- 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
Need some advice on Generator power
Posted on 9/12/24 at 2:40 pm
Posted on 9/12/24 at 2:40 pm
My family cannot stand the power being off much longer. Is there a safe way to power my house using a portable generator? The power rating for the generator is 6kW, and I want to run my electric water heater (4.5kW) and my refrigerator (0.5kW) and possibly a few lights.
I had friend suggest that I deactivate one of the heating elements and thereby reduce the amount of power that the water heater will draw. I'm guessing I'd still need 240V rather than 120, but I'm not sure. It would be awesome if I could just use a 12 or 14 gauge extension cord instead of a really expensive 10 gauge, but I don't want to do anything that will catch my house on fire.
Also, can anyone give me a detailed explanation of steps I need to take for this whole process
I had friend suggest that I deactivate one of the heating elements and thereby reduce the amount of power that the water heater will draw. I'm guessing I'd still need 240V rather than 120, but I'm not sure. It would be awesome if I could just use a 12 or 14 gauge extension cord instead of a really expensive 10 gauge, but I don't want to do anything that will catch my house on fire.
Also, can anyone give me a detailed explanation of steps I need to take for this whole process
21
Posted on 9/12/24 at 2:43 pm to deathvalleyfreak43
I think you should plug the fridge into the generator with an extension cord and skip the hot water.
Posted on 9/12/24 at 2:43 pm to deathvalleyfreak43
Seems risky tbh. Without an electrician there or an expert I would just hold tight. Blowing up your house would be worse.
DRIVEMAN OUT!!
DRIVEMAN OUT!!
Posted on 9/12/24 at 2:44 pm to deathvalleyfreak43
quote:
Also, can anyone give me a detailed explanation of steps I need to take for this whole process
Get some gasoline.
Posted on 9/12/24 at 2:44 pm to deathvalleyfreak43
quote:
had friend suggest that I deactivate one of the heating elements and thereby reduce the amount of power that the water heater will draw.
RIP
Posted on 9/12/24 at 2:45 pm to Tiger Ryno
quote:
Tiger Ryno
quote:
DRIVEMAN OUT!!
I must be out of the loop on something.
Posted on 9/12/24 at 2:45 pm to deathvalleyfreak43
quote:No offense, but if you are asking these questions you shouldn’t be doing anything your friend suggested. Just hook up your fridge and a light or 2 to the generator. Your family will be fine for 2 days without hot water.
I had friend suggest that I deactivate one of the heating elements and thereby reduce the amount of power that the water heater will draw. I'm guessing I'd still need 240V rather than 120, but I'm not sure. It would be awesome if I could just use a 12 or 14 gauge extension cord instead of a really expensive 10 gauge, but I don't want to do anything that will catch my house on fire.
This post was edited on 9/13/24 at 8:52 am
Posted on 9/12/24 at 2:46 pm to LEASTBAY
quote:
skip the hot water
My "cold" water comes in hot this time of year. When I had a fish tank, I had to add ice during water changes because the fish liked 85°
Posted on 9/12/24 at 2:46 pm to deathvalleyfreak43
There was a thread about how to backfeed your house through the dryer. It’s not difficult but I don’t think I’d run something on a 6 KW generator that pulls that much power
Posted on 9/12/24 at 2:46 pm to deathvalleyfreak43
You can't come to a message board for electrical advice and expect "safe".
Plug your refrigerator in and do some pushups so you don't mind a cold shower
Plug your refrigerator in and do some pushups so you don't mind a cold shower
Posted on 9/12/24 at 2:46 pm to deathvalleyfreak43
Your friend is a jack wad. Each element is 4.5 kW and they are wired to be staged. Only one is ever on at a time and they each draw 4.5 kW.
For what it’s worth, There’s a ton of hotels in the metro area for just over $100 a day. Just do that, It’s damn near breakeven
For what it’s worth, There’s a ton of hotels in the metro area for just over $100 a day. Just do that, It’s damn near breakeven
Posted on 9/12/24 at 2:59 pm to deathvalleyfreak43
Go take showers at a truck stop.
Posted on 9/12/24 at 3:03 pm to deathvalleyfreak43
Like on Apollo 13, back feed/plug the generator in then it’s all about the order in which you turn things on. Trial and error. bypass the entire breaker panel with jumpers to keep shite from tripping offline while your just trying shite out.
This post was edited on 9/12/24 at 3:06 pm
Posted on 9/12/24 at 3:07 pm to deathvalleyfreak43
Plug your fridge in and heat some water on the stove for a bath like you're in the middle ages or something
Posted on 9/12/24 at 3:08 pm to BabyTac
quote:
bypass the entire breaker panel with jumpers to keep shite from tripping offline while your just trying shite out.
Posted on 9/12/24 at 3:10 pm to deathvalleyfreak43
Go take a trip to a hotel with AC.
Posted on 9/12/24 at 3:16 pm to deathvalleyfreak43
"My family cannot stand the power being off much longer."
"generator is 6kW"
What am I missing here? It hasn't even been 24 hours since the storm. Run an extension cord to your fridge and a couple of fans and plug in a window unit. A cold shower never hurt anyone.
"generator is 6kW"
What am I missing here? It hasn't even been 24 hours since the storm. Run an extension cord to your fridge and a couple of fans and plug in a window unit. A cold shower never hurt anyone.
Posted on 9/12/24 at 3:20 pm to WonPercent
You will probably trip the generator breaker if you HWH is on and the fridge compressor kicks on. Look at the fridge’s tag and look for the LRA. That will be a good estimate of the surge it will pull when the compressor kicks on.
But, extension cord the fridge, run a window unit, and power up the internet/tv. Forget about the hwh, it’s not worth it.
But, extension cord the fridge, run a window unit, and power up the internet/tv. Forget about the hwh, it’s not worth it.
Posted on 9/12/24 at 3:22 pm to deathvalleyfreak43
quote:
My family cannot stand the power being off much longer. Is there a safe way to power my house using a portable generator? The power rating for the generator is 6kW, and I want to run my electric water heater (4.5kW) and my refrigerator (0.5kW) and possibly a few lights.
Wait.. do you already have a 6 kW generator? If so why aren’t you already running your fridge and some lights?
Running your refrigerator and water heater at the same time might be a stretch. It’ll depend on whether the generator can handle the inrush when your refrigerator compressor kicks on. But even that can be done with extension cords.
Posted on 9/12/24 at 3:25 pm to BabyTac
quote:
Like on Apollo 13, back feed/plug the generator in then it’s all about the order in which you turn things on. Trial and error. bypass the entire breaker panel with jumpers to keep shite from tripping offline while your just trying shite out.
This. It's all in the sequencing.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News