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Want to wire my Generator for Single Line Feed to electric panel

D

dave

Jan 1, 1970
0
Im an experienced HVAC person of 30 years with above average
capabilities in electrical. I have a Coleman used Generator MAXA5000ER
5 k.w. gasoline generator with 2: 120v outlets and 1: 240 v. outlet on
the rear.

Question : In order to maximize the output of the generator to my homes
electrical panel....would the 240 v. outlet on the generator accomplish
that (by itself) , or, do u have to tie all 3 outlets together to get
the full 5000 w. output ??? If the latter, whats involved with doing
that once i take the backplate off of the generator ??

Thank you for any support you can offer me. Ill check back later on.

Dave
 
S

SQLit

Jan 1, 1970
0
dave said:
Im an experienced HVAC person of 30 years with above average
capabilities in electrical. I have a Coleman used Generator MAXA5000ER
5 k.w. gasoline generator with 2: 120v outlets and 1: 240 v. outlet on
the rear.

Question : In order to maximize the output of the generator to my homes
electrical panel....would the 240 v. outlet on the generator accomplish
that (by itself) , or, do u have to tie all 3 outlets together to get
the full 5000 w. output ??? If the latter, whats involved with doing
that once i take the backplate off of the generator ??

Thank you for any support you can offer me. Ill check back later on.

Dave

Not sure about Coleman, but usually you will want to use the 240v plug.
You can use a cord but your going to need to establish a ground at your
generator. Usually the ground is the frame. This means a 5 wire connection
to the service panel. You will need to either get a transfer switch or if
you have a SQD I have heard that there is a kit that allows the main and one
2 pole breaker to be interlocked. Make sure that you follow all of the rules
and regs in your area. This situation can be dangerous when the rules are
not followed.
As a hint do not think of using a Coleman close to its max rating. They are
not that heavily built and were never designed for prime power. My opinion
only. Your performance will vary
 
'[email protected] says...
can someone help please ?? Thanks.
No problem; hire electrician.
--
    KEith
'

ME: I can do the wiring myself thank you. I just need a bit of info in
order to accomplish it. Would you like going to alt.hvac looking for a
tiny bit of info, and for me to tell you :' No problem..hire an hvac
tech' ?? The web is designed for an exchange of information -- please
comply and dont be jerkish about it. Much obliged.

Dave
 
'Not sure about Coleman, but usually you will want to use the 240v plug.
You can use a cord but your going to need to establish a ground at your
generator. Usually the ground is the frame. This means a 5 wire
connection to the service panel. You will need to either get a transfer
switch or if you have a SQD I have heard that there is a kit that allows
the main and one 2 pole breaker to be interlocked. Make sure that you
follow all of the rules and regs in your area. This situation can be
dangerous when the rules are not followed.
As a hint do not think of using a Coleman close to its max rating. They
are not that heavily built and were never designed for prime power. My
opinion only. Your performance will vary'

ME: Greg and SQL,

Thanks for your assistance. By reading both of y our posts, i assume
then that the 240 v. outlet on the Generator will give me the (approx)
5000 watts of power ? If so, then ill simply use the appropriate 240 v.
male plug and run the wire in conduit over to the electric panel. Yes,
there is a frame ground lug on the generator and was going to run a
number 14 stranded from it to the electrical panel as well.

Please confirm what i wrote above. Thanks much for your help.

Dave
(using my other email address..)
 
S

SQLit

Jan 1, 1970
0
'Not sure about Coleman, but usually you will want to use the 240v plug.
You can use a cord but your going to need to establish a ground at your
generator. Usually the ground is the frame. This means a 5 wire
connection to the service panel. You will need to either get a transfer
switch or if you have a SQD I have heard that there is a kit that allows
the main and one 2 pole breaker to be interlocked. Make sure that you
follow all of the rules and regs in your area. This situation can be
dangerous when the rules are not followed.
As a hint do not think of using a Coleman close to its max rating. They
are not that heavily built and were never designed for prime power. My
opinion only. Your performance will vary'

ME: Greg and SQL,

Thanks for your assistance. By reading both of y our posts, i assume
then that the 240 v. outlet on the Generator will give me the (approx)
5000 watts of power ? If so, then ill simply use the appropriate 240 v.
male plug and run the wire in conduit over to the electric panel. Yes,
there is a frame ground lug on the generator and was going to run a
number 14 stranded from it to the electrical panel as well.

Please confirm what i wrote above. Thanks much for your help.

Dave

Yes 5000 watts MAX... the closer you get to the 5k the sooner the generator
will crap. A generator has a finate amount of power. Not infinate like the
power company. Simple example. Let the wife turn on the washer and have it
go into spin cycle. You just hit 18 amps. 18X 6 X 120 = 12960 watts on one
leg. The 6x is the short starting current motors require. In a washer
loaded with clothes it will last several seconds until the load is going.
The watts will drop as the load starts spining.
Your 5k is only a 20 amp 240v generator. It will be maxed out with general
lighting and a refergerator.

14 is way to small. You really need to check the local regs. Back feeding
is against the law and dangerous to line men.
Your performance will vary.
 
'Yes 5000 watts MAX... the closer you get to the 5k the sooner the
generator will crap. A generator has a finate amount of power. Not
infinate like the power company. Simple example. Let the wife turn on
the washer and have it go into spin cycle. You just hit 18 amps.   18X
6 X 120 = 12960 watts on one leg. The 6x is the short starting current
motors require. In a washer loaded with clothes it will last several
seconds until the load is going. The watts will drop as the load starts
spining. Your 5k is only a 20 amp 240v generator. It will be maxed out
with general lighting and a refergerator.
14 is way to small. You really need to check the local regs. Back
feeding is against the law and dangerous to line men. Your performance
will vary.'

ME: I called Coleman and the Tech dept. told me that there are two
feeds off of the Generators Motor : one for the two 120 v receptacles
and one for the one 240 v receptacle. They said the same as you
did..that, the 240 v. is good for 20 amps. Arent i correct in assuming
, that, if i tied the two feeds off the motor together, that i would end
up with 40 amps capability ??? If so, thats what i want...and ill fuse
it at 40 amps also. Ill be careful not to push the Generator to its
limit.

Im fully aware of the dangers to backfeeding and will prevent that from
ever occuring .

Thanks, dave
 
R

Rusty

Jan 1, 1970
0
Im an experienced HVAC person of 30 years with above average
capabilities in electrical. I have a Coleman used Generator MAXA5000ER
5 k.w. gasoline generator with 2: 120v outlets and 1: 240 v. outlet on
the rear.

Question : In order to maximize the output of the generator to my homes
electrical panel....would the 240 v. outlet on the generator accomplish
that (by itself) , or, do u have to tie all 3 outlets together to get
the full 5000 w. output ??? If the latter, whats involved with doing
that once i take the backplate off of the generator ??

Thank you for any support you can offer me. Ill check back later on.

Dave
The total load on the generator must not exceed 5000 watts. You can
either feed 120 volt loads at up to 40 amps OR a 240 volt load at up
to 20 amps, but not both. You can have a lesser load at 120 volts
with a lesser load at 240 volts as long as the total load doesn't
exceed 5000 watts. As someone else said, as you get near the 5000
watts you are running on the ragged edge. Best to keep well below
that limit if possible. Larger motors, like 3/4 hp driving a fan
say, may not start from the generator because their inrush of six
times normal running load just cannot be met by the generator,
especially if some other load is already on the genny.

A welder, even if set to a moderately low current, will not usually
run because of the very low power factor. Small emergency
generators like the Coleman are designed for mostly unity power
factor loads plus a few very small motors like a fridge or a desk
fan. Even several small motors may not start if all energised
together. You may need to start each separately once the generator
is running.
 
Rusty said : The total load on the generator must not exceed 5000
watts. You can either feed 120 volt loads at up to 40 amps OR a 240 volt
load at up to 20 amps, but not both. You can have a lesser load at 120
volts with a lesser load at 240 volts as long as the total load doesn't
exceed 5000 watts. As someone else said, as you get near the 5000 watts
you are running on the ragged edge. Best to keep well below that limit
if possible. Larger motors, like 3/4 hp driving a fan say, may not start
from the generator because their inrush of six times normal running load
just cannot be met by the generator, especially if some other load is
already on the genny.
A welder, even if set to a moderately low current, will not usually run
because of the very low power factor. Small emergency generators like
the Coleman are designed for mostly unity power factor loads plus a few
very small motors like a fridge or a desk fan. Even several small motors
may not start if all energised together. You may need to start each
separately once the generator is running.

ME: Gotcha. Thanks Rusty. I understand. I think ill still go ahead and
wire it into my Panel but only run the fridge and of course the TV !
Thanks again. , Dave
 
dave said:
Im an experienced HVAC person of 30 years with above average
capabilities in electrical. I have a Coleman used Generator MAXA5000ER
5 k.w. gasoline generator with 2: 120v outlets and 1: 240 v. outlet on
the rear.

Question : In order to maximize the output of the generator to my homes
electrical panel....would the 240 v. outlet on the generator accomplish
that (by itself) , or, do u have to tie all 3 outlets together to get
the full 5000 w. output ??? If the latter, whats involved with doing
that once i take the backplate off of the generator ??

Thank you for any support you can offer me. Ill check back later on.

Dave

Dave,

Wire it from the 240 volt receptacle. My "5000" watt Coleman is
actually rated at 4600 watts with a surge rating of 5000, per
the manufacturer. Mine is wired to a 10 branch circuit transfer
switch. I certainly can't run everything on those circuits at
once - but I can manage the load. For example, the freezer is on
one branch, the fridge is on another, a 12,000 btu A/C occupies
2 circuits, the circulator & thermostat transformer is on another,
and various lighting & receptacle circuits are on the rest.
We lost power on a 98 degree day, and I managed by keeping the
freezer & fridge off while turning on the A/C. Once it had
started, I was able to bring both the fridge and the freezer
online. All was well until the A/C cycled the compressor off
and then on again when the room warmed. The generator couldn't
start the A/C without tripping its breaker while the rest of the
stuff was running.

The point of this is that you can run a surprising amount
of stuff from a 5 kW generator with proper planning of the
circuits and management while using it.
 
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