Yea. Doing it wrong can get somebody killed. Doing it right is no more dangerous than getting power off the grid.

Also, you need to make it clear to your family that just because the light switch still works doesn't mean you can go around leaving lights on while microwaving stuff while blow drying your hair and turning the AC on.

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Posted by aVatiger

Water

Member since Jan 2006

27967 posts

Posted on 9/15/14 at 12:48 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt

quote:
Also, you need to make it clear to your family that just because the light switch still works doesn't mean you can go around leaving lights on while microwaving stuff while blow drying your hair and turning the AC on.

got me through katrina and gustav

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Posted by bayoudude

Member since Dec 2007

24956 posts

Posted on 9/15/14 at 12:59 pm to aVatiger

Like others have said you can throw your main breaker and back feed through an electrical outlet but this IS NOT CODE but can be done. TO do it right you need a disconnect to isolate the main feed coming into your home. I have a manual double throw disconnect. Probably cost you about $1k installed. i have a 20kw northern lights diesel genset with 120 gallon diesel tank that i use for outages.

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Posted by tenfoe

Member since Jun 2011

6847 posts

Posted on 9/15/14 at 1:17 pm to sonoma8

If all else fails, you can try my method.

My in-laws have a natural gas generator that powers their mansion. I send my wife and kids there when the power goes out at our place, then I keep my little generator running just enough to power my freezer and refrigerator for a few hours each day. I pass the time by drinking beer and running chainsaws. It's like a vacation.

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Posted by Chad504boy

4 posts

Member since Feb 2005

166295 posts

Posted on 9/15/14 at 1:20 pm to tenfoe

LINK

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Posted by VetteGuy

Member since Feb 2008