- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Power from generator backfeed
Posted on 9/1/21 at 6:19 pm
Posted on 9/1/21 at 6:19 pm
Had house backfed through dryer outlet (I know shouldn't do it, don't worry main breaker turned off not backfeeding the line).
I noticed my ceiling fans would not turn as fast as when they were on the regular electrical power. Why is this? Generator was not overloaded.
I noticed my ceiling fans would not turn as fast as when they were on the regular electrical power. Why is this? Generator was not overloaded.
5
Posted on 9/1/21 at 7:28 pm to Major Dutch Schaefer
You are trying to feed everything through a 30 amp circuit, not ideal
Posted on 9/1/21 at 7:54 pm to Major Dutch Schaefer
Yeah how much do you have on? How big a gen you could cause a fire
Posted on 9/1/21 at 8:13 pm to Cracker
quote:
Yeah how much do you have on? How big a gen you could cause a fire
Did not have much on. 15kw generator.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 8:38 pm to Major Dutch Schaefer
What size breaker does your generator have and what size wire runs from your dryer outlet to the panel? You should make sure you have a breaker at the generator that matches the feed line amperage rating. As in if your dryer circuit is on a 30 amp breaker, use the 30 amp plug on the generator.
The generator is not going to make perfectly stable, always in phase, and clean power. So there is a good change any hiking fans will him louder and some that don’t hum will hum.
Have you checked the voltage and more importantly the frequency of the generator’s power? 60 Hz will run a clock dead nuts, lower than 60 Hz and the clock will run slow, higher than 60 Hz and the clock will run fast. Your fan motors want to see not just the correct voltage, but also the correct frequency. Based on loads coming on and off and the inability of the engine to maintain 3600 rpm perfectly is going to make the frequency fluctuate. Portable generators also do not have the best voltage regulators either. Clocks hate that, as well as ceiling fans. You also may have a lot of voltage drop by the time it gets to the fan and that could cause it to be running slower.
But by all means, do not feed a 15KW through a dryer outlet. That is a fire waiting to happen, unless of course, you are using a 30 amp plug on the generator.
Frequency is a product of the speed of the motor, so raising the engine speed to get more volts at the end of the line will raise the frequency.
You should be around 62 to 63 hz and 122 to 125 V with no load, measured at the generator outlet.
We’ve got to have an EE on here that can go in to detail about leading and lagging current and voltage too. An EE I am not!
The generator is not going to make perfectly stable, always in phase, and clean power. So there is a good change any hiking fans will him louder and some that don’t hum will hum.
Have you checked the voltage and more importantly the frequency of the generator’s power? 60 Hz will run a clock dead nuts, lower than 60 Hz and the clock will run slow, higher than 60 Hz and the clock will run fast. Your fan motors want to see not just the correct voltage, but also the correct frequency. Based on loads coming on and off and the inability of the engine to maintain 3600 rpm perfectly is going to make the frequency fluctuate. Portable generators also do not have the best voltage regulators either. Clocks hate that, as well as ceiling fans. You also may have a lot of voltage drop by the time it gets to the fan and that could cause it to be running slower.
But by all means, do not feed a 15KW through a dryer outlet. That is a fire waiting to happen, unless of course, you are using a 30 amp plug on the generator.
Frequency is a product of the speed of the motor, so raising the engine speed to get more volts at the end of the line will raise the frequency.
You should be around 62 to 63 hz and 122 to 125 V with no load, measured at the generator outlet.
We’ve got to have an EE on here that can go in to detail about leading and lagging current and voltage too. An EE I am not!
This post was edited on 9/1/21 at 8:47 pm
Posted on 9/1/21 at 9:19 pm to td1
quote:
As in if your dryer circuit is on a 30 amp breaker, use the 30 amp plug on the generator.
Using 30 amp plug on generator, it has a breaker.
quote:
You should be around 62 to 63 hz and 122 to 125 V with no load, measured at the generator outlet.
Can you check frequency with a multimeter? I know how to check the voltage with one.
I will check tomorrow, with no load. We have power restored.
This post was edited on 9/1/21 at 9:20 pm
Posted on 9/1/21 at 11:53 pm to Major Dutch Schaefer
quote:
Can you check frequency with a multimeter? I know how to check the voltage with one. I will check tomorrow, with no load. We have power restored.
No, as far as testing devices you would need an oscilloscope for this. However, If the generator has a tachometer it’s easy math. 1 Hz = 60 RPM, therefore, 60 Hz is 3600 RPM and 63 Hz is 3780 RPM.
My portable runs anywhere from 3780 to 3630 RPM depending on load with no issues.
This post was edited on 9/1/21 at 11:54 pm
Posted on 9/2/21 at 12:52 am to Major Dutch Schaefer
Probably lower voltage than what you get from the utility.
It's pretty common to get a very steady 122 volts or so in my neck of the woods when on utility power.
My genset fluctuates between 117-120v under moderate load and can get as low as 108v under heavy load.
It's pretty common to get a very steady 122 volts or so in my neck of the woods when on utility power.
My genset fluctuates between 117-120v under moderate load and can get as low as 108v under heavy load.
Posted on 9/2/21 at 8:23 am to Major Dutch Schaefer
Frequency is off. Need to check the unit and adjust the governor assuming it isn't overloaded.
Posted on 9/2/21 at 8:24 am to Major Dutch Schaefer
FYI
I have a UPS that I keep on my computer. It has a display that tells me frequency, voltage, and load (the load is just for what’s plugged into the ups). Great to have when running generator to make sure everything is as it should be. I never noticed it displayed that info until now.
I have a UPS that I keep on my computer. It has a display that tells me frequency, voltage, and load (the load is just for what’s plugged into the ups). Great to have when running generator to make sure everything is as it should be. I never noticed it displayed that info until now.
Posted on 9/2/21 at 2:35 pm to td1
quote:
We’ve got to have an EE on here that can go in to detail about leading and lagging current and voltage too. An EE I am not!
Nah man that was pretty good
Posted on 9/2/21 at 3:05 pm to skidry
quote:
I have a UPS that I keep on my computer. It has a display that tells me frequency, voltage, and load (
I just checked the one at my office, it can do this.
Posted on 9/2/21 at 8:54 pm to Major Dutch Schaefer
Posted on 9/3/21 at 10:17 pm to BillyGibbons
quote:quote:
Can you check frequency with a multimeter? I know how to check the voltage with one. I will check tomorrow, with no load. We have power restored.
No, as far as testing devices you would need an oscilloscope for this
No you don't need a scope. Depends on the meter you have but a lot of them have frequency measurements.
Klein Tools
600V Auto-Ranging Digital Multimeter - $54.97 @ Homedepot
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News