AUTOMATIC GENERATORS

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afried9499

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WHEN INSTALLING AN AUTOMATIC OPTIONAL STANDBY GENERATOR IN A HOUSE, CAN THE HOME OWNER USE A 200 AMP TRANSFER SWITCH WITH A 15 OR 25 KW GENERATOR AND SHED LOAD AS NEEDED TO POWER THE ENTIRE HOUSE KNOWING HE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RUN THE OVEN AT THE SAME TIME AS THE ELECTRIC BACK UP HEAT? IF THE HOME OWNERS KNOWS HE HAS THE OPTION OF RUNNING EVERYTHING IN THE HOUSE BUT NOT ALL AT THE SAME TIME, DOES THE CODE ALLOW US TO MAKE THE HOME OWNER HAPPY AND USE A 200 AMP TRANSFER SWITCH TO POWER THE ENTIRE HOUSE. THE CODE SAYS THAT IN ART.702 THAT HE MAY CHOOSE THE LOAD TO BE ON THE GENERATOR?
BALTIMORE COUNTY SAYS THIS IS AGAINST CODE. ARTICLE 702 IS SAYING THE OWNER CAN CHOOSE WHAT HE WANTS TO RUN AT ONE TIME. A GENERATOR IN A HOUSE IS CONCIDERED A OPTIONAL STANDBY SYSTEM AND NOT A CRITICAL OR LEAGAL STANDBY SYSTEM.
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THIS?

ARNOLD FRIEDLANDER
{Moderator's Note: Edited to remove email address}

[ September 28, 2004, 08:13 PM: Message edited by: charlie b ]
 
Re: AUTOMATIC GENERATORS

First please turn off the CAPS as we get the impression you are shouting at us.

I do not know of anything in the code to prevent you from doing this if I understand you correctly. It is an Optional Standby system and there is no special requirements as to what circuits have to be powered or separated from each other.

If the customer were to overload the generator, the generator should trip offline, but I cannot see any danger to the premises wiring.

Maybe I am missing something, or it may be a local call.
 
Re: AUTOMATIC GENERATORS

I agree with Dereck.

What does the Inspector say is the code violation? That is, what paragraph of 702 does the Inspector say that the intended installation would violate? I don?t see a violation. Specifically, if the Inspector is saying that the transfer switch cannot be rated any higher than the rating of the generator, I would disagree with that view. Also, if the Inspector has a concern about loads not being automatically controlled in such a way as to prevent overloading the generator, that is not within the scope of 702.
 
Re: AUTOMATIC GENERATORS

This is acceptable with an Article 702 installation. That is the method I used at my home.
With the manual switch and the load shed, it isn't an automatic generator though.

[ September 28, 2004, 09:12 PM: Message edited by: ron ]
 
Re: AUTOMATIC GENERATORS

I got curious about this, re-read the code again as it pertains to Optional Standby Systems. I did this because I engineer and commission a lot of these systems just the same way you are describing except I size the generator to handle the full calculated load.

I cannot find anything in the NEC that states the generator has to be able to handle the full calculated load. The code is permissive, and unless is states you cannot, then you can IMO.

Why would you need a 40KW generator on a residence when a 15 or 20 would do?

Ask the AHJ to quote the violations in writing. I do not think they can unless it is a local code.

Edited spelling errors

[ September 29, 2004, 11:07 AM: Message edited by: dereckbc ]
 
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