the box live because he was not alowed to shut the main down.
Funnything about shutting down breakers to work on circuts. My brother used to run lighting for a band. Most the bars, that he would setup, he would have to tap into their breaker box for power. He had to tap into the box live because he was not alowed to shut the main down.
Well, what I have been told is that as long as the meter head is installed, there is current in the box and the only way to not have current in the box is to have the elec. co. remove the meter. With the main off, there is no current going to the bar, but there is still current in the box.
Yes, most places will not allow you to turn off the main. They do want electricity. I have done work in live circuit boxes a few times, I have done a few other things on live circuits that should not be done.
I personally do not recommend telling somebody to do something that is very dangerous without knowing their skills. But to each their own.
Yes, most places will not allow you to turn off the main. They do want electricity. I have done work in live circuit boxes a few times, I have done a few other things on live circuits that should not be done.
I personally do not recommend telling somebody to do something that is very dangerous without knowing their skills. But to each their own.
If you have ever looked at a breaker box new or preinstallation, you will notice that the cables coming in from the electric meter connect to the master switch only. That is located near the entry point of te cable. The master switch conects to copper busses to which the individual loads snap onto. with the master switch in the of position, no current passes through the switch to the busses. This is the way it has been designed so people (including experts) won't accidently get cooked. You can take a meter and check it out if you like.
I maintain that if there is no electricity, there is no danger.
I will put in a caveat here: if the box is properly wired, this is true. If, somehow, the box has one of the hot wires connected to the ground, the box will be hot when the master is off. But of course, if that were to be, you would have much more serious problems than your box as every ground wire in the house would be hot and one might notice a few bodies lying around before you got as far as the electric box. One of the bodies would lkely be the installer. That, plus the fact it would never pass inspection.
As far as recommending stuff, again you will note I stated: I DON'T recommend that. As far as skill level goes, everyone has to figure that out for themselves. You don't withhold knowledge - just give it with appropriate warnings.
Bill
Experts on here tell users how to do stuff that could that could harm their computers all the time.
I maintain that if there is no electricity, there is no danger.
I will put in a caveat here: if the box is properly wired, this is true. If, somehow, the box has one of the hot wires connected to the ground, the box will be hot when the master is off. But of course, if that were to be, you would have much more serious problems than your box as every ground wire in the house would be hot and one might notice a few bodies lying around before you got as far as the electric box. One of the bodies would lkely be the installer. That, plus the fact it would never pass inspection.
As far as recommending stuff, again you will note I stated: I DON'T recommend that. As far as skill level goes, everyone has to figure that out for themselves. You don't withhold knowledge - just give it with appropriate warnings.
Bill
Experts on here tell users how to do stuff that could that could harm their computers all the time.
ASKER
http://www.kohlerpowersystems.com/residential/genEssential5.html
Shows how you can power only certian essential devices in a power outage. ("essential" like computers, tv, mini-refrigerators, stereo, etc. lol)
Im guessing a UPS backup system could be placed after the "automatic power transfer switch", so it will still see that power is out, but still allow the UPS Backup to give temporary power.
Looks like its "a little" too complicated for a novice to install all this however.