1 generator, 2 houses

Status
Not open for further replies.
I am lost, we have at least a few times located generators in a central location and supplied more then one building, kind of common on 'campus style' facilities.

I am missing the issue entirely. :confused:
 
tom baker said:
Get this project done before the 2008 NEC takes effect in your area. 2008 Art 702 requires a generator with an ATS to be able to pick up the entire load calculated per Art 220.
Click to expand...


Lets be clear that it must be sized per 220 in regards to loads that are connected to the generator. We do not have to size the generator for the entire home if we only power part of it.
 
iwire said:
Lets be clear that it must be sized per 220 in regards to loads that are connected to the generator. We do not have to size the generator for the entire home if we only power part of it.
Click to expand...


Correct, but tell that to the guys installing a 200 amp ATS and a 15kw generator...:grin: :grin: :grin:
 
I disagree with this interpretation of Art 702.

The FPN in 702.2 points out that an optional standby system is typically used to feed only specific loads such as data processing or communications systems.

702.5(B)(1) The user of the optional standby system shall be permitted to select the load connected to the system.

702.5(B)(2)(b) Where a system is employed that will automatically manage the connected load, the standby source of power shall have a capacity sufficient to supply the maximum load that will be connected by the load management system.

so, 702.5(B) says to use Art 220 for load calculations. But these calculations would only concern the selected loads to be fed from the standby system.

Obviously if the generator was connected at the service disconnecting means and could feed the entire home, it would need to be large enough to do just that.

Edit: Oops, Iwire beat me to it.
 
iwire said:
I am lost, we have at least a few times located generators in a central location and supplied more then one building, kind of common on 'campus style' facilities. I am missing the issue entirely. :confused:
Click to expand...

To me, the issue isn't an NEC issue once we get the feeder conductors sized properly. The issue is going to be having a home fed by a generator from another homeowners property. What if one of the homes gets sold? What if one home experiences a fire? Could there be issues with the fire department here? Legal issues as to the system becoming a POCO as was mentioned earlier?

If all the buildings are on one property and controlled by the owner, no problem. Seperate owners? I have reservations.
 
iwire said:
I am lost, we have at least a few times located generators in a central location and supplied more then one building, kind of common on 'campus style' facilities.

I am missing the issue entirely. :confused:
Click to expand...
On plot of land with several buildings under a single ownership is quite different than several lots, with seperate ownership.
 
mdshunk said:
On plot of land with several buildings under a single ownership is quite different than several lots, with seperate ownership.
Click to expand...

Not to the NEC as far as I can tell.

Aren't there some places that share one well pump for two different homes?
 
iwire said:
Not to the NEC as far as I can tell.

Aren't there some places that share one well pump for two different homes?
Click to expand...
Right, not in the NEC, but I was providing a head's up on other codes and laws that the OP may bump into, since I had trouble in the past.

Yes, there are places where one well is shared by more than one dwelling, and at least in PA, they are regulated with weekly testing and documentation just like a water company. Trailer parks are one example where one large well, owned by the park owner, may serve a small community, and the well is quite regulated. Certainly not impossible to have one generator serve more than one property under seperate ownerships, but there may be some red tape to contend with. This is all I wanted to make the OP aware of. In my case, it was easier for me and my customer to install seperate generators than to have to deal with the state's Public Utilities Commission.
 
what happens if one person sells their house ? easy, first one to sell loses their half of the generator

(the alternative is just too complicated)


anyhow, this thing is just too complicated. I say run the feeders overhead, and put one of those either/or air switches in, so that the guy who's power goes out first gets the generator and the other guy gets cold dinner.
 
iwire said:
Aren't there some places that share one well pump for two different homes?
Click to expand...

I have one of my good freind he have shared well with his neighbor and somehow both place now got city water and they disconnected the well but historywise it was not really smooth sailing between the two.

It will be the same issue with one generator for two homes IMO it not really good idea and what it will compund is will they willing to pay in half but what about the amount of load they used like one house only used like 4 KW while other house used much as 18 KW for short while then later change the numbers so really i will agree with few guys here what they point out and head up with the sisuation.

Merci, Marc
 
kbsparky said:
Why not? Tap rules allow for unlimited length for outside feeders [see NEC 240.21(B)(5)
Click to expand...
Wow.. that's a pretty neat revelation, for me at least. Not so often do you deal with outside feeder taps. Seems like he could, for instance, run two sets of 100 amp sized conductors from a 200 amp breaker in the generator as long as has a properly sized OCPD right there at each house outside or pretty close inside. Awesome. Come to think of it, I guess that's how we do farm poles. Customer owned drop off the pole sized to the OCPD for each structure that each drop is going to. It's all coming together now. Thank you. You eastern shore guys are pretty smart.
 
Thanks for the compliment. Yeah, we have dealt with outside feeder taps on quite a few occasions around here. Even in dealing with things like mobile home connections, if your outside feeders are properly protected (we install all of ours in conduit, for example), we can eliminate that extra outside breaker in certain circumstances, or at least don't have to change it. :grin:
 
kbsparky said:
Thanks for the compliment. Yeah, we have dealt with outside feeder taps on quite a few occasions around here. Even in dealing with things like mobile home connections, if your outside feeders are properly protected (we install all of ours in conduit, for example), we can eliminate that extra outside breaker in certain circumstances, or at least don't have to change it. :grin:
Click to expand...
Yes, that would be handy when they pull in a 100 amp mobile home next to a 200 amp pedestal.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top