powerplay
Senior Member
- Location
- In front of a computer.
With so many power outages this time of year, I get asked and hear about backfeeding panels for homes.
a) I have installed a generator panel that disconnects all lines and neutral before reconnecting engaging generator power. I had heard that the neutral from the utility is the best source of ground... are there occassions where the neutral does not disconnect or that is a dangerous path to backfeed the utilites grounded conductor?
b) Someone had argued that when a farmer had used a generator that fed back into the utility and they received a cheque for the surplus power generated. In the case where people use solar, stream, or generator power to feed back to the utility, during a power outage would the power continue to backfeed the utility or does it get interrupted during a power outage? I hear of illegal double male ends backfeeding panels with the Main Breaker off. If someone left the Main breaker closed and backfeed while there is a power outage, would the 120/240 volt backfeed transform to 14.4KV through the transformers that the Line Crew be working on. How dangerous is this?...It sounds like alot of people know how to backfeed a panel during a power outage, but the neutral is still connected.
a) I have installed a generator panel that disconnects all lines and neutral before reconnecting engaging generator power. I had heard that the neutral from the utility is the best source of ground... are there occassions where the neutral does not disconnect or that is a dangerous path to backfeed the utilites grounded conductor?
b) Someone had argued that when a farmer had used a generator that fed back into the utility and they received a cheque for the surplus power generated. In the case where people use solar, stream, or generator power to feed back to the utility, during a power outage would the power continue to backfeed the utility or does it get interrupted during a power outage? I hear of illegal double male ends backfeeding panels with the Main Breaker off. If someone left the Main breaker closed and backfeed while there is a power outage, would the 120/240 volt backfeed transform to 14.4KV through the transformers that the Line Crew be working on. How dangerous is this?...It sounds like alot of people know how to backfeed a panel during a power outage, but the neutral is still connected.