Backup Generator Power

[C Martin]

I was one of the folks caught by the fierce winds in Southern California. Our power went out on Wednesday evening Nov. 30th. We just came back up tonight at 5:00 PM.

In order to save my freezer contents I went out and bought a stand alone generator. I was able to save my Freezer contents but no much from the refrigerator freezer.

I actually back-fed my Main Panel with the generator and was able to eliminate the extension cord debacle and this allowed me to selectively pick and choose what iI wanted to run.

I did notice that all of the electronic dimmers including the Insteon switches really didn't like the power from the generator. I had a lot of communications errors and some random lighting spiking. I realize that generators are somewhat crude 60 cycle sources and anyone who is considering a backup generator needs to consider this in there planning.

I wonder if the newer Inverter equipped generators have the same problem. I anyone out there has any experience with the newer Inverter equipped generators I would appreciate any feedback. They are now being manufacture by many companies including Honda - Honda EU2000I

 

Thanks,

Clarence

[Teken]

You're right the standard gas generator does not produce a pure sine wave. As you clearly noted the power was rather dirty and can not be relied upon to power up delicate electronics. Doing so will damage said electronics.

 

As you also clearly indicated Honda is one of the premier vendors producing pure sine wave generators, at a premium.

 

I have opted to install a 22 kwh whole house NG generator which does produce a pure sine wave to enable me to use all manner of devices with out the fear of potential dirty power damaging my hardware and electronics.

 

Also, back feeding with out the proper use of a transfer switch whether it be a mechanical one at the service entrance is not only dangerous, but illegal in many states. The biggest factor is the potential threat to a lines men on the other end not aware the line he is working on is indeed energized.

 

Teken . . .

[jlamb]

i have a generator backfeed setup to my electrical panel that was installed by an electrician. It feeds to a breaker in my main panel and in order to turn it on (the breaker), it has a metal slide that requires the main breaker to the panel to be in the off position (so electricity from the generator can not be fed into the main electrical feeds coming into the house). Then I just turn on whatever breakers I would like power to be extended to from the generator. I have a small yamaha ef2800i which feeds fairly clean power to my breaker and I can confirm that my devices and scenes DO work using that generator, but I must turn on the breaker providing electricity to my isy99i. My specific generator doesn't power the whole house but gets the job done in a pinch, providing basic lighting, keeping freezers/refrigs cold, and allowing me to run the fan for my gas hvac system to keep the house warm.

[C Martin]

jlamb,

The i in the name of the generator indicates that it is an Inverter type of generator. This is the type of information that I was interested in hearing about. The Inverter generators seem to present a lot cleaner 60 htz power. I am glad to see that the Insteon signals don't have problems with these types of generators vs, regular generators.

 

Thanks for the information,

 

Clarence.

[paulw]

FYI, have had no issues with a Kohler whole house generator (non inverter). It does provide a delayed start for the AC, and I use the isy to shut down the electric water heater after a power failure.